Characterization of a zebrafish (Danio rerio) sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor expressed in the embryonic brain

Sphingosine 1-phosphate elicits a variety of responses in mammals via at le ast five G protein-coupled Edg receptors. We cloned zebrafish edg1 and expr essed it in Rh7777 cells. In these cultures, S1P inhibited forskolin-driven rises in cAMP and this response was eliminated by pretreatment of the cult ures with pertussis toxin. In Rh7777 membranes, S1P stimulated GTP gamma[S- 35] binding 2-3 fold. Zebrafish edg1 is expressed in embryonic brain, parti cularly ventral diencephalon, optic stalks, and anterior hindbrain. Our fin dings suggest that nonmammalian vertebrates use S1P to signal during embryo genesis and that the properties of Ed1 receptor have been conserved for 400 million years. (C) 2000 Academic Press.