Cloning,Sequencing,and Expression of the Rhesus Monkey β 2 Adrenergic Receptor

Abstract

The β₂ adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) plays a key role in the signal transduction mechanism for epinephrine and norepinephrine. The gene for β₂ adrenergic receptors has been cloned for several species, but has remained undetermined for rhesus monkey. In this study, we report the isolation of the gene encoding the rhesus β₂AR from both cDNA and genomic DNA sources. Sequence analysis of the gene reveals an intronless open reading frame that encodes a 415-amino-acid protein. The rhesus receptor is highly homologous to that from other species, especially to the human receptor (97% sequence identity). Functional characterization by ligand binding and agonist-mediated cAMP accumulation indicates that the rhesus β₂ receptor shares a very similar pharmacological profile with the human β₂ receptor. Therefore, the rhesus monkey represents a valid animal model for developing therapeutic agents targeted at the corresponding human β₂ receptor.