Cloning and characterization of 13 novel transcripts and the human RGS8 gene from the 1q25 region encompassing the hereditary prostate cancer (HPC1) locus.

The aim of this study was to develop a saturated transcript map of the region encompassing the HPC1 locus to identify the susceptibility genes involved in hereditary prostate cancer (OMIM 176807) and hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome (OMIM 145001). We previously reported the generation of a 6-Mb BAC/PAC contig of the candidate region and employed various strategies, such as database searching, exon-trapping, direct cDNA hybridization, and sample sequencing of BACs, to identify all potential transcripts. These efforts led to the identification and precise localization on the BAC contig of 59 transcripts representing 22 known genes and 37 potential transcripts represented by ESTs and exon traps. Here we report the detailed characterization of these ESTs into full-length transcript sequences, their expression pattern in various tissues, their genomic organization, and their homology to known genes. We have also identified an Alu insertion polymorphism in the intron of one of the transcripts. Overall, data on 13 novel transcripts and the human RGS8 gene (homologue of the rat RGS8 gene) are presented in this paper. Ten of the 13 novel transcripts are expressed in prostate tissue and represent positional candidates for HPC1.

Dysregulated cannabinoid signaling disrupts uterine receptivity for embryo implantation.

The mechanisms by which synchronized embryonic development to the blastocyst stage, preparation of the uterus for the receptive state, and reciprocal embryo-uterine interactions for implantation are coordinated are still unclear. We show in this study that preimplantation embryo development became asynchronous in mice that are deficient in brain-type (CB1) and/or spleen-type (CB2) cannabinoid receptor genes. Furthermore, whereas the levels of uterine anandamide (endocannabinoid) and blastocyst CB1 are coordinately down-regulated with the onset of uterine receptivity and blastocyst activation prior to implantation, these levels remained high in the nonreceptive uterus and in dormant blastocysts during delayed implantation and in pregnant, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-deficient mice with implantation failure. These results suggest that a tight regulation of endocannabinoid signaling is important for synchronizing embryo development with uterine receptivity for implantation. Indeed this is consistent with our finding that while an experimentally induced, sustained level of an exogenously administered, natural cannabinoid inhibited implantation in wild-type mice, it failed to do so in CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-) double mutant mice. The present study is clinically important because of the widely debated medicinal use of cannabinoids and their reported adverse effects on pregnancy.

A 6-Mb high-resolution physical and transcription map encompassing the hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) region.

Several hereditary disease loci have been genetically mapped to the chromosome 1q24-q31 interval, including the hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) locus. Here, we report the construction of a 20-Mb yeast artificial chromosome contig and a high-resolution 6-Mb sequence-ready bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)/P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) contig of 1q25 by sequence and computational analysis, STS content mapping, and chromosome walking. One hundred thirty-six new STSs, including 10 novel simple sequence repeat polymorphisms that are being used for genetic refinement of multiple disease loci, have been generated from this contig and are shown to map to the 1q25 interval. The integrity of the 6-Mb BAC/PAC contig has been confirmed by restriction fingerprinting, and this contig is being used as a template for human chromosome 1 genome sequencing. A transcription mapping effort has resulted in the precise localization of 18 known genes and 31 ESTs by database searching, exon trapping, direct cDNA hybridization, and sample sequencing of BACs from the 1q25 contig. An additional 11 known genes and ESTs have been placed within the larger 1q24-q31 interval. These transcription units represent candidate genes for multiple hereditary diseases, including HPC1.

Comparison of rat and human parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2) receptor activation: PTH is a low potency partial agonist at the rat PTH2 receptor.

The human PTH2 receptor, expressed in tissue culture cells, is selectively activated by PTH. Detailed investigation of its anatomical and cellular distribution has been performed in the rat. It is expressed by neurons in a number of brain nuclei; by endocrine cells that include pancreatic islet somatostatin cells, thyroid parafollicular cells, and peptide secreting cells in the gastrointestinal tract; and by cells in the vasculature and heart. The physiological role of the PTH2 receptor expressed by these cells remains to be determined. All pharmacological studies performed to date have used the human receptor. We have now isolated a complementary DNA including the entire coding sequence of the rat PTH2 receptor and compared its pharmacological profile with that of the human PTH2 receptor when each is expressed in COS-7 cells. PTH-based peptides, including rat PTH(1-84), rat PTH(1-34), and human PTH(1-34), have low potency at the rat PTH2 receptor for stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (EC50 = 19-140 nM). When compared with the effect of a bovine hypothalamic extract, PTH-based peptides are partial agonists at the rat PTH2 receptor. This suggests that PTH is unlikely to be a physiologically important endogenous ligand for the PTH2 receptor. A peptide homologous to an activity detected in a bovine hypothalamic extract is a good candidate for the endogenous PTH2 receptor ligand.

