Characterization of a novel serotonin receptor from Caenorhabditis elegans: cloning and expression of two splice variants

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] modulates feeding activity, egg-laying, and mating behavior in the free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We have cloned a novel receptor cDNA from C. elegans (5-HT2Ce) that has high sequence homology with 5-HT2 receptors from other species. When transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, 5-HT2Ce exhibited 5-HT binding activity and activated Ca2+-mediated signaling in a manner analogous to other 5-HT2 receptors. However, 5-HT2Ce displayed unusual pharmacological properties, which resembled both 5-HT2 and 5-HT1-like receptors but did not correlate well with any of the known 5-HT2 subtypes. Two splice variants of 5-HT2Ce that differ by 48 N-terminal amino acids were identified. The two isoforms were found to have virtually identical binding and signaling properties but differed in their levels of mRNA expression, with the longer variant being four times more abundant than the shorter species in all developmental stages tested. Taken together, the results describe two variants of a novel C. elegans 5-HT receptor, which has some of the properties of the 5-HT2 family but whose pharmacological profile does not conform to any known class of receptor.     

Differential phospholipase C activation by phenylalkylamine serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonists

Experiments compared a series of phenethylamine hallucinogens with their phenylisopropylamine analogues for binding affinity and ability to stimulate serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol in cells expressing cloned rat and human 5-HT 2A receptors. The (+/-)phenylisopropylamine analogues had significantly higher intrinsic activities for 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol compared to their phenethylamine analogues. With respect to the effects of the stereochemistry of the phenylisopropylamines, those with the (R) absolute configuration at the alpha carbon had higher intrinsic activities for hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol in a cell line expressing the human 5-HT 2A receptor compared to those with the (S) absolute configuration. In virtual docking studies comparing the (R)- and (S)-phenylisopropylamines with their phenethylamine analogues, there were distinct differences in the orientations of key ligand binding domain residues that have been identified as important by previous mutagenesis studies. In conclusion, our data support the hypothesis that phenylisopropylamines have higher hallucinogenic potency than their phenethylamine analogues primarily because they have higher intrinsic activities at 5-HT 2A receptors. Although virtual ligand binding led to significant perturbations of certain key residues, our results emphasize the conclusion reached by others that overall three-dimensional structural microdomains within the receptor must be considered.     

Structure of the human serotonin 5-HT4 receptor gene and cloning of a novel 5-HT4 splice variant

Several variants of the serotonin 5-HT4 receptor are known to be produced by alternative splicing. To survey the existence and usage of exons in humans, we cloned the human 5-HT4 gene. Based on sequence analysis seven C-terminal variants (a-g) and one internal splice variant (h) were found. We concentrated in this study on the functional characterization of the novel splice variant h, which leads to the insertion of 14 amino acids into the second extracellular loop of the receptor. The h variant was cloned as a splice combination with the C-terminal b variant; therefore, we call this receptor 5-HT4(hb). This novel receptor variant was expressed transiently in COS-7 cells, and its pharmacological profile was compared with those of the previously cloned 5-HT4(a) and 5-HT4(b) isoforms, with the latter being the primary reference for the h variant. In competition binding experiments using reference 5-HT4 ligands, no significant differences were detected. However, the broadly used 5-HT4 antagonist GR113808 discriminated functionally among the receptor variants investigated. As expected, it was an antagonist on the 5-HT4(a) and 5-HT4(b) variant but showed partial agonistic activity on the 5-HT4(hb) variant. These data emphasize the importance of variations introduced by splicing for receptor pharmacology and may help in the understanding of conflicting results seen with 5-HT4 ligands in different model systems.     

