TY - JOUR A1 - Troppmann, Britta A1 - Balfanz, Sabine A1 - Krach, Christian A1 - Baumann, Arnd A1 - Blenau, Wolfgang T1 - Characterization of an Invertebrate-Type Dopamine Receptor of the American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana T2 - International journal of molecular sciences N2 - We have isolated a cDNA coding for a putative invertebrate-type dopamine receptor (Peadop2) from P. americana brain by using a PCR-based strategy. The mRNA is present in samples from brain and salivary glands. We analyzed the distribution of the PeaDOP2 receptor protein with specific affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. On Western blots, PeaDOP2 was detected in protein samples from brain, subesophageal ganglion, thoracic ganglia, and salivary glands. In immunocytochemical experiments, we detected PeaDOP2 in neurons with their somata being located at the anterior edge of the medulla bilaterally innervating the optic lobes and projecting to the ventro-lateral protocerebrum. In order to determine the functional and pharmacological properties of the cloned receptor, we generated a cell line constitutively expressing PeaDOP2. Activation of PeaDOP2-expressing cells with dopamine induced an increase in intracellular cAMP. In contrast, a C-terminally truncated splice variant of this receptor did not exhibit any functional property by itself. The molecular and pharmacological characterization of the first dopamine receptor from P. americana provides the basis for forthcoming studies focusing on the significance of the dopaminergic system in cockroach behavior and physiology. KW - G-protein-coupled receptor KW - dopamine KW - insect KW - cellular signaling KW - salivary gland KW - biogenic amine Y1 - 2014 UR - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/38282 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 15 IS - 1 SP - 629 EP - 653 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER -