Characterization of the bombesin-like peptide receptor family in primates

Genomics. 2004 Jul;84(1):139-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2004.01.008.

Abstract

In mammals, bombesin-like peptides mediate a broad range of physiological functions through binding to three highly conserved G-protein-coupled receptors: the neuromedin B-preferring, the gastrin-releasing peptide-preferring, and the bombesin-receptor subtype 3. Selective modulation of these receptors presents opportunities for the development of novel therapeutics. To ascertain if rhesus monkey could serve as a surrogate animal model for the development of modulators of bombesin-like receptor function, we undertook a search for additional receptor family members and studied the expression profiles of the three known bombesin-related receptors. We found no evidence for additional receptor family members in mammals, suggesting that the expression of the previously described bombesin-receptor subtype 4 is limited to amphibians. We studied the distribution of the three receptors in a broad array of human and rhesus monkey tissues. Based on the similarity between the human and the rhesus expression profiles, we conclude that the rhesus monkey may be a suitable animal model to evaluate the clinical efficacy and potential side effects of bombesin-like peptide ligands.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amphibian Proteins / genetics
  • Amphibian Proteins / metabolism
  • Amphibians / genetics
  • Amphibians / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Macaca mulatta / genetics*
  • Macaca mulatta / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurokinin B / analogs & derivatives*
  • Neurokinin B / metabolism
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Receptors, Bombesin / genetics*
  • Receptors, Bombesin / metabolism
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Amphibian Proteins
  • Receptors, Bombesin
  • Gastrin-Releasing Peptide
  • Neurokinin B
  • neuromedin B