New dopamine receptor, D2(Longer), with unique TG splice site, in human brain

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2000 Mar 10;76(1):132-41. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(99)00343-5.

Abstract

Brain dopamine receptor agonists alleviate the signs of Parkinson's disease, while dopamine receptor antagonists alleviate hallucinations and delusions in psychosis. The dopamine type 2 receptor (or D2) is blocked by antipsychotic drugs, including even the "atypical" drugs such as clozapine or remoxipride, in direct relation to their clinical potencies. Compared to the long form of the D2 receptor (D2(Long)), the short form (D2(Short)) may be three times more sensitive to benzamide antipsychotic drugs. Hence, it is essential to identify additional variants of dopamine receptors for which more selective antipsychotic drugs can be found. Although no family linkage has been found between the D2 receptor and schizophrenia, there can be brain region abnormalities in the RNA transcript expression of dopamine receptors. Therefore, in order to identify variant dopamine D2 receptors, we searched for mutations in the RNA transcripts for the dopamine D2 receptor in the striatum of post-mortem brains from individuals who died with psychosis, including schizophrenia. A new splice variant of the D2 receptor, D2(Longer), with a unique TG splice site, was found in one control brain and in two psychotic brains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Caudate Nucleus / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Psychotic Disorders / metabolism
  • Putamen / metabolism
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / genetics*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • RNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF176812