Molecular characterization of a second melatonin receptor expressed in human retina and brain: the Mel1b melatonin receptor.

TLDR

A G protein‑coupled receptor for the pineal hormone melatonin, the Mel1a receptor, was recently cloned from mammals. The authors cloned a second human G protein‑coupled melatonin receptor, the Mel1b receptor. The Mel1b receptor is a 362‑amino‑acid protein 60 % identical to Mel1a, binds melatonin with high affinity (Kd ≈ 160 pM), displays similar ligand selectivity, couples to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, is expressed in retina and brain, maps to chromosome 11q21‑22, and may mediate retinal and neurobiological melatonin effects.

Abstract

A G protein-coupled receptor for the pineal hormone melatonin was recently cloned from mammals and designated the Mel1a melatonin receptor. We now report the cloning of a second G protein-coupled melatonin receptor from humans and designate it the Mel1b melatonin receptor. The Mel1b receptor cDNA encodes a protein of 362 amino acids that is 60% identical at the amino acid level to the human Mel1a receptor. Transient expression of the Mel1b receptor in COS-1 cells results in high-affinity 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding (Kd = 160 +/- 30 pM). In addition, the rank order of inhibition of specific 2-[125I]iodomelatonin binding by eight ligands is similar to that exhibited by the Mel1a melatonin receptor. Functional studies of NIH 3T3 cells stably expressing the Mel1b melatonin receptor indicate that it is coupled to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Comparative reverse transcription PCR shows that the Mel1b melatonin receptor is expressed in retina and, to a lesser extent, brain. PCR analysis of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids maps the Mel1b receptor gene (MTNR1B) to human chromosome 11q21-22. The Mel1b melatonin receptor may mediate the reported actions of melatonin in retina and participate in some of the neurobiological effects of melatonin in mammals.