MOLECULAR-CLONING OF A NOVEL CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR-LIKE GENE FROM EARLY-STAGE CHICK-EMBRYOS

Proliferation, differentiation and regulated trafficking of cells are the hallmarks of development and embryogenesis. This led us to specula te a role for chemokines and their receptors in this process. Here, we report the molecular cloning of AvCRL1, a novel member of the G-prote in coupled receptor family from early stage 3 days old chick embryos. While the function and ligand for this receptor remain unknown its seq uence and gene structure indicates that it is most related to the fami ly of chemokine receptors, with highest homology to the virally induce d human BLR-1 and the CXCR3 or gamma IP-10/Mig-1 receptors.