Biomaterial Database

Investigation of the oxytocin receptor at the molecular level. 1995

T Kimura

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.

Before the onset of labor, the myometrium becomes extremely sensitive to oxytocin, for which it is a primary target tissue, because of a tremendous increase in the number of oxytocin receptors. To study this dynamic expression and regulation of the receptor, we cloned the human oxytocin receptor cDNA in 1992 and characterized its expression in female reproductive organs and in the rat brain using the receptor cDNA and anti-oxytocin receptor monoclonal antibodies. In the uterus, we revealed that oxytocin receptor expression is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level. For the investigation of this transcriptional regulation, we isolated and characterized the human oxytocin receptor gene. The gene contains 3 introns and 4 exons and is assigned to 3p26.2 of human chromosome 3. In the 5'-upstream region of this gene, we found several known binding sites for transcription regulation factors including the nucleofactor-interleukin 6 binding consensus sequence and an acute phase reactant-responsive element. Our findings on the structure of the oxytocin receptor gene should help to elucidate the mechanism by which expression of the gene is induced dramatically at parturition in the uterus and how the gene is regulated in other organs such as the mammary gland and central nervous system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002874	Chromosome Mapping	Any method used for determining the location of and relative distances between genes on a chromosome.	Gene Mapping,Linkage Mapping,Genome Mapping,Chromosome Mappings,Gene Mappings,Genome Mappings,Linkage Mappings,Mapping, Chromosome,Mapping, Gene,Mapping, Genome,Mapping, Linkage,Mappings, Chromosome,Mappings, Gene,Mappings, Genome,Mappings, Linkage
D002893	Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3	A specific pair of human chromosomes in group A (CHROMOSOMES, HUMAN, 1-3) of the human chromosome classification.	Chromosome 3
D003001	Cloning, Molecular	The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells.	Molecular Cloning
D005260	Female		Females
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D005836	Genitalia, Female	The female reproductive organs. The external organs include the VULVA; BARTHOLIN'S GLANDS; and CLITORIS. The internal organs include the VAGINA; UTERUS; OVARY; and FALLOPIAN TUBES.	Accessory Sex Organs, Female,Sex Organs, Accessory, Female,Genital Organs, Female,Genitals, Female,Reproductive System, Female,Female Genital,Female Genital Organ,Female Genital Organs,Female Genitalia,Female Genitals,Female Reproductive System,Female Reproductive Systems,Genital Organ, Female,Genital, Female,Reproductive Systems, Female
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man