Ahsrmrr; Abstract: Dopamine receptors belong to a large super-gene family of receptors which are linked to their signal transduction pathways through heterotrimeric G proteins. A variety of signalling events are known to be regulated by dopamine receptors including adenylate cyclase and phospholipase activities and various ion channels. Prior to the advent of molecular cloning technology, dopamine receptors were believed to belong to two subtypes, D, and Dz. This distinction was based on both pharmacological and functional criteria. We now know that at least five different dopamine receptors exist although they can still be described as to belonging within "D," and "D2" subfamilies. The D, subfamily consists of two receptors -the D , and D5, whereas the D2, D3 and D4 receptors comprise the D2 subfamily. The cloning and molecular characteristics of these five receptors are described in this review.The discovery of the neurotransmitter dopamine initiated a tremendous multi-disciplinary effort to elucidate its function, regulation and relevance to disease states. Dopamine is known to exert its actions through the binding and activation of specific cell surface receptors which are characteristic of the G-protein coupled receptor family. Before it was established that multiple subtypes of dopamine receptors exist, the stimulatory effect of dopamine on adenylate cyclase activity in the neostriatum was demonstrated (Kebabian & Greengard 1971). Subsequent testing of dopaminergic agonists revealed that some promoted inhibition rather than stimulation of adenylate cyclase in the striatum (Stoof & Kebabian 1981). This discrepancy led to the classification of D I receptors as those which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity and raise intracellular levels of CAMP and D2 receptors as those which inhibit adenylate cyclase activity (reviewed in Kebabian & Calne 1979). In addition to regulating adenylate cyclase, many other intracellular effects have now been ascribed to dopamine receptor stimulation (Huff 1996).Through the application of molecular biological techniques, we now know that there are D, and D? subfamilies of receptors rather than singular receptor subtypes. The D, dopamine receptor subfamily includes the "classical" DI (also called the D I A ) receptor, as well as the D5 (also known as the DIB) receptor. The D5 receptor differs from the D I receptor in primary amino acid sequence and anatomical distribution, but binds D , receptor-selective agonists and antagonists with similar affinity. The D2 receptor subfamily includes the classical D2 receptor, which is found in a short and long isoform (DZS and DZL), and also the D3 and D4 receptors. These D2-like receptors exhibit a variety of pharmacological, structural and, in some cases, functional similarities. The cloning history and molecular properties of the five mammalian dopamine receptor subtypes will be described in this review.
The D, Receptor SubfamilyMolecular cloning techniques precipitated the discovery that there are two distinct dopamine receptor subtypes w...