Cloning, sequencing, expression and function of a cDNA encoding a receptorfor the opioid growth factor, [Met(5)]enkephalin

The native opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met(5)]enkephalin, is a tonic inhib itory peptide that modulates cell proliferation and tissue organization dur ing development, cancer, cellular renewal, wound healing and angiogenesis. OGF action is mediated by a receptor mechanism. We have cloned and sequence d a 2.1-kilobase (kb) cDNA for a receptor to OGF (OGFr). The open reading f rame was found to encode a protein of 580 amino acids, and eight imperfect repeats of nine amino acids each were a prominent feature. The protein enco ded by this cDNA exhibited the pharmacological, temporal and spatial charac teristics of the OGFr. Functional studies using antisense technology demons trated an enhancement in cell growth. The molecular organization of the OCF r has no homology to classical opioid receptors. These results provide mole cular validity for the interaction of OGF and OGFr in the regulation of gro wth processes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.