title: Molecular identification of the first insect ecdysis triggering hormone receptors.
abstract: The Drosophila Genome Project website (www.flybase.org) contains an annotated gene sequence (CG5911), coding for a G protein-coupled receptor. We cloned the cDNA corresponding to this sequence and found that the gene has not been correctly predicted. The corrected gene CG5911 has five introns and six exons (1-6). Alternative splicing yields two cDNAs called A (containing exons 1-5) and B (containing exons 1-4, 6). We expressed these splicing variants in Chinese hamster ovary cells and found that the corrected CG5911-A and -B cDNAs coded for two different G protein-coupled receptors that could be activated by low concentrations of Drosophila ecdysis triggering hormones-1 and -2. Ecdysis (cuticle shedding) is an important behaviour, allowing growth and metamorphosis in insects and other arthropods. Our paper is the first report on the molecular identification of ecdysis triggering hormone receptors from insects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cazzamali
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Cornelis J P
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grimmelikhuijzen
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018978:Molting; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C470427:ETHR protein, Drosophila; D007301:Insect Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C403307:ecdysis-triggering hormone, Drosophila