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. 1994 Jun 21;91(13):6133–6137. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.13.6133

Expression cloning of a high-affinity melatonin receptor from Xenopus dermal melanophores.

T Ebisawa 1, S Karne 1, M R Lerner 1, S M Reppert 1
PMCID: PMC44152  PMID: 7517042

Abstract

Using an expression cloning strategy, a high-affinity melatonin receptor cDNA has been isolated from Xenopus laevis dermal melanophores. Transient expression of the cDNA in COS-7 cells resulted in high-affinity 2-[125I]-iodomelatonin binding (Kd = 6.3 +/- 0.3 x 10(-11) M). In addition, six ligands exhibited a rank order of inhibition of specific 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding that was identical to that reported for endogenous high-affinity receptors. Functional studies of CHO cells stably expressing the receptor cDNA showed that melatonin acting through the cloned receptor inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis showed that melatonin receptor transcripts are moderately expressed in Xenopus dermal melanophores. The cDNA encodes a protein of 420 amino acids, which contains seven hydrophobic segments. Structural analysis revealed that the receptor protein is a newly discovered member of the guanine nucleotide binding protein-coupled receptor family.

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Selected References

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