Food-dependent Cushing's syndrome resulting from abundant expression of gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptors in adrenal adenoma cells.

We studied a 45-yr-old woman with food-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Plasma cortisol levels were subnormal (4-47 nmol/L) after an overnight fast and increased after a mixed meal to values between 500-1000 nmol/L. There was a close correlation between circulating gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and cortisol levels during normal food intake (r = 0.92; P < 0.0002). Plasma corticotropin (ACTH) levels were undetectable. Nonfasting plasma cortisol levels were not suppressed by low or high doses of dexamethasone. Plasma ACTH and cortisol levels did not increase after human CRH administration, but fasting plasma cortisol levels increased after ACTH treatment. The infusion of GIP increased plasma cortisol levels to 7.8 times above baseline. Radiological and cholesterol uptake studies pointed to a unilateral adrenal adenoma. Treatment with octreotide initially prevented the meal-induced increases in cortisol and GIP levels and decreased urinary cortisol excretion. Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed. Cortisol production by cultured adrenal adenoma cells from the patient was stimulated by GIP and ACTH. In situ hybridization studies using a GIP receptor probe showed an abundant expression of GIP receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in the adrenocortical adenoma. We conclude that food-dependent Cushing's syndrome results from the expression of GIP receptors on adrenocortical adenoma cells.

Distinct pharmacological properties and distribution in neurons and endocrine cells of two isoforms of the human vesicular monoamine transporter.

A second isoform of the human vesicular monoamine transporter (hVMAT) has been cloned from a pheochromocytoma cDNA library. The contribution of the two transporter isoforms to monoamine storage in human neuroendocrine tissues was examined with isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies against hVMAT1 and hVMAT2. Central, peripheral, and enteric neurons express only VMAT2. VMAT1 is expressed exclusively in neuroendocrine, including chromaffin and enterochromaffin, cells. VMAT1 and VMAT2 are coexpressed in all chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. VMAT2 alone is expressed in histamine-storing enterochromaffin-like cells of the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach. The transport characteristics and pharmacology of each VMAT isoform have been directly compared after expression in digitonin-permeabilized fibroblastic (CV-1) cells, providing information about substrate feature recognition by each transporter and the role of vesicular monoamine storage in the mechanism of action of psychopharmacologic and neurotoxic agents in human. Serotonin has a similar affinity for both transporters. Catecholamines exhibit a 3-fold higher affinity, and histamine exhibits a 30-fold higher affinity, for VMAT2. Reserpine and ketanserin are slightly more potent inhibitors of VMAT2-mediated transport than of VMAT1-mediated transport, whereas tetrabenazine binds to and inhibits only VMAT2. N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, phenylethylamine, amphetamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine are all more potent inhibitors of VMAT2 than of VMAT1, whereas fenfluramine is a more potent inhibitor of VMAT1-mediated monamine transport than of VMAT2-mediated monoamine transport. The unique distributions of hVMAT1 and hVMAT2 provide new markers for multiple neuroendocrine lineages, and examination of their transport properties provides mechanistic insights into the pharmacology and physiology of amine storage in cardiovascular, endocrine, and central nervous system function.

A lysine residue of the cannabinoid receptor is critical for receptor recognition by several agonists but not WIN55212-2.

Lys192 in the third transmembrane domain of the human CB1 cannabinoid receptor was converted to an alanine to study its role in receptor recognition and activation by agonists. HU-210, CP-55940, WIN55212-2, and anandamide, four cannabinoid agonists with distinct chemical structures, were used to characterize the wild-type and the mutant receptors. In human embryonal kidney 293 cells stably expressing the wild-type receptor, specific binding to [3H]WIN55212-2 and inhibition of cAMP accumulation by cannabinoid agonists were demonstrated, with different ligands exhibiting the expected rank orders of potency and stereoselectivity in competition binding and functional assays. In cells expressing the mutant receptor, the binding affinity of the receptor for [3H]WIN55212-2 was only slightly affected (the Kd for the mutant receptor was twice that of the wild-type), and the ability of WIN55212-2 to inhibit cAMP accumulation was unchanged. However, HU-210, CP-55940, and anandamide were unable to compete for [3H]WIN55212-2 binding to the mutant receptor. In addition, the potencies of HU-210, CP-55940, and anandamide in inhibiting cAMP accumulation were reduced by > 100-fold. These results demonstrate that Lys192 is critical for receptor binding by HU-210, CP-55940, and anandamide. Because Lys192 is not important for receptor binding and activation by WIN55212-2, WIN55212-2 must interact with the cannabinoid receptor through at least one point of interaction that is distinct from those of the three other agonists.