Enhanced activation of Akt and extracellular-regulated kinase pathways by simultaneous occupancy of Gq-coupled 5-HT2A receptors and Gs-coupled 5-HT7A receptors in PC12 cells

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, the serotonin (5-HT) selective reuptake inhibitors, increase 5-HT without targeting specific receptors. Yet, little is known about the interaction of multiple receptor subtypes expressed by individual neurons. Specifically, the effect of increases in cAMP induced by Gs-coupled 5-HT receptor subtypes on the signaling pathways modulated by other receptor subtypes has not been studied. We have, therefore, examined the activation of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt pathways by Gs-coupled 5-HT7A receptors and Gq-coupled 5-HT2A receptors, which are co-expressed in discrete brain regions. Agonists for both receptors were found to activate ERK and Akt in transfected PC12 cells. 5-HT2A receptor-mediated activation of the two pathways was found to be Ca2+-dependent. In contrast, 5-HT7A receptor-mediated activation of Akt required increases in both [cAMP] and intracellular [Ca2+], while activation of ERK was inhibited by Ca2+. The activation of ERK and Akt stimulated by simultaneous treatment of cells with 5-HT2A and 5-HT7A receptor agonists was found to be at least additive. Cell-permeable cAMP analogs mimicked 5-HT7A receptor agonists in enhancing 5-HT2A receptor-mediated activation of ERK and Akt. A role was identified for the cAMP-guanine exchange factor, Epac, in this augmentation of ERK, but not Akt, activation. Our finding of enhanced activation of neuroprotective Akt and ERK pathways by simultaneous occupancy of 5-HT2A and 5-HT7A receptors may also be relevant to the interaction of other neuronally expressed Gq- and Gs-coupled receptors.     

Synthesis and SAR of potent and selective tetrahydropyrazinoisoquinolinone 5-HT2C receptor agonists

The 5-HT_2C receptor has been implicated as a critical regulator of appetite. Small molecule activation of the 5-HT_2C receptor has been shown to affect food intake and regulate body weight gain in rodent models and more recently in human clinical trials. Therefore, 5-HT_2C is a well validated target for anti-obesity therapy. The synthesis and structure–activity relationships of a series of novel tetrahydropyrazinoisoquinolinone 5-HT_2C receptor agonists are presented. Several members of this series were identified as potent 5-HT_2C receptor agonists with high functional selectivity against the 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_2B receptors and reduced food intake in an acute rat feeding model upon oral dosing.     

Brain region-specific alterations of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in serotonin transporter knockout mice

The aim of the present studies was to determine the effects of reduced or absent serotonin (5-HT) transporters (5-HTTs) on 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. The density of 5-HT2C receptors was significantly increased in the amygdala and choroid plexus of 5-HTT knockout mice. On the other hand, the density of 5-HT2A receptors was significantly increased in the hypothalamus and septum, but reduced in the striatum, of 5-HTT knockout mice. However, 5-HT2A mRNA was not changed in any brain region measured. 5-HT2C mRNA was significantly reduced in the choroid plexus and lateral habenula nucleus of these mice. The function of 5-HT2A receptors was evaluated by hormonal responses to (+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI). Oxytocin, but not adrenocorticotrophic hormone or corticosterone, responses to DOI were significantly greater in 5-HTT knockout mice. In addition, Gq and G11 proteins were not significantly changed in any brain region measured. The present results suggest that the constitutive alteration in the function of 5-HTTs changes the density of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in a brain region-specific manner. These changes may not be mediated by alterations in their gene expression or in the level of Gq/11 proteins. The alterations in these receptors may be related to the altered behaviors of 5-HTT knockout mice.     

Cloning and characterization of a Caenorhabditis elegans D2-like dopamine receptor

The neurotransmitter dopamine plays an important role in the regulation of behavior in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In mammals, dopamine binds and activates two classes of dopamine receptors, D1-like and D2-like receptors. However, D2-like dopamine receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans have not yet been characterized. We have cloned a cDNA encoding a putative C. elegans D2-like dopamine receptor. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cloned cDNA shows higher sequence similarities to vertebrate D2-like dopamine receptors than to D1-like receptors. Two splice variants that differ in the length of their predicted third intracellular loops were identified. The receptor heterologously expressed in cultured cells showed high affinity binding to [125I]iodo-lysergic acid diethylamide. Dopamine showed the highest affinity for this receptor among several amine neurotransmitters tested. Activation of the heterologously expressed receptor led to the inhibition of cyclic AMP production, confirming that this receptor has the functional property of a D2-like receptor. We have also analyzed the expression pattern of this receptor and found that the receptor is expressed in several neurons including all the dopaminergic neurons in C. elegans.     

