Pain signaling molecules

Abstract

The invention relates generally to novel genes expressed in normal but not Neurogenin-1-deficient animals. The invention relates specifically to a novel family of G protein-coupled receptors and a novel family of two-transmembrane segment proteins that are expressed in dorsal root ganglia, and a method of screening for genes specifically expressed in nociceptive sensory neurons.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a G protein coupled receptor and comprising a sequence having at least 70% sequence identity to (1) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 34, or (2) the complement of the nucleic acid molecule of (1).  
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  operably linked to an expression control element.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3  operably linked to a promoter element.  
     
     
         5 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         7 . The host cell of  claim 6  wherein said host cell is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         8 . The host cell of  claim 7  wherein said host cell is an  E. coli.    
     
     
         9 . The host cell of  claim 6  wherein said host cell is a eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         10 . The host cell of  claim 9  wherein said host cell is a hamster embryonic kidney (HEK) cell.  
     
     
         11 . The host cell of  claim 9  wherein said host cell is a yeast cell.  
     
     
         12 . A method for producing an MrgD polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 6  under conditions in which the protein encoded by said nucleic acid is expressed.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  having at least 80% sequence identity to (1) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 34, or (2) the complement of the nucleic acid molecule of (1).  
     
     
         14 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  having at least 90% sequence identity to (1) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 34, or (2) the complement of the nucleic acid molecule of (1).  
     
     
         15 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a G protein coupled receptor and comprises a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to (1) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 34, or (2) the complement of the nucleic acid molecule of (1).  
     
     
         16 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence having at least 99% sequence identity to (1) the nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 34, or (2) the complement of the nucleic acid molecule of (1).  
     
     
         17 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 16  operably linked to an expression control element.  
     
     
         18 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         19 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         20 . The host cell of  claim 18 , wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of eurkaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells.