Molecular genetic analysis of two distinct receptors for mammalian bombesin-like peptides

The mammalian bombesin-like peptides are known to be growth factors for certain cells with high-affinity bombesin receptors and have been implicated as autocrine growth factors influencing the pathogenesis and progression of a subset of human small-cell lung carcinomas. Thus, antagonists that interfere with bombesin receptor-ligand interaction might prove to be of value in treatment of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-responsive tumors. A precise definition of the structure and properties of the bombesin receptors found on human lung cancer cells would provide important information for the design and rational application of such antagonists. Recently, we isolated cDNA clones encoding two distinct receptors for the mammalian bombesin-like peptides, GRP, and neuromedian B (NMB). The two receptors show 56% amino acid identity, encode seven putative transmembrane domains, and are members of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Ligand-binding studies show that while both receptors can be activated by either GRP or NMB, one receptor has a higher affinity for GRP than for NMB (GRP-R), while the other has a higher affinity for NMB than for GRP (NMB-R). A different spectrum of antagonists is needed to block responses from the two different receptors. These studies indicate that it will be critical in future studies to define which bombesin receptor subtypes are present on a given tumor to optimize the potential therapeutic benefit of antagonists in blocking growth.