Nucleic acids encoding a g-protein coupled receptor involved in sensory transduction

Abstract

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of sensory cell specific G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of sensory cell specific G-protein coupled receptors.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, wherein the nucleic acid specifically hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:8. 
     
     
         10 . A vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, the receptor comprising greater than about 70% amino acid identity to a polypeptide having a sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:7, wherein the nucleic acid selectively hybridizes under moderately stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:8. 
     
     
         11 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An isolated polypeptide comprising a transmembrane domain of a sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, the transmembrane domain comprising greater than about 70% amino acid sequence identity to the transmembrane domain of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         28 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 27 , wherein the polypeptide encodes the transmembrane domain of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         29 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 27 , further comprising a cytoplasmic domain comprising greater than about 70% amino acid identity to the cytoplasmic domain of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         30 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 29 , wherein the polypeptide encodes the cytoplasmic domain of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         31 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 27 , wherein the transmembrane domain is covalently linked to a heterologous polypeptide, forming a chimeric polypeptide. 
     
     
         32 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 31 , wherein the chimeric polypeptide has G-protein coupled receptor activity. 
     
     
         33 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method for identifying a compound that modulates sensory signaling in sensory cells, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting the compound with the polypeptide of  claim 27  comprising the transmembrane domain of the sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, the transmembrane domain comprising greater than about 70% amino acid sequence identity to the transmembrane domain of SEQ ID NO: 1; and   (ii) determining the functional effect of the compound upon the transmembrane domain.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an transmembrane domain that is covalently linked to a heterologous polypeptide, forming a chimeric polypeptide. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the chimeric polypeptide has G-protein coupled receptor activity. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the functional effect is determined by measuring changes in intracellular cAMP, IP3, or Ca 2+ . 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the functional effect is a chemical effect. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the functional effect is a physical effect. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the polypeptide is recombinant. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the polypeptide is from a rat, a mouse, or a human. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the polypeptide is expressed in a cell or cell membrane. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell. 
     
     
         61 . A method of making a sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, the method comprising the step of expressing the receptor from the vector of claim  2 . 
     
     
         62 . A method of making a recombinant cell comprising a sensory transduction G-protein coupled receptor, the method comprising the step of transducing the cell with the vector of claim  2 . 
     
     
         63 . (canceled)