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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Identification of Dopamine D1-Alpha Receptor Within Rodent Nucleus Accumbens by an Innovative RNA In Situ Detection Technology
Published on: March 27, 2018
Molecular characterization and functional analysis of dopamine receptor D4b in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys
Baoyi Huang1, Haojie Yuan1, Rui Zhang1
1National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Marine Science and Technology College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316022, China.
Abstract:
Dopamine (DA) regulates diverse physiological processes via dopamine receptors (DRs), yet the molecular activity and physiological relevance of dopamine receptor D4 paralogs in teleosts remain unclear. Here, we identified and characterized Drd4b (LcDrd4b) from Larimichthys crocea. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses supported its assignment to the DRD4 lineage. Heterologous expression in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells showed that LcDrd4b exhibited membrane-associated localization and DA-associated redistribution, reduced forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation, and activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. Gene expression profiling revealed relatively high Lcdrd4b expression in the intestine at early reproductive stages and prominent gonadal expression at stage IV, especially in mature testes. Tyrosine hydroxylase (Lcth) showed high hepatic expression at stages II-III and a sex-related shift at stage IV. Together, these findings establish LcDrd4b as a functional DR in a marine teleost and provide a molecular basis for further studies of DA signaling in teleost physiology.
