A novel receptor, SorCS, was isolated from murine brain. It shows homology
to the mosaic receptor SorLA and the neurotensin receptor sortilin based on
a common VPS10 domain which is the hallmark of this new receptor family. I
n the N-terminus of SorCS two putative cleavage sites for the convertase fu
rin mark the beginning of the VPS10 domain, followed by a module of imperfe
ct leucine-rich repeats and a transmembrane domain. The short intracellular
C-terminus contains consensus signals for rapid internalization. The ident
ified putative binding motifs for SH2 and SH3 domains are unique in the fam
ily of VPS10 domain receptors. SorCS is predominantly expressed in brain, b
ut also in heart, liver, and kidney. SorCS transcripts detected by in situ
hybridization in the murine central nervous system point to a neuronal expr
ession. (C) 1999 Academic Press.