Abstract
A novel human G protein-coupled receptor named AXOR12, exhibiting 81% homology to the rat orphan receptor GPR54, was cloned from a human brain cDNA library. Heterologous expression of AXOR12 in mammalian cells permitted the identification of three surrogate agonist peptides, all with a common C-terminal amidated motif. High potency agonism, indicative of a cognate ligand, was evident from peptides derived from the gene KiSS-1, the expression of which prevents metastasis in melanoma cells. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to study the expression of AXOR12 and KiSS-1 in a variety of tissues. The highest levels of expression of AXOR12 mRNA were observed in brain, pituitary gland, and placenta. The highest levels of KiSS-1 gene expression were observed in placenta and brain. A polyclonal antibody raised to the C terminus of AXOR12 was generated and used to show localization of the receptor to neurons in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and brainstem. The biological significance of these expression patterns and the nature of the putative cognate ligand for AXOR12 are discussed.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Brain / metabolism
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CHO Cells
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Cricetinae
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Female
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Genes, Tumor Suppressor
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Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Humans
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Kinetics
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Kisspeptins
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Ligands
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Melanoma / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nephropidae
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Neurons / metabolism
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Organ Specificity
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Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
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Pituitary Gland / metabolism
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Placenta / metabolism
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Pregnancy
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Proteins / chemistry
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Proteins / genetics*
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Proteins / metabolism*
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Rats
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Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics*
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
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Receptors, Neuropeptide / chemistry
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Receptors, Neuropeptide / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Sea Anemones
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Sequence Alignment
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Transfection
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
Substances
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KISS1 protein, human
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KISS1R protein, human
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Kiss1 protein, rat
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Kiss1r protein, rat
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Kisspeptins
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Ligands
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Peptide Fragments
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Proteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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Receptors, Kisspeptin-1
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Receptors, Neuropeptide
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Recombinant Proteins
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins