Molecular cloning and functional expression of a new human CC-chemokine receptor gene.

The cloning of several receptors activated by either CC or CXC chemokines and belonging to the G protein-coupled family of receptors has been reported recently. In the present work, we describe the cloning of a human gene, named ChemR13, encoding a new CC-chemokine receptor. The gene encodes a protein of 352 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 40 600 Da and displaying a single potential site for N-linked glycosylation. Using a set of overlapping lambda clones, the genomic organisation of the locus was investigated, demonstrating that the ChemR13 gene is physically linked, and in the same orientation, as the CC-CKR2 gene that encodes a receptor for the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). A distance of 17.5 kb separates the two coding regions, which share 75% identity in nucleic acid and amino acid sequences. Human ChemR13 was functionally expressed in a stably transfected CHO-K1 cell line. Physiological responses to chemokines were monitored using a microphysiometer. Macrophage inflamma...