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. 1993 Nov 1;90(21):10230–10234. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.21.10230

mu opiate receptor: cDNA cloning and expression.

J B Wang 1, Y Imai 1, C M Eppler 1, P Gregor 1, C E Spivak 1, G R Uhl 1
PMCID: PMC47748  PMID: 8234282

Abstract

mu opiate receptors recognize morphine with high affinity. A 2.1-kb rat brain cDNA whose predicted translation product displays 63% identity with recently described delta and kappa opiate receptor sequences was identified through polymerase chain reaction and cDNA homology approaches. This cDNA recognizes a 10.5-kb mRNA that is expressed in thalamic neurons. COS-cell expression confers naloxonazine-, Na(+)-, and GTP-sensitive binding of mu but not delta or kappa opioid ligands. Expressing cells bind morphine, [D-Ala2,N-methyl-Phe4,glyol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE) with nanomolar or subnanomolar affinities, defining a mu opiate receptor that avidly recognizes analgesic and euphoric opiate drugs and opioid peptides.

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Selected References

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