ANTISERA SPECIFIC FOR D(2) DOPAMINE-RECEPTORS

Antisera have been raised against two peptides from the sequence of D2 dopamine receptors: peptide 1 from the predicted second extracellular loop and peptide 2 from the predicted third intracellular loop. The antisera recognize specifically a 95 kDa band in Western blots of several bovine brain regions, which corresponds to the denatured D2 dopamine receptor, whereas in recombinant CHO cells expressing D2 dopamine receptors a 80 kDa band is seen. The antisera immunoprecipitate 10-20% of the D2 dopamine receptors from soluble preparations of bovine brain. The antisera recognize D2 dopamine receptors in immunofluorescence analyses of recombinant CHO cells bearing the receptor gene. The antisera directed against the third intracellular loop, but not those against the second extracellular loop, will interfere with the coupling of D2 dopamine receptors and G-proteins in bovine brain preparations.