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An ascidian homologue of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor is a retinoic acid target gene.

Kobayashi Y, Ohashi M, Kawamura K, Yubisui T, Fujiwara S

Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520, Japan.

Transdifferentiation of the multipotent atrial epithelium is a key event during budding of the ascidian Polyandrocarpa misakiensis. The transdifferentiation is induced by mesenchyme cells that were stimulated by retinoic acid. The fluorescent differential display identified a few cDNA fragments for retinoic acid-inducible genes. One of the cDNA clones, named Pm-GnRHR, encoded a seven-pass transmembrane receptor similar to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. Putative amino acid sequence showed high similarity to Ciona intestinalis GnRHRs and formed a cluster with other GnRHR proteins in a phylogenetic tree. The level of expression of the Pm-GnRHR mRNA increased during the early stage of bud development, suggesting that the Pm-GnRHR function is involved in some aspects of bud development.

Published 28 June 2005 in Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol, 141(3): 274-80.
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