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Expression pattern of the orphan receptor LGR4/GPR48 gene in the mouse

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Abstract

Leucine-rich G-protein-coupled Receptors (LGR) constitute a subfamily of receptors related to glycoprotein hormone receptors. Amongst them, LGR4, LGR5 and LGR6 form a cluster for which natural agonists are still unknown. By an extensive gene trapping approach, Leighton et al. (2001) obtained a mouse line in which the LGR4 gene is disrupted by a trap vector carrying two biological markers, beta-geo (a fusion between bacterial beta-galactosidase and neomycin phosphotransferase) and a placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Due to perinatal lethality, characterization of adult mice homozygous for this insertion has been impaired. In the present study we have investigated LacZ and PLAP activity patterns in heterozygous mice as a marker for LGR4 natural expression at both macroscopic and histological levels. We present a detailed atlas of LGR4 expression, which displays very wide expression with particularly strong activity in cartilages, kidneys, reproductive tracts and nervous system cells.

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Acknowledgements

We want to thank Dr William C Skarnes for providing us with LST20 mice and Dr Lisa Goodrich for isolating LST20 gene trap cell line. This study was supported by the Belgian State, Prime Minister’s office, Service for Sciences, Technology and Culture. Also supported by grants from FRSM, FNRS, ARBD, CICYT (SAF2002-01509) and the Improving Human Potential of the European Community (HPRI-CT-1999-00071). GVS is a fellow of the FRIA; FM is a recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship of the Francqui Foundation.

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  1. Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Grégory Van Schoore, Fernando Mendive & Gilbert Vassart

  2. Laboratoire d’histologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Roland Pochet

  3. Service de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Gilbert Vassart

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  1. Grégory Van Schoore
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  4. Gilbert Vassart
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Correspondence to Gilbert Vassart.

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Schoore, G.V., Mendive, F., Pochet, R. et al. Expression pattern of the orphan receptor LGR4/GPR48 gene in the mouse. Histochem Cell Biol 124, 35–50 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-005-0002-3

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