The contribution of serotonin 5-HT2C and melanocortin-4 receptors to the satiety signaling of glucagon-like peptide 1 and liragultide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, in mice

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an insulinotropic gastrointestinal peptide produced mainly from intestinal endocrine L-cells, and liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, induce satiety. The serotonin 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2CR) and melanoroctin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in the regulation of food intake. Here we show that systemic administration of GLP-1 (50 and 200 μg/kg)-induced anorexia was blunted in mice with a 5HT2CR null mutation, and was attenuated in mice with a heterozygous MC4R mutation. On the other hand, systemic administration of liraglutide (50 and 100 μg/kg) suppressed food intake in mice lacking 5-HT2CR, mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R and wild-type mice matched for age. Moreover, once-daily consecutive intraperitoneal administration of liraglutide (100 μg/kg) over 3 days significantly suppressed daily food intake and body weight in mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R as well as wild-type mice. These findings suggest that GLP-1 and liraglutide induce anorexia via different central pathways.     

Characterization of GAR-2, a novel G protein-linked acetylcholine receptor from Caenorhabditis elegans

We have previously identified two G protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (GARs), GAR-1 and GAR-3, in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Whereas GAR-3 is a homologue of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), GAR-1 is similar to but pharmacologically distinct from mAChRs. In the current work we isolated a new type of GAR using C. elegans genome sequence information. This receptor, named GAR-2, consists of 614 amino acid residues and has seven putative transmembrane domains. Database searches indicate that GAR-2 is most similar to GAR-1 and closely related to GAR-3/mAChRs. The overall amino acid sequence identities to GAR-1 and GAR-3 are approximately 32 and approximately 23%, respectively. When GAR-2 was coexpressed with the G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K(+) (GIRK1) channel in XENOPUS: oocytes, acetylcholine was able to evoke the GIRK current in a dose-dependent fashion. Oxotremorine, a classical muscarinic agonist, had little effect on the receptor, indicating that GAR-2 is pharmacologically different from mAChRs but rather similar to GAR-1. GAR-2 differs from GAR-1, however, in that it showed virtually no response to muscarinic antagonists such as atropine, scopolamine, and pirenzepine. Expression studies using green fluorescent protein reporter gene fusion revealed that GAR-2 is expressed in a subset of C. elegans neurons, distinct from those expressing GAR-1. Together with our previous reports, this study demonstrates that diverse types of GARs are present in C. elegans.     

The serotonin receptor SER-1 (5HT2ce) contributes to the regulation of locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5HT) is an important neuroactive substance in the model roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans. Aside from having effects in feeding and egg-laying, 5HT inhibits motility and also modulates several locomotory behaviors, notably food-induced slowing and foraging. Recent evidence showed that a serotonergic 5HT2-like receptor named SER-1 (also known as 5HT2ce) was responsible for the effect of 5HT on egg-laying. Here we confirm this observation and show that SER-1 also plays an important role in locomotion. A mutant lacking SER-1 was found to be highly resistant to exogenous 5HT in the absence of food and this resistant phenotype was rescued by reintroducing the SER-1 gene in a mutant background. Pharmacological studies showed that the same antagonists that blocked the activity of recombinant SER-1 in vitro also inhibited the effect of 5HT on motility, suggesting the same receptor was responsible for both effects. When tested for locomotory behaviors, the SER-1 mutant was found to be moderately defective in food-induced slowing. In addition, the mutant changed direction more frequently than the wildtype when searching for food, suggesting that SER-1 may play a role in navigational control during foraging. Both these effects required the presence of MOD-1, a 5HT gated chloride channel, and the results indicate that SER-1 and MOD-1 modulate these behaviors through a common pathway. On the basis of expression analysis of a ser-1::GFP translational fusion, SER-1 is prominently located in central, integrating neurons of the head ganglia (RIA and RIC) but not the body wall musculature. The evidence suggests that SER-1 controls locomotion through indirect modulation of neuromuscular circuits and has effects both on speed and direction of movement.     

