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The Ovine Melatonin‐Related Receptor: Cloning and Preliminary Distribution and Binding Studies
Author(s) -
Drew Janice E.,
Barrett Perry,
Williams Lynda M.,
Conway Shaun,
Morgan Peter J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.1998.00229.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , melatonin receptor , biology , endocrinology , medicine , receptor , 5 ht5a receptor , exon , retinal pigment epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , retinal , biochemistry
A melatonin‐related receptor was cloned from an ovine genomic library. The sequenced gene has a similar structure to that of the melatonin receptor gene family and consists of two exons separated by an intron of approximately 3 kb. Exon 1 and exon 2 of the ovine melatonin‐related receptor encode a protein of 575 amino acids which is 73.8% homologous to the human melatonin‐related receptor and shows 40.9% homology with the ovine Mel 1a melatonin receptor. COS‐7 cells transiently expressing ovine melatonin‐related receptors did not bind 2‐[ 125 I]iodomelatonin or 3 H‐melatonin. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and in situ hybridization studies revealed expression of the ovine melatonin‐related receptor in the hypothalamus, pituitary, retina and retinal pigment epithelium. Furthermore, expression of the ovine melatonin‐related receptor is shown to be coincident with Mel 1a and 2‐[ 125 I]iodomelatonin binding in the pituitary and serotonin N ‐acetyl transferase (arylalkylamine N ‐acetyl transferase, AANAT) expression in the retina. Expression patterns and similarity with the melatonin receptor gene family suggest a role for this novel G protein‐coupled receptor in control and regulation of endocrine function and retinal physiology.