title: The ovine melatonin-related receptor: cloning and preliminary distribution and binding studies.
abstract: A melatonin-related receptor was cloned from an ovine genomic library. The sequenced gene has a similar structure to that of the melatonin receptor gene family and consists of two exons separated by an intron of approximately 3 kb. Exon 1 and exon 2 of the ovine melatonin-related receptor encode a protein of 575 amino acids which is 73.8% homologous to the human melatonin-related receptor and shows 40.9% homology with the ovine Mel1a melatonin receptor. COS-7 cells transiently expressing ovine melatonin-related receptors did not bind 2-[125]iodomelatonin or 3H-melatonin. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization studies revealed expression of the ovine melatonin-related receptor in the hypothalamus, pituitary, retina and retinal pigment epithelium. Furthermore, expression of the ovine melatonin-related receptor is shown to be coincident with Mel1a and 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding in the pituitary and serotonin N-acetyl transferase (arylalkylamine N-acetyl transferase, AANAT) expression in the retina. Expression patterns and similarity with the melatonin receptor gene family suggest a role for this novel G protein-coupled receptor in control and regulation of endocrine function and retinal physiology.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neuroendocrinology Unit, Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; C044556:2-iodomelatonin; D008550:Melatonin