An ascidian homologue of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor is a retinoic acid target gene.
Transdifferentiation of the multipotent atrial epithelium is a key event during budding of the ascidian Polyandrocarpa misakiensis. The transdifferentiation is induced by mesenchyme cells that were stimulated by retinoic acid. The fluorescent differential display identified a few cDNA fragments for retinoic acid-inducible genes. One of the cDNA clones, named Pm-GnRHR, encoded a seven-pass transmembrane receptor similar to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. Putative amino acid sequence showed high similarity to Ciona intestinalis GnRHRs and formed a cluster with other GnRHR proteins in a phylogenetic tree. The level of expression of the Pm-GnRHR mRNA increased during the early stage of bud development, suggesting that the Pm-GnRHR function is involved in some aspects of bud development.
Kobayashi
Yura
Y
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520, Japan.
Ohashi
Mitsuko
M
Kawamura
Kaz
K
Yubisui
Toshitsugu
T
Fujiwara
Shigeki
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014561:Urochordata / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D014212:Tretinoin