Identification and functional expression of a receptor selectively recognizing parathyroid hormone, the PTH2 receptor.

We have identified a G-protein-coupled receptor specifically activated by parathyroid hormone, which we refer to as the PTH2 receptor. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP, hypercalcemia of malignancy factor) activate a previously identified PTH/PTHrP receptor, which has a widespread tissue distribution. The PTH2 receptor is much more selective in ligand recognition and appears to have a more specific tissue distribution. It is activated by PTH and not by PTHrP and is particularly abundant in the brain and pancreas.

Two receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide with similar specificity and complementary distributions.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has a variety of physiological effects. Pharmacological evidence suggesting that VIP acts via multiple receptors has been confirmed by the cloning of two VIP receptors (VIP1 and VIP2) with very different amino acid sequences. At both the VIP1 and the VIP2 receptor VIP, PHI, PACAP38, and PACAP27 have similar potency to each other. Only the VIP1 receptor is activated by secretin. The messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the two receptors have completely different distributions as mapped by in situ hybridization histochemistry. VIP1 receptor mRNA is predominantly found in the lung, small intestine, thymus, and within the brain in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. VIP2 receptor mRNA is present in a number of areas where VIP acts but VIP1 receptor mRNA is not present, including the stomach and testes. In the CNS VIP2 receptor mRNA is exclusively present in areas associated with neuroendocrine function, including several hypothalamic nuclei. In the periphery, it is also present in the pituitary and in pancreatic islets.

Functional identification of a vesicular acetylcholine transporter and its expression from a "cholinergic" gene locus.

The vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) has been identified and characterized based on the acquisition of high affinity vesamicol binding and proton-dependent, vesamicol-sensitive acetylcholine accumulation by a fibroblast cell line transfected with a clone from a rat pheochromocytoma cDNA library encoding this protein. The distribution of VAChT mRNA coincides with that reported for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme required for acetylcholine biosynthesis, in the peripheral and central cholinergic nervous systems. A human VAChT cDNA was used to localize the VAChT gene to chromosome 10q11.2, which is also the location of the ChAT gene. The entire sequence of the human VAChT cDNA is contained uninterrupted within the first intron of the ChAT gene locus. Transcription of VAChT and ChAT mRNA from the same or contiguous promoters within a single regulatory locus provides a previously undescribed genetic mechanism for coordinate regulation of two proteins whose expression is required to establish a mammalian neuronal phenotype.

Structure, genomic organization, and expression of the human interleukin-8 receptor B gene.

Two distinct receptors for the chemoattractant interleukin-8 (designated IL-8RA and -B) have been cloned recently. The receptors are expressed almost exclusively on neutrophils and myelomonocytic cell lines. In an attempt to understand the tissue-specific expression and to identify transcriptional regulatory elements we have cloned, sequenced, and characterized the human IL-8RB gene. The gene consists of 3 exons, interrupted by two introns of 3 and 5.4 kilobases (kb). A 1065-base pair open reading frame is encoded entirely in the third exon. A 1.4-kb 3'-untranslated region contains clustered AU-rich elements, similar to those described for genes regulated by altering mRNA stability. The start site of transcription was mapped by a modified rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique and revealed an unexpectedly long 5'-untranslated region of 423 base pairs. A TATA box equivalent was found in the 5'-flanking region 20 nucleotides upstream of the start of the first exon. The promoter was separated from the ATG-initiation codon by 8.75 kb. Comparison of the IL-8RB promoter with the promoter region of the receptor for another chemoattractant ligand, the bacterial peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe, revealed 3 novel but conserved motifs occupying similar positions. The immediate 5'-flanking region was GC-rich with 3 SP-1-like and 2 AP-2 sites identified in close proximity to the transcription start site. This essential promoter region was found to be responsible for constitutive expression, inducible by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and controlled by silencer elements located further upstream between positions -779 and -118.

Cloning and expression of the vesamicol binding protein from the marine ray Torpedo. Homology with the putative vesicular acetylcholine transporter UNC-17 from Caenorhabditis elegans.

