Trace amines: identification of a family of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors.

Tyramine, beta-phenylethylamine, tryptamine, and octopamine are biogenic amines present in trace levels in mammalian nervous systems. Although some "trace amines" have clearly defined roles as neurotransmitters in invertebrates, the extent to which they function as true neurotransmitters in vertebrates has remained speculative. Using a degenerate PCR approach, we have identified 15 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) from human and rodent tissues. Together with the orphan receptor PNR, these receptors form a subfamily of rhodopsin GPCRs distinct from, but related to the classical biogenic amine receptors. We have demonstrated that two of these receptors bind and/or are activated by trace amines. The cloning of mammalian GPCRs for trace amines supports a role for trace amines as neurotransmitters in vertebrates. Three of the four human receptors from this family are present in the amygdala, possibly linking trace amine receptors to affective disorders. The identification of this family of receptors should rekindle the investigation of the roles of trace amines in mammalian nervous systems and may potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutics for a variety of indications.

Cloning, expression, and pharmacological characterization of a human alpha 2B-adrenergic receptor.

An alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtype has been isolated from a human genomic spleen library using the human 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor gene (also known as G-21) as a probe. This adrenergic receptor gene encodes a protein of 450 amino acids and does not contain any consensus sequences for N-linked glycosylation in its amino terminus or extracellular loops. This receptor is also distinguished by the presence of 12 consecutive glutamic acid residues in the region of its third intracellular loop. The deduced amino acid sequence shows greatest homology to previously cloned human alpha 2-adrenergic receptors and has structural similarities to other guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors. The DNA encoding the human alpha 2 receptor was stably transfected into mouse fibroblast Ltk- cells and radioligand binding studies were performed using the alpha 2 antagonist [3H]rauwolscine. [3H]Rauwolscine bound with high affinity (Kd = 0.33 nM) and in a saturable manner (Bmax = 1.4 pmol/mg of protein). Pharmacological characterization of this receptor indicated a rank order of potency of yohimbine greater than prazosin greater than oxymetazoline. Additionally, 100 microM 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate, produced a rightward shift in the epinephrine competition curve, with resultant increases in both the Ki value and Hill coefficient, suggestive of a functional interaction of the cloned receptor with native guanine nucleotide-binding protein(s) of Ltk- membranes. The data presented here are consistent with previous biochemical and pharmacological studies on alpha 2 receptors and are supportive of the designation of this receptor as an alpha 2B subtype.

A computer method for determining plaque size and plaque morphology.

We describe a computer method for determining plaque size and morphology from photographs of hemolytic plaques. The method eliminates any inter-measurer and intra-measurer inconsistencies that may arise when manual measurements are made on plaques whose boundaries are poorly defined. For circular plaques inner and outer plaque radii are determined. In addition the computer generates a density profile for each plaque, i.e., a plot of the film density versus the radial distance from the antibody forming cell. We demonstrate the use of the method by analyzing a time study of the growth of a single plaque.