G Protein Coupled Receptor 128 (GPR128)

Using bioinformatic analysis to identify genes encoding G protein-coupled receptors with long N termini, Fredriksson et al. (2003) identified GPR128. The deduced 712-amino acid protein contains a long N-terminal serine- and threonine-rich region predicted to form a mucin-like stalk, and a GPS (G protein-coupled receptor proteolytic site) domain. The C-terminal portion contains 7 transmembrane domains and 2 conserved cysteines in the predicted extracellular loops 2 and 3 that were predicted to form disulfide bridges, and numerous putative N-glycosylation sites occur throughout the molecule. GPR128 ESTs were detected in cervix and skin cDNA libraries.Fredriksson et al. (2003) determined that the GPR128 gene contains 14 exons and spans 64.3 kb.