Structure and Regulation of Platelet Activating Factor Receptor Gene

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is not only a potent proinflammatory compound, but also plays important roles in reproductive, gastrointestinal, neuronal, respiratory systems (Hanahan, 1986; Barnes et al., 1988; Prescott et al., 1990; Bazan, 1994; Snyder, 1995; Izumi and Shimizu, 1995). These diverse actions might be through a PAF receptor expressed in the plasma membrane (Shimizu et al., 1992; Chao and Olson, 1993). The cloned receptor is a member of G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily (Figure 1).