title: Melatonin receptor mRNA expression in Xenopus oocytes: inhibition of G-protein-activated response.
abstract: Melatonin is the major endocrine product of the pineal gland in the mammalian brain and plays a variety of roles in photoperiodic functions. In order to investigate melatonin receptors, poly(A)+ RNA was extracted from pars tuberalis of the ovine pituitary and injected into oocytes of Xenopus laevis. After 3-5 days of incubation, functional melatonin receptors were expressed. Receptors were revealed by their inhibitory effect upon oscillatory currents resulting from AlF4-induced activation of G-proteins in the oocyte membrane under voltage clamp conditions. The effect of melatonin was dose-dependent, non-desensitizing and was not observed in uninjected oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, U.K.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Djamgoz
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D000818:Animals; D005459:Fluorides; D005461:Fluorine; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008845:Microinjections; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D014981:Xenopus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C050992:tetrafluoroaluminate; D011061:Poly A; D005461:Fluorine; D000535:Aluminum; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D005459:Fluorides