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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors
Published on: September 13, 2013
The repertoire of G-protein-coupled receptor variations in the Japanese population 54KJPN
Tatsuya Ikuta1, Riko Suzuki1, Asuka Inoue1,2
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Abstract:
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest superfamily in the human genome and the major targets for the market drugs. Recent massive genomics studies revealed numerous natural variations in the general population. 54KJPN is the most extensive Japanese population genomics study, curating the whole genome sequences from about 54,000 individuals. Here, by analyzing 390 non-olfactory GPCR genes in the 54KJPN dataset, we annotated 25,443 missense single-nucleotide variations. Among them, we found 120 major variations that appear with an allele frequency greater than 0.5, including variations that occurred on posttranslational modification sites. Structural alignment of GPCRs using the generic numbering system in the GPCRdb reveals enrichment of alterations in the conserved arginine residue within the DRY motif, which contributes to downstream G-protein signaling. A comparison with the worldwide 1000 Genomes Project (1KGP) dataset found 23 variations that were present exclusively in the 54KJPN dataset. This study will be the basis for future pharmacogenomics studies for the Japanese population.
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