title: Primary structure and functional expression of mouse pituitary and human brain corticotrophin releasing factor receptors.
abstract: Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) is the principal hypothalamic factor governing the pituitary-adrenal axis, but the wide extra-pituitary distribution of CRF and its receptors suggest a major role for this neuropeptide in the integration of the overall physiological and behavioral responses of an organism to stress. We have cloned a CRF receptor complementary DNA (cDNA) by expression in COS-7 cells of a cDNA library from the AtT20 mouse pituitary tumour cell line. The cloned mouse cDNA was then as a probe to isolate a human CRF receptor cDNA from a human brain cDNA library. The mouse and human cDNAs both encode 415 amino acid proteins that are 97% identical, containing seven putative transmembrane domains characteristic of G protein-coupled receptors. The CRF receptor shows homology with the receptors for growth hormone-releasing factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin. COS-7 cells transfected with the mouse CRF receptor cDNA bind radiolabelled ovine CRF with high affinity and respond specifically to CRF by accumulation of intracellular cAMP. A 2.7 kb mRNA coding for the CRF receptor could be detected in AtT20 cells and human cortex tissue. PCR analysis also detected the receptor transcript in human pituitary, brainstem, and testis.
authors.affiliation: Sanofi Elf Bio Recherches, Labège, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lefort
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chalon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lelias
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaghad
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Fur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caput
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP