Cloning, sequencing, chromosomal location, and function of cDNAs encoding an opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) in humans.

The native opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met(5)]-enkephalin, is a tonic inhibitory peptide that modulates cell proliferation and tissue organization during development, cancer, cellular renewal, wound healing, and angiogenesis. OGF action is mediated by a receptor mechanism. We have cloned and sequenced cDNAs encoding multiple spliced forms of a human OGF receptor. The open reading frame in the longest cDNA was found to encode a protein of 697 amino acids, and 8 imperfect repeats of 20 amino acids each were a prominent feature. Altogether, five alternatively spliced forms were observed. The cDNA hybridized to mRNA from a variety of normal and neoplastic cells and tissues. Functional studies using antisense oligonucleotides to OGFr demonstrated an enhancement in cell growth. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments showed the chromosomal location to be 20q13.3. This OGF receptor has no homology to classical opioid receptors. These results provide molecular validity for the interaction of OGF and OGF receptor in the regulation of growth processes in humans.