Cloning of the cDNA and genes for the hamster and human beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

The adenylate cyclase-stimulatory beta 2-adrenergic receptor has been purified to apparent homogeneity from hamster lung. Partial amino acid sequence obtained from isolated CNBr peptides was used to clone the gene and cDNA for this receptor. The predicted amino acid sequence for the hamster beta 2-adrenergic receptor revealed that the protein consists of a single polypeptide chain of 418 aa with consensus N-glycosylation and phosphorylation sites predicted by previous in vitro data. The most striking feature of the receptor protein however, is that it contains seven stretches of hydrophobic residues similar to the proposed seven transmembrane segments of the light receptor rhodopsin. Significant amino acid homology (30-35%) can be found between the hamster beta 2-adrenergic receptor and rhodopsin within these putative membrane spanning regions. Using a hamster beta 2-adrenergic receptor probe, the gene and cDNA for the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor were isolated, revealing a high degree of homology (87%) between the two proteins from different species. Unlike the genes encoding the family of opsin pigments, of which rhodopsin is a member, the genes encoding both hamster and human beta 2-adrenergic receptors are devoid of introns in their coding as well as 5' and 3' untranslated nucleotide sequences. The cloning of the genes and the elucidation of the aa sequences for these G-protein coupled receptors should help to determine the structure-function as well as the evolutionary relationship of these proteins.

Duke Scholars

Author Robert J. Lefkowitz Medicine, Cardiology