title: Observations on the ligand selectivity of the melanocortin 2 receptor.
abstract: The melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) is unique in terms of ligand selectivity and in vitro expression in mammalian cell lines as compared to the other four mammalian MCRs. It is well established that ACTH is the only melanocortin ligand that can activate the ACTH receptor (i.e., melanocortin 2 receptor). Recent studies have provided new insights into the presence of a common binding site for the HFRW motif common to all melanocortin ligands. However, the activation of the melanocortin 2 receptor requires an additional amino acid motif that is only found in the sequence of ACTH. This mini-review will focus on these two topics and provide a phylogenetic perspective on the evolution of MC2R ligand selectivity.
authors.affiliation: University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, Denver, CO 80210, USA.
authors.forename: Kristopher
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Veo
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reinick
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Angleson
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dores
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019370:Observation; D010802:Phylogeny; D044103:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; C458099:MRAP protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D044103:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin