cDNA Cloning and mRNA Expression of Bovine GPR39

Abstract

ABSTRACT. GPR39 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that is thought to be involved in gastrointestinal and metabolic function. In this study, we cloned bovine GPR39 cDNA that encoded 462 amino acids showing high sequence homology to other mammalian GPR39 proteins. Real-time PCR showed expression of GPR39 mRNA in the liver, kidney, abomasums, small intestine, colon, rectum and uterus, with the highest level in the abomasums. Significant promoter activity was observed within the -2.3 kb 5'-upstream region of bovine GPR39 gene with human colon carcinoma-derived CACO-2 cells. These findings suggest that GPR39 may have important roles in gastrointestinal and metabolic functions in bovines as in other mammals.

GPR39: a Zn2+-activated G protein-coupled receptor that regulates pancreatic, gastrointestinal and neuronal functions

“…A wide range of expression studies for GPR39 have been carried out with cells/tissues isolated from humans [1,[17][18][19][20][21][22], rodents [2,9,16,[23][24][25][26][27][28], ruminants [29], birds [30,31] and fish [32], as summarized in Table 1. The overall consensus is that the receptor is most highly expressed in the pancreas, GI tract, liver and kidney.…”

The Hungry Stomach: Physiology, Disease, and Drug Development Opportunities

“…Clues may be provided by the suggestion that GPR39 is the receptor which mediates the ability of free zinc ions (Zn 2+ ) to affect cell functions (Egerød et al, 2007). GPR39 receptors are found throughout the GI tract (Egerød et al, 2007; Yamamoto et al, 2009) raising the possibility that these receptors mediate the ability of Zn 2+ to modulate colonocyte functions such as proliferation, ion transport, and hormone transport, reduce epithelial erosion and inhibit diarrhea (Azriel-Tamir et al, 2004; Hershfinkel et al, 2007; Sharir et al, 2010). A role for Zn 2+ -sensitive receptors in upper GI functions is not clear but now needs to be investigated.…”