MOLECULAR-CLONING AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF CDNA-ENCODING A NOVEL CHEMOATTRACTANT-LIKE RECEPTOR

With the application of a homology screening strategy, including PCR a mplification and southern blot hybridization, a novel cDNA was cloned from rat liver and anterior pituitary libraries. It was found to encod e a 371-amino acid protein which has the characteristics of a heptahel ix receptor and shows structural identity to members of the chemoattra ctant receptor family. A primary receptor message of 3.5 kb size was i dentified by northern blot hybridization. This RNA species showed high expression in heart and lung, while expression was lower in small int estines, colon, kidney, liver, uterus, and in brain. Another-larger RN A species of 6.3 kb appeared in heart and lung. In situ hybridization histochemistry performed on tissue from liver and kidney revealed a ma inly vascular distribution of the receptor message. (C) 1997 Academic Press.