Growth hormone secretagogue receptor family

Abstract

Human, swine and rat growth hormone secretagogue receptors have been isolated, cloned and sequenced. Growth hormone secretagogue receptors are new members of the G-protein family of receptors. The growth hormone secretagogue receptors may be used to screen and identify compounds which bind to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Such compounds may be used in the treatment of conditions which occur when there is a shortage of growth hormone, such as observed in growth hormone deficient children, elderly patients with musculoskeletal impairment and recovering from hip fracture and osteoporosis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A receptor which is a member of the growth hormone family of receptors, free-from receptor-associated proteins.  
     
     
         2 . Growth hormone secretagogue receptor, free from receptor-associated proteins.  
     
     
         3 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 2  which is human.  
     
     
         4 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 2  which is from swine.  
     
     
         5 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 2  which is from rat.  
     
     
         6 . Growth hormone secretagogue related receptor, free from receptor-associated proteins.  
     
     
         7 . Isolated growth hormone secretagogue receptor.  
     
     
         8 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 7  which is human.  
     
     
         9 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 7  which is from swine.  
     
     
         10 . A growth hormone secretagogue receptor according to  claim 7  which is from rat.  
     
     
         11 . A receptor according to  claim 4  or  9  which comprises a full length receptor or which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of FIGS.  3  or  5 .  
     
     
         12 . A receptor according to  claim 3  or  8  which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of FIGS. 7, 8,  10  or  22 .  
     
     
         13 . A receptor according to  claim 5  or  10  which comprises the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 25.  
     
     
         14 . A functional equivalent of a receptor of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A functional equivalent of a receptor of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         16 . A functional equivalent of a receptor of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         17 . A nucleic acid which encodes a receptor that is a member of the growth hormone secretagogue family of receptors, said nucleic acid being free from associated nucleic acids.  
     
     
         18 . A nucleic acid which encodes a growth hormone secretagogue receptor or a functional equivalent, said nucleic acid being free from associated nucleic acids.  
     
     
         19 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 18  which encodes human growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         20 . A nucleic acid according to  Claim 18  which encodes swine growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         21 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 18  which encodes rat growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         22 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 17  which encodes a growth hormone secretagogue related to receptor.  
     
     
         23 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 18  which is a DNA.  
     
     
         24 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 23  which is shown in any one of FIGS.  1  or  4 .  
     
     
         25 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 23  which is shown in any-one of FIGS. 6, 9 or  11 .  
     
     
         26 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 23  which is shown in any one of FIGS.  23  or  24 .  
     
     
         27 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 18  which is an RNA.  
     
     
         28 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid which encodes a receptor which is a member of the growth hormone secretagogue family of receptors.  
     
     
         29 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid which encodes a growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         30 . A vector according to  claim 29  which is selected from the group consisting of: plasmids, modified viruses, yeast artificial chromosomes, bacteriophages, cosmids and transposable elements.  
     
     
         31 . A vector according to  claim 29  wherein the nucleic acid encodes human growth hormone secretagogue receptor or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         32 . A vector according to  claim 29  wherein the nucleic acid encodes swine growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         33 . A vector according to  claim 29  wherein the nucleic acid encodes rat growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         34 . A vector according to  claim 28  wherein the nucleic acid encodes a growth hormone secretagogue related receptor.  
     
     
         35 . A host cell comprising a vector according to  claim 28 .  
     
     
         36 . A host cell comprising a vector according to  claim 28 .  
     
     
         37 . A host cell according to  claim 36  wherein the nucleic acid encodes human growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         38 . A host cell according to  claim 36  wherein the nucleic acid encodes swine growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         39 . A host cell according to  claim 36  wherein the nucleic acid encodes rat growth hormone secretagogue receptor, or a functional equivalent.  
     
     
         40 . A nucleic acid encoding a GPCR clone that belongs to the GHSR family and that hybridizes with a nucleotide which encodes either human, swine or rat GHSR under reduced stringency of hybridization.