Tools for Investigating Functional Interactions Between Lipid-Derived Autacoids and their Receptors

A method for rapidly evaluating functional interactions between ligands and G-protein--coupled receptors has been developed. The technology is based on the ability of animals to change color by controlling the position of pigmented organelles within skin cells called melanophores. cDNA coding for a receptor to be studied is expressed in immortalized frog melanophores. Stimulation of a receptor that normally functions to activate either adenyl cyclase or phospholipase C induces centrifugal melanosome translocation and cell darkening. Conversely, application of an agonist to cells expressing a receptor that operates to inhibit adenyl cyclase induces centripetal pigment movement and cell lightening. The simple optical change can be used to investigate ligand-receptor interactions at several levels, including single-cell analysis and high-throughput chemical screening. Current efforts are focused on (1) identifying small peptides that activate or block thromboxane. A(2) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptors and (2) cloning eicosanoid receptors.