Cloning and Chromosomal Localization of a Gene (GPR18) Encoding a Novel Seven Transmembrane Receptor Highly Expressed in Spleen and Testis

• Published in: Genomics (San Diego, Calif.) Calif.), 1997-06, Vol.42 (3), p.462-466
• Main Authors: Gantz, Ira, Muraoka, Akira, Yang, Ying-Kui, Samuelson, Linda C., Zimmerman, Ellen M., Cook, Helen, Yamada, Tadataka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Chromosome Mapping; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; Cloning, Molecular; DNA, Complementary; Dogs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Genes. Genome; GTP-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Male; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Pseudogenes; Receptors, Cell Surface - chemistry; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Spleen - metabolism; Testis - metabolism; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0888-7543; 1089-8646
• DOI: 10.1006/geno.1997.4752

Using the techniques of relaxed stringency polymerase chain reaction and genomic library screening, we have isolated homologous canine and human genes that encode a novel putative seven transmembrane G-protein-linked receptor. The gene encodes an open reading frame (ORF) of 993 bp. The sequences of the canine and human ORFs are highly conserved, sharing 89% nucleotide identity and 92% amino acid similarity between the two species. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that mRNA transcripts of the gene are abundantly expressed in testis and spleen with a lesser degree of expression observed in several other tissues associated with endocrine and immunologic/hematologic function. The gene, designated GPR18, was localized to human chromosome 13q32 using fluorescencein situhybridization.