Molecular cloning of the novel human G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) gene mapped on chromosome 9

A novel human GPCR gene was cloned by PCR with degenerate primers designed from cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) sequences and a full-length clone was isolated by screening of a human genomic DNA library. This gene, termed EDG-3, is highly homologous (51.9 % overall and 69.2 % in seven transmembrane regions) to human EDG-1, 47.9 % to rat AGR16 but only 28.0 % to human CB1 receptor. The Northern hybridization analysis showed that a 2.8 kb transcript of EDG-3 is abundantly expressed in the heart followed by placenta, kidney and liver. The EDG-3 gene was mapped on the human chromosome 9q22.1-q22.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Although the ligand and physiological role of this receptor is unknown, this gene may be a new member of the EDG family. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.