Receptor Transporter Protein 4 (RTP4)

Transport of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to the cell surface membrane is critical for receptor-ligand recognition. However, mammalian GPCR odorant receptors (ORs), when heterologously expressed in cells, are poorly expressed on the cell surface.

By screening for genes that induced cell surface expression of ORs expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, Saito et al. (2004) identified mouse and human RTP1 and RTP2. They searched databases for homologs of RTP1 and RTP2 and identified RTP3 and RTP4. In situ hybridization of mouse olfactory epithelium revealed low expression of Rtp4 in olfactory neurons.The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the RTP4 gene to chromosome 3 .