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Characterization of an RFamide‐Related Peptide Orphan GPCR in C. elegans
Author(s) -
MERTENS I,
VANDINGENEN A,
CLYNEN E,
NACHMAN R J,
LOOF A,
SCHOOFS L
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1327.076
Subject(s) - g protein coupled receptor , orphan receptor , peptide , caenorhabditis elegans , computational biology , biology , chemistry , receptor , genetics , biochemistry , gene , transcription factor
A bstract : 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.