Molecular cloning of a putative serotonin receptor gene from barnacle, Balanus amphitrite

We isolated a putative serotonin receptor gene from a genomic library of the barnacle, balanus amphitrite Darwin, using an Ncol fragment of the barnacle G protein-coupled receptor gene that is homologous to the alpha 2-adrenoceptor. The cloned genomic DNA had no intron and specified an open reading frame of 1137 base pairs encoding 379 amino acids (aa). The predicted aa sequence has a typical seven hydrophobic transmembrane spanning region and a consensus G protein-binding motif. This receptor was most homologous to the human 5HT1A receptor and closely related to other 5HT1 receptor subtypes.