Complementary DNA clones corresponding to a messenger RNA encoding a 56 kDa polypeptide have been obtained from Torpedo marmorata and Torpedo ocellata electric lobe libraries, by homology screening with a probe obtained from the putative acetylcholine transporter from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The Torpedo proteins display approximately 50% overall identity to the C. elegans unc-17 protein and 43% identity to the two vesicle monoamine transporters (VMAT1 and VMAT2). This family of proteins is highly conserved within 12 domains which potentially span the vesicle membrane, with little similarity within the putative intraluminal glycosylated loop and at the N- and C-termini. The approximately 3.0 kb mRNA species is specifically expressed in the brain and highly enriched in the electric lobe of Torpedo. The Torpedo protein, expressed in CV-1 fibroblast cells, possesses a high-affinity binding site for vesamicol (Kd = 6 nM), a drug which blocks in vitro and in vivo acetylcholine accumulation in cholinergic vesicles.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor, a member of the secretin-vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor family, is widely distributed in peripheral organs and the brain.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), or glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, is released from endocrine cells in the small intestine after meals. It is involved in several facets of the anabolic response and is thought to be particularly important in stimulating insulin secretion. We have cloned, functionally expressed, and mapped the distribution of the receptor for GIP. It is a member of the secretin-vasoactive intestinal polypeptide family of G-protein-coupled receptors. When expressed in tissue culture cells, it stimulates cAMP production (EC50 0.3 nM) and also increases intracellular calcium accumulation. GIP receptor mRNA is present in the pancreas as well as the gut, adipose tissue, heart, pituitary, and inner layers of the adrenal cortex, whereas it is not found in kidney, spleen, or liver. It is also expressed in several brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. These results suggest that GIP may have previously undescribed actions. GIP receptor localization in the adrenal cortex suggests that it may have effects on glucocorticoid metabolism. Neither GIP nor its effects have been described in the central nervous system, and mRNA for the known peptide ligand for the receptor cannot be detected in the brain by in situ hybridization or polymerase chain reaction. This suggests that a novel peptide may be present in the brain.

Delineation of muscarinic receptor domains conferring selectivity of coupling to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins and second messengers.

The cloning and functional expression of five mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptor genes (m1-m5) has revealed that m1, m3, and m5 primarily couple to stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) turnover, whereas m2 and m4 are strongly linked to inhibition of adenylate cyclase, albeit not exclusively. To identify the structural domains responsible for this functional specificity, cDNAs encoding chimeric m2/m3 receptors were constructed. The abilities of these receptors to mediate stimulation of PI hydrolysis and inhibition of prostaglandin E2-stimulated cAMP accumulation, as well as the pertussis toxin (PTX) sensitivity of these responses, were examined after stable expression in mouse A9 L cells. Substitution of the putative third cytoplasmic loop (i3) of m2 with the corresponding m3 sequence resulted in a chimeric receptor that, similar to m3, stimulated PI breakdown by a PTX-insensitive mechanism but did not inhibit adenylate cyclase. Conversely, a chimeric m3 receptor containing the i3 domain of m2 showed the same functional profile as m2 (i.e., inhibition of adenylate cyclase and weak stimulation of PI turnover by a PTX-sensitive mechanism), indicating that the i3 loop is sufficient to determine coupling selectivity. Similarly, exchange of a short N-terminal segment of i3 (16 or 17 amino acids) between m2 and m3 resulted in chimeric receptors that gained the ability to mediate the functional responses of the wild-type receptor from which the segment was derived, although with substantially reduced efficiency. However, the chimeric m2 receptor containing the 17-amino acid m3 sequence in the N-terminal portion of i3 retained its ability to inhibit adenylate cyclase. Carbachol binding studies involving the use of the GTP analog 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate and PTX-pretreated cells generally correlated well with the functional findings. Our data indicate that the N-terminal portion of i3 is a sufficient but not the exclusive determinant of coupling selectivity displayed by the various muscarinic receptors.

Structure of a cannabinoid receptor and functional expression of the cloned cDNA.

Marijuana and many of its constituent cannabinoids influence the central nervous system (CNS) in a complex and dose-dependent manner. Although CNS depression and analgesia are well documented effects of the cannabinoids, the mechanisms responsible for these and other cannabinoid-induced effects are not so far known. The hydrophobic nature of these substances has suggested that cannabinoids resemble anaesthetic agents in their action, that is, they nonspecifically disrupt cellular membranes. Recent evidence, however, has supported a mechanism involving a G protein-coupled receptor found in brain and neural cell lines, and which inhibits adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent, stereoselective and pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. Also, the receptor is more responsive to psychoactive cannabinoids than to non-psychoactive cannabinoids. Here we report the cloning and expression of a complementary DNA that encodes a G protein-coupled receptor with all of these properties. Its messenger RNA is found in cell lines and regions of the brain that have cannabinoid receptors. These findings suggest that this protein is involved in cannabinoid-induced CNS effects (including alterations in mood and cognition) experienced by users of marijuana.

