SNP analysis, genotyping and mapping of the porcine GPCR142 gene (Brief report)

Abstract. The RLN3 gene has been recently reported as a ligand for two related orphan G protein-coupled receptors, GPCR135 and GPCR142 (BATHGATE et al., 2002; LIU et al., 2003a; LIU et al., 2003b; CHEN et al., 2005). Pharmacological studies of the GPCR142 gene indicated that the RLN3 gene is the only member of the RLN family showing the ability to activate this gene (BATHGATE et al., 2002). The GPCR142 gene contains a single exon and is located on chromosome 1 (1q22) in human (FREDRIKSSON et al., 2003). It is expressed abundantly in the hypothalamus with discrete expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and supraoptic nucleus; as well as in the cortex, septal nucleus and preoptical area (LIU et al., 2003b). The functional roles of the RLN3 gene and its receptors within the mammalian physiology are still unclear.

The objectives of this study were to characterize the GPCR142 gene in pigs, to determine the chromosomal location and to analysis the expression profile in pigs.