title: Cloning and characterization of two human G protein-coupled receptor genes (GPR38 and GPR39) related to the growth hormone secretagogue and neurotensin receptors.
abstract: The recent cloning of a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) from human pituitary gland and brain identified a third G protein-coupled receptor (GPC-R) involved in the control of growth hormone release. The nucleotide sequence of the GHS-R is most closely related to the neurotensin receptor-1 (NT-R1) (35% overall protein identity). Two human GPC-Rs related to both the type 1a GHS-R and NT-Rs were cloned and characterized. Hybridization at low posthybridizational stringency with restriction enzyme-digested human genomic DNA resulted in the identification of a genomic clone encoding a first GHS-R/NT-R family member (GPR38). A cDNA clone was identified encoding a second GHS-R-related gene (GPR39). GPR38 and GPR39 share significant amino acid sequence identity with the GHS-R and NT-Rs 1 and 2. An acidic residue (E124) in TM-3, essential for the binding and activation of the GHS-R by structurally dissimilar GHSs, was conserved in GPR38 and GPR39. GPR38 is encoded by a single gene expressed in thyroid gland, stomach, and bone marrow. GPR39 is encoded by a highly conserved single-copy gene, expressed in brain and other peripheral tissues. Fluorescence in situ hybridization localized the genes for GPR38 and GPR39 to separate chromosomes, distinct from the gene encoding the GHS-R and NT-R type 1. The ligand-binding and functional properties of GPR38 and GPR39 remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Palyha
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Feighner
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hreniuk
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Van der Ploeg
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins