Cloning of GPR37, a gene located on chromosome 7 encoding a putative G-protein-coupled peptide receptor, from a human frontal brain EST library
Marazziti, D.; Golini, E.; Gallo, A.; Lombardi, M.S.; Matteoni, R.; Tocchini-Valentini, G.P.
Genomics 45(1): 68-77
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0888-7543 PMID: 9339362 DOI: 10.1006/geno.1997.4900
Accession: 045550360
A cDNA sequence encoding a putative peptide-specific G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR37) was isolated from a set of human brain frontal lobe expressed sequence tags. The GPR37 cDNA predicts a single open reading frame coding for a 613-amino-acid protein with seven hydrophobic transmembrane domains. The GPR37 genomic sequence was mapped to chromosome 7q31, and it was isolated upon screening of a chromosome 7-specific genomic library. The GPR37 gene spans more than 25 kb and contains two exons and a single intron which interrupts the GPR37 cDNA within the sequence encoding the presumed third transmembrane domain. Northern blot analysis with GPR37 probes revealed a main 3.8-kb mRNA and a less abundant 8-kb mRNA, both expressed in human brain tissues, particularly in corpus callosum, medulla, putamen, and caudate nucleus. The lowest level of expression was detected in cerebellum. The 3.8-kb mRNA is also less abundantly expressed in liver and placenta. Although the ligand for the putative GPR37 receptor has not been identified, its deduced amino acid sequence shows a high degree of homology (approximately 40% in the transmembrane regions) with most mammalian peptide-specific G-protein-coupled receptors and particularly with the human endothelin-B, bombesin-BB1, and bombesin-BB2 receptors.