Isolated protein molecule, flh2882, a GPCR showing homology to the 5HT family of receptors

Abstract

The present invention provides a G-protein coupled receptor, flh2882, that shows homology to the 5HT family of receptors. The present invention further provides flh2882 fusion proteins.

1 . An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2,    (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and    (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 2  which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated polypeptide of  claim 2  which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number 98914.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated polypeptide comprising at least 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 5  comprising at least 100 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide of any one of claims  1  or  2  operatively linked to a heterologous amino acid sequence.  
     
     
         8 . A method for identifying a compound which binds to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a polypeptide fragment comprising at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2; the method comprising: 
 i) contacting the polypeptide or the polypeptide fragment, or a cell expressing the polypeptide or the polypeptide fragment with a test compound; and    ii) detecting binding of the test compound to the polypeptide or the polypeptide fragment.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said fragment comprises at least 40 contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said fragment comprises at least 100 contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detection is by direct binding.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said direct binding is determined by an immunoprecipitation.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said direct binding is determined by a yeast two-hybrid assay.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detection is by the use of a competition binding assay.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said detection is by the use of an assay for flh2882 activity.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said assay for flh2882 activity is based on phosphatidylinositol turnover.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said assay for flh2882 activity is selected from the group consisting of: a GTP binding assay, a G protein binding assay, a plasma membrane polarization assay, and a cell proliferation assay.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said cell expressing said polypeptide is a neural cell.  
     
     
         19 . A kit comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;    b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and    c) a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2;    and instructions for use in identifying a compound which binds to said polypeptide.