[Structure and gene expression of hormonal receptors somatotropin and prolactin ]

The paper reviews the data on the structure and expression of genes coding for hormonal receptors of the growth hormone/prolactin family. The genes of these receptors have a complex organization. In human genome, they are located on a short arm of chromosome 5. Multiple transcripts are generated upon the expression of growth hormone and prolactin receptor genes. Their generation results from alternative splicing and utilization of multiple promoters. The membrane forms of the the receptors consisting of extracellular, transmembraneous and cytoplasmic domains and C-terminally truncated variants--serum hormone-binding proteins--are the protein products of the growth hormone and prolactin receptor genes. Extracellular hormone-binding domains of human growth hormone receptor were produced by genetic engineering methods. Three-dimensional structure of complexes of these domains with growth hormone was established. Growth hormone and prolactin receptors belong to a superfamily of raceptors, including those of cytokines.