title: Characterization of an RFamide-related peptide orphan GPCR in C. elegans.
abstract: We cloned and characterized an orphan FMRFamide-related peptide (FaRP) GPCR in Caenorhabditis elegans. We synthesized numerous structurally different FaRPs that were found in the C. elegans genome by bioinformatic analysis and used them to screen cells expressing the C26F1.6 receptor. Two peptides ending in M(orL)VRFamide elicited a calcium response in receptor-expressing mammalian Chinese hamster ovary cells. The response was dose-dependent and appeared to be very specific; that is, none of the other FaRPs were active, not even closely related peptides also ending in M(orL)VRFamide, which are encoded by the same peptide precursor. Pharmacological profiling with a truncated series of the most active peptide revealed that the full peptide sequence is necessary for receptor activation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Physiology, Genomics, and Proteomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. inge.mertens@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vandingenen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clynen
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nachman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Loof
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoofs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019835:FMRFamide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C416987:RFamide peptide; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019835:FMRFamide