title: Molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of the mouse Gpr37 gene encoding an orphan G-protein-coupled peptide receptor expressed in brain and testis.
abstract: We report the cloning of the mouse ortholog of the human GPR37 gene, which encodes an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor highly expressed in brain tissues and homologous to neuropeptide-specific receptors (D. Marazziti et al., 1997, Genomics 45: 68-77; Z. Zeng et al., 1997, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 233: 559-567). The genomic organization of the GPR37 gene is conserved in both mouse and human species with a single intron interrupting the receptor-coding sequence within the presumed third transmembrane domain. Comparative genetic mapping of the GPR37 gene showed that it maps to a conserved chromosomal segment on proximal mouse chromosome 6 and human chromosome 7q31. The mouse Gpr37 gene contains an open reading frame coding for a 600-amino-acid protein 83% identical to the human GPR37 gene product. The predicted mouse GPR37 protein contains seven putative hydrophobic transmembrane domains, as well as a long (249 amino acid residues), arginine- and proline-rich amino-terminal extracellular domain, which is also a distinctive feature of the human GPR37 receptor. Northern blot analysis of mouse tissues with Gpr37-specific probes revealed a main 3.8-kb mRNA and a much less abundant 8-kb mRNA, both expressed in the brain. A 3-kb mRNA is also expressed in the testis. Both the mouse and the human GPR37 genes may belong to a class of highly conserved mammalian genes encoding a novel type of G-protein-coupled receptor predominantly expressed in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso" International Campus, Monterotondo Scalo, I-00016, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Golini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matteoni
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tocchini-Valentini
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C480827:GPR37 receptor, human; C509804:Gpr37 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins