The mas oncogene encodes an angiotensin receptor

TLDR: Results demonstrate that the mas gene product is a functional angiotensin receptor, and shows the greatest sequence similarity to the substance-K receptor.

Abstract: The class of receptors coupled to GTP-binding proteins share a conserved structural motif which is described as a 'seven-transmembrane segment'1 following the prediction that these hydrophobic segments form membrane-spanning α-helices. Identified examples include the mammalian opsins2, α1-, α2-, β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors3, the muscarinic receptor family4,5, the 5-HT1C-receptor6, and the substance-K receptor7. In addition, two mammalian genes have been identified that code for predicted gene products with sequence similarity to these receptors, but whose ligand specificity is unknown namely, G21 (ref. 8) and the mas oncogene9. The mas oncogene shows the greatest sequence similarity to the substance-K receptor, and on this basis it was predicted that it would encode a peptide receptor with mitogenic activity which would act through the inositol lipid signalling pathways10,11. The mas oncogene product was transiently expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and stably expressed in a transfected mammalian cell line. The results demonstrate that the mas gene product is a functional angiotensin receptor.