G Protein Coupled Receptor 20 (GPR20)

The GPR20 gene was isolated by amplifying genomic DNA from oligonucleotides based on the opioid and somatostatin-related receptor genes and subsequent screening of a genomic library. By screening an EST database, they identified cDNA sequences that partially encode 3 additional GPRs. These cDNA fragments were used to screen a genomic library to isolate the full-length coding region of the genes. This resulted in the isolation of genes GPR21, GPR22, and GPR23. The 4 encoded receptors share significant identity to each other and to other members of the receptor family.

Northern blot analysis revealed expression of GPR20 and GPR22 in several human brain regions, while GPR20 expression was detected also in liver.