Human mGluR4 Antibody

Metabotrophic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) is a 95-110 kDa Group III mGluR member of the Class C, GPCR 3 family of proteins. The mGluR family of receptors are 7-transmembrane (TM), non-ion channel glutamate-binding molecules that are linked to adenylcyclase. mGluR4 is widely expressed, being found on/in multiple cell types, including colonic, breast, urinary and skin epithelium. It is also found on neurons where it is located presynaptically and regulates neurotransmitter release. In general, mGluR4 activation results in a slowing of either glutamine or GABA release. However, in discrete areas, it actually facilitates glutamine release. Mature human mGluR4 is an 880 amino acid (aa) 7-TM molecule (aa 33-912). It contains a 555 aa N-terminal extracellular region (aa 33-587), plus a 65 aa C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. mGluR4 potentially forms homodimers, and is reported to heterodimerize with both mGluR2 and mGluR8. Based on rodent, there is one 68 kDa isoform that is found in taste buds and shows an alternative start site at Met309. Two additional potential splice variants contain a second alternative start site at Met209, and an Asp substitution for aa 343-390, respectively. It is uncertain if human possesses a mGluR4b found in rodent. Over aa 1-518, human mGluR4 shares 96% aa identity with mouse mGluR4.