Preprotachykinin gene expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus of estrogen-treated and ovariectomized control rats.

We have determined the localization of preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA-containing neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the rat. PPT mRNA-containing neurons are present in the ventromedial nucleus (with a concentration in the ventrolateral aspect (VL-VM], the dorsomedial nucleus, the lateral hypothalamus and the arcuate nucleus. This distribution is consistent with the findings of immunocytochemical studies of substance P-immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamus. We have also examined whether PPT gene expression is regulated by estrogen in the VL-VM by comparing the levels of PPT mRNA in the VL-VM of ovariectomized rats and ovariectomized, estrogen-replaced rats. Both in situ hybridization and slot blot hybridization analysis revealed no changes in PPT mRNA content in the VL-VM following estrogen treatment. These results suggest that estrogen does not regulate lordosis behavior by affecting PPT gene expression in VL-VM neurons.

Stimulation of arachidonic acid release and inhibition of mitogenesis by cloned genes for muscarinic receptor subtypes stably expressed in A9 L cells.

A family of genes encoding four distinct muscarinic receptors (designated m1-m4) has been cloned and stably expressed in A9 L cells. When the m1 and m3 receptors were stimulated with carbachol, there was a rapid rise of liberated arachidonic acid, inositol phosphates, and cAMP, while m2 and m4 receptor stimulation had no detectable stimulation of these second messengers. Pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a marked acceleration and amplification of m1 and m3 receptor-mediated arachidonic acid release. In contrast, m1- and m3-mediated inositol phosphate formation was inhibited by the same PMA pretreatment. Arachidonic acid release was unaffected by manipulations of cAMP levels. Arachidonic acid production was inhibited by calcium-free medium and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester (TMB-8; an inhibitor of cytosolic calcium mobilization) yet was unaffected by verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker. These experiments show that arachidonic acid release induced by the m1 and m3 receptors is regulated independently of phospholipase C and cAMP accumulation. Carbachol stimulation of the m1 and m3 cAMP accumulation. Carbachol stimulation of the m1 and m3 receptors also markedly decreased mitogenesis as measured by thymidine incorporation. The m1 receptor-mediated inhibition of mitogenesis could be partially blocked by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. The inhibition of mitogenesis could be mimicked by cAMP elevation.

Expression of human c-raf-1 oncogene proteins in E. coli.

Full length and truncated versions of the human c-raf-1 cDNA were cloned into the inducible E. coli expression vector pJL6. C-raf proteins of 73 kD, 57 kD and 39 kD were produced upon induction. p73 differs from normal p73 c-raf by deletion of the two first N-terminal amino acids and their replacement by 16 amino acids encoded by the vector. The p57 and p39 represent N-terminal deletions which leave the transforming protein kinase domain intact. These proteins could be readily purified from E. coli lysates by immunoprecipitation with raf-specific antisera.

The complete coding sequence of the human A-raf-1 oncogene and transforming activity of a human A-raf carrying retrovirus.

The complete 606 amino acid sequence of the human A-raf oncogene has been deduced from the 2453 nucleotide sequence of a human T cell cDNA. A cysteine-rich region located near the amino terminus, which is highly conserved in A-raf and c-raf, shows significant homology with protein kinase C. A 5' deleted fragment of the cDNA has been incorporated into a murine retrovirus which endows the virus with the ability to transform cells in vivo and in vitro. Functionally, human A-raf is similar to v-raf and v-mos in that transformation is independent of ras gene function.

Actively transcribed genes in the raf oncogene group, located on the X chromosome in mouse and human.

Murine and human cDNAs, related to but distinct from c-raf-1, have been isolated and designated mA-raf and hA-raf, respectively. The mA-raf and hA-raf cDNAs detect the same murine and human fragments in Southern blots of restriction enzyme-cleaved murine and human cellular DNA. The murine restriction enzyme fragments homologous to mA-raf cDNA cosegregate with mouse chromosome X in a panel of Chinese hamster-mouse hybrid cells, thus localizing the mA-raf locus to mouse chromosome X. Two independently segregating loci, detected by the hA-raf cDNA (or mA-raf cDNA), hA-raf-1 and hA-raf-2, are located on human chromosomes X and 7, respectively. The mA-raf locus and the hA-raf-1 locus are actively transcribed in several mouse and human cell lines.