Urotensin-II GPCR Assays
Background of Urotensin-II Receptors
The urotensin-2 receptor, also known as GPR14, is a class A rhodopsin family G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds to the neuropeptide urotensin II. The activation of the urotensin-2 receptor would induce the potent vasoconstriction effect and is associated with cardiovascular effects, stress, and REM sleep. The urotensin-II receptor has served as a notable target against various cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
Fig.1. Activation protein kinase C via urotensin-II receptor.
Distributions and Functions of Urotensin-II Receptors
Urotensin-II receptors are widely distributed throughout the entire brain. In addition, high-level expression of urotensin-II receptors is also found in the peripheral vasculature, heart, and kidney. The urotensin-II (UT) receptor can mediate complex hemodynamic effects and influence neuromuscular physiology.
Mechanisms of Urotensin-II Receptors
| Receptor | Gene | Mechanism | Agonists | Antagonists |
| Urotensin-II receptor | UTS2R |
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Assay List of Urotensin Receptor
Creative Biolabs can provide a range of assays of urotensin receptor. You can choose the assay in the list or contact us for more information:
Published Data
| Paper Title | Conserved role of the urotensin II receptor 4 signaling pathway to control body straightness in a tetrapod |
| Journal | Open Biology |
| Published | 2021 |
| Abstract | Found in teleosts, Urp1 and Urp2 are two neuropeptides of the urotensin II family expressed primarily in neurons exposed to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Urp1 and Urp2 are essential for proper shaft formation and maintenance. They are also thought to be mediated by the receptor Uts2r3. It has been shown that loss of uts2r3 causes severe scoliosis in adult zebrafish. In this paper, we report that toad cells containing urp2 mRNA are CSF-contacting neurons. Furthermore, we identified utr4, the X. laevis counterpart of zebrafish uts2r3. Ultimately, we conclude that the role of the Utr4 signaling pathway in the control of body straightness is an ancestral trait of bony vertebrates. |
| Result |
Here, we study the urp2 gene in quadrupeds for the first time and find that toad urp2 is predominantly expressed in CSF-contacting neurons of the spinal cord and hindbrain. Through experiments, we also confirmed that utr4 knockout can cause severe axial bending in tadpoles. Ultimately we conclude that the Utr4 signaling pathway plays a role in the control of body straightness not only in ray-finned fishes but also in bony vertebrates. In future studies, we need to further identify new pathogenic mechanisms of IS.
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Fig.2. Localization of urotensin II receptor (utr) mRNAs in X. laevis embryo revealed by in situ hybridization. (Alejevski, et al., 2021)
Reference
- Alejevski, F.; et al. Conserved role of the urotensin II receptor 4 signaling pathway to control body straightness in a tetrapod. Open Biology. 2021, 11(8): 210065.
