The genes encoding the melanocortin-3 receptor and melanocortin-5 receptor
have been cloned from rhesus monkey. Heterologous expression in CHO cells i
ndicated species dependent in vitro pharmacological properties for the huma
n and rhesus melanocortin-5 receptors. Several peptides including NDP-alpha
-MSH, alpha-MSH, MT-II and ACTH1-24 are more potent at the rhesus melanocor
tin-5 receptor than the human melanocortin-5 receptor by more than 10-fold.
In contrast, we found no species difference in pharmacological properties
between the human and rhesus melanocortin-3 receptors. Such a species-depen
dent pharmacological difference for melanocortin-5 receptor appears to be a
n exception compared to other G protein-coupled receptors from human and rh
esus monkey.