Tissue-specific molecular heterogeneity of human growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor protein

AbstractA site-directed anti-peptide antibody (anti-hGHRHRc18) was generated against the cytoplasmic tail of human GHRH receptor. The dissociation constant (Kd) and the antibody binding site (AbT) of anti-hGHRHRc18 were 2.5 nmol/l and 0.54 nmol/l, respectively. In an immunoblotting experiment, affinity-purified anti-hGHRHRc18 specifically recognized a single 50-kDa protein in human pituitary. In a screening of the expression of GHRH receptor protein in extra-pituitary tissues, only human kidney showed a single 52-kDa protein. Our results suggest that the GHRH receptor protein exhibits tissue-specific molecular heterogeneity