Tyramine, ␤-phenylethylamine, tryptamine, and octopamine are biogenic amines present in trace levels in mammalian nervous systems. Although some ''trace amines'' have clearly defined roles as neurotransmitters in invertebrates, the extent to which they function as true neurotransmitters in vertebrates has remained speculative. Using a degenerate PCR approach, we have identified 15 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) from human and rodent tissues. Together with the orphan receptor PNR, these receptors form a subfamily of rhodopsin GPCRs distinct from, but related to the classical biogenic amine receptors. We have demonstrated that two of these receptors bind and͞or are activated by trace amines. The cloning of mammalian GPCRs for trace amines supports a role for trace amines as neurotransmitters in vertebrates. Three of the four human receptors from this family are present in the amygdala, possibly linking trace amine receptors to affective disorders. The identification of this family of receptors should rekindle the investigation of the roles of trace amines in mammalian nervous systems and may potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutics for a variety of indications.

The central nervous system octapeptide, neuropeptide FF (NPFF), is believed to play a role in pain modulation and opiate tolerance. Two G protein-coupled receptors, NPFF1 and NPFF2, were isolated from human and rat central nervous system tissues. NPFF specifically bound to NPFF1 (K d ‫؍‬ 1.13 nM) and NPFF2 (K d ‫؍‬ 0.37 nM), and both receptors were activated by NPFF in a variety of heterologous expression systems. The localization of mRNA and binding sites of these receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the lateral hypothalamus, the spinal trigeminal nuclei, and the thalamic nuclei supports a role for NPFF in pain modulation. Among the receptors with the highest amino acid sequence homology to NPFF1 and NPFF2 are members of the orexin, NPY, and cholecystokinin families, which have been implicated in feeding. These similarities together with the finding that BIBP3226, an anorexigenic Y1 receptor ligand, also binds to NPFF1 suggest a potential role for NPFF1 in feeding. The identification of NPFF1 and NPFF2 will help delineate their roles in these and other physiological functions.

receptors and potently antagonized R(ϩ)-2-dipropylamino-7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydronaphtalene HBr (7-OH-DPAT)-induced suppression of cAMP formation (pK b 9.57). In these functional assays, cariprazine showed similar (D 2 ) or higher (D 3 ) antagonist-partial agonist affinity and greater (3-to 10-fold) D 3 versus D 2 selectivity compared with aripiprazole. In in vivo turnover and biosynthesis experiments, cariprazine demonstrated D 2 -related partial agonist and antagonist properties, depending on actual dopaminergic tone. The antagonist-partial agonist properties of cariprazine at D 3 and D 2 receptors, with very high and preferential affinity to D 3 receptors, make it a candidate antipsychotic with a unique pharmacological profile among known antipsychotics. Dopamine D 3 receptors, cloned in the beginning of the 1990s (Sokoloff et al., 1990), are most abundant in the mesolimbic regions (i.e., nucleus accumbens, island of Calleja) where dysregulation of neurotransmission is thought to be associated with psychosis. The discovery that most antipsychotics, in addition to binding to D 2 receptors, display reasonably high affinity for D 3 receptors, led to the assumption that these receptors may also be responsible for antipsychotic efficacy (Sokoloff et al., 1995). Unfortunately, the selective D 3Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at

Molecular cloning efforts have provided primary amino acid sequence and signal transduction data for a large collection of serotonin receptor subtypes. These include five 5‐HT1‐like receptors, three 5‐HT2 receptors, one 5‐HT3 receptor, two 5‐HT5 receptors, one 5‐HT6 receptor and one 5‐HT7 receptor. Molecular biological information on the 5‐HT4 receptor is notably absent from this list. We now report the cloning of the pharmacologically defined 5‐HT4 receptor. Using degenerate oligonucleotide primers, we identified a rat brain PCR fragment which encoded a ‘5‐HT receptor‐like’ amino acid sequence. The corresponding full length cDNA was isolated from a rat brain cDNA library. Transiently expressed in COS‐7 cells, this receptor stimulates adenylyl cyclase activity and is sensitive to the benzamide derivative cisapride. The response is also blocked by ICS‐205930. Interestingly, we isolated two splice variants of the receptor, 5‐HT4L and 5‐HT4S, differing in the length and sequence of their C‐termini. In rat brain, the 5‐HT4S transcripts are restricted to the striatum, but the 5‐HT4L transcripts are expressed throughout the brain, except in the cerebellum where it was barely detectable. In peripheral tissues, differential expression was also observed in the atrium of the heart where only the 5‐HT4S isoform was detectable.

Two structurally related, G-protein-coupled receptors were identified as receptors for the neuropeptide, neuromedin U. This peptide is found in highest levels in the gut and genitourinary system where it potently contracts smooth muscle but is also expressed in the spinal cord and discrete regions of the brain. Binding sites for neuromedin U have been characterized in rat uterus, however, little is known about the activity of this peptide in the regions of the central nervous system where it is expressed. The receptors characterized in this report are activated by neuromedin U at nanomolar potency in heterologous expression systems and bind radiolabeled neuromedin U with high affinity. Localization of the receptor RNA by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in a variety of human tissues shows distinct expression patterns for the two receptors. NMU1 is expressed predominantly in peripheral tissues, whereas NMU2 is more highly expressed in the central nervous system. Identification of neuromedin U receptor subtypes will greatly aid in the determination of the physiological roles of this peptide.