Neuron
Volume 13, Issue 5, November 1994, Pages 1177-1185
Journal home page for Neuron

Article
Cloning and characterization of a mammalian melatonin receptor that mediates reproductive and circadian responses

https://doi.org/10.1016/0896-6273(94)90055-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The pineal hormone melatonin regulates seasonal reproductive function and modulates circadian rhythms in mammals. We now report the cloning and characterization of a high affinity receptor for melatonin from the sheep and human. The receptor cDNAs encode proteins that are members of a newly discovered group within the G protein-coupled receptor family. Expression of the sheep and human receptors in COS-7 cells results in high affinity 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding and pharmacological characteristics similar to endogenous high affinity receptors. Functional studies of NIH 3T3 cells stably expressing the sheep receptor show that the mammalian melatonin receptor is coupled to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase through a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism. In situ hybridization studies of melatonin receptor mRNA in several mammals reveal hybridization signals in the hypophyseal pars tuberalis and hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus. The cloned high affinity receptor likely mediates the reproductive and circadian actions of melatonin in mammals.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry, Saitama Medical School, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama 35004, Japan.

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