GPR50

Function

GPR50 is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family of integral membrane proteins and is most closely related to the melatonin receptor. GPR50 is able to heterodimerize with both the MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptor subtypes. While GPR50 has no effect on MT2 function, GPR50 prevented MT1 from both binding melatonin and coupling to G proteins. GPR50 is the mammalian ortholog of melatonin receptor Mel1c described in non-mammalian vertebrates.

Clinical significance

Certain polymorphisms of the GPR50 gene in females are associated with increased risk of developing bipolar affective disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. Other GPR50 gene polymorphism are associated with higher fasting circulating triglyceride levels and lower circulating High-density lipoprotein levels.

References

References

1. "Entrez Gene: GPR50 G protein-coupled receptor 50".
2. (May 1996). "Cloning of a melatonin-related receptor from human pituitary". FEBS Letters.
3. (January 1999). "Assignment of the melatonin-related receptor to human chromosome X (GPR50) and mouse chromosome X (Gpr50)". Genomics.
4. (July 2006). "The orphan GPR50 receptor specifically inhibits MT1 melatonin receptor function through heterodimerization". The EMBO Journal.
5. (2008). "GPR50 is the mammalian ortholog of Mel1c: Evidence of rapid evolution in mammals". BMC Evolutionary Biology.
6. (May 2005). "Sex-specific association between bipolar affective disorder in women and GPR50, an X-linked orphan G protein-coupled receptor". Molecular Psychiatry.
7. (April 2006). "Sequence variants in the melatonin-related receptor gene (GPR50) associate with circulating triglyceride and HDL levels". Journal of Lipid Research.