Pharmacophore-directed Homology Modeling and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of G Protein-coupled Receptor： Study of Possible Binding Modes of 5-HT2c Receptor Agonists

A new pharmacophore-based modeling procedure, including homology modeling, pharmacophore study, flexible molecular docking, and long-time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, was employed to construct the structure of the human 5-HT_(2C) receptor and determine the characteristics of binding modes of 5-HT_(2C) receptor agonists. An agonist-receptor complex has been constructed based on homology modeling and a pharmacophore hypothesis model based on some high active compounds. Then MD simulations of the ligand-receptor complex in an explicit membrane environment were carried out. The conformation of the 5- HT_(2C) receptor during MD simulation was explored, and the stable binding modes of the studied agonist were determined. Flexible molecular docking of several structurally diverse agonists of the human 5-HT_(2C) receptor was carried out, and the general binding modes of these agonists were investigated. According to the models presented in this work and the results of Flexi-Dock, the involvement of the amino acid residues Asp134, Ser138, Ash210, Asn331, Tyr358, Ile131, Ser132, Val135, Thr139, Ile189, Val202, Val208, Leu209, Phe214, Val215, Gly218, Ser219, Phe223, Trp324, Phe327, and Phe328 in agonist recognition was studied. The obtained binding modes of the human 5-HT_(2C) receptor agonists have good agreement with the site-directed mutagenesis data and other studies.     

G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 modifies the ability of Caenorhabditis elegans to survive oxidative stress

Survival and adaptation to oxidative stress is important for many organisms, and these occur through the activation of many different signaling pathways. In this report, we showed that Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans G protein–coupled receptor kinases modified the ability of the organism to resist oxidative stress. In acute oxidative stress studies using juglone, loss-of-function grk-2 mutants were more resistant to oxidative stress compared with loss-of-function grk-1 mutants and the wild-type N2 animals. This effect was Ce-AKT-1 dependent, suggesting that Ce-GRK2 adjusted C. elegans oxidative stress resistance through the IGF/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway. Treating C. elegans with a GRK2 inhibitor, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine, resulted in increased acute oxidative stress resistance compared with another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine. In chronic oxidative stress studies with paraquat, both grk-1 and grk-2 mutants had longer lifespan compared with the wild-type N2 animals in stress. In summary, this research showed the importance of both GRKs, especially GRK2, in modifying oxidative stress resistance.     

Molecular characterization of two G protein-coupled receptor splice variants as FLP2 receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans

Two alternatively spliced Caenorhabditis elegans G protein-coupled receptors, T19F4.1a and T19F4.1b, were cloned and functionally characterized. The T19F4.1b receptor protein is 30 amino acids longer than T19F4.1a, and the difference in amino acid constitution is exclusively conferred to the intracellular C-terminal region, suggesting a potential difference in G protein-coupling specificity. Following cloning of the receptor cDNAs into the pcDNA3 vector and stable or transient transfection into Chinese hamster ovary cells, the aequorin bioluminescence/Ca2+ assay was used to investigate receptor activation. This is the first report of the construction of a cell line stably expressing a C. elegans neuropeptide receptor. Our experiments identified both receptors as being cognate receptors for two FMRFamide-related peptides encoded by the flp-2 precursor: SPREPIRFamide (FLP2-A) and LRGEPIRFamide (FLP2-B). Pharmacological profiling using truncated forms of FLP2-A and -B revealed that the active core of both peptides is EPIRFamide. Screening of peptides encoded by other flps did not result in a significant activation of the receptor. In contrast to other C. elegans receptors tested in heterologous expression systems, the functional activation of both T19F4.1a and T19F4.1b was not temperature-dependent. Screening in cells lacking the promiscuous Galpha16 suggests that T19F4.1a and b are both linked to the Gq pathway.     

5-HT(2A) and D(2) receptor blockade increases cortical DA release via 5-HT(1A) receptor activation: a possible mechanism of atypical antipsychotic-induced cortical dopamine release

Atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs), all of which are relatively more potent as serotonin (5-HT)(2A) than dopamine D(2) antagonists, may improve negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, in part, via increasing cortical dopamine release. 5-HT(1A) agonism has been also suggested to contribute to the ability to increase cortical dopamine release. The present study tested the hypothesis that clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and perhaps other atypical APDs, increase dopamine release in rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) via 5-HT(1A) receptor activation, as a result of the blockade of 5-HT(2A) and D(2) receptors. M100907 (0.1 mg/kg), a 5-HT(2A) antagonist, significantly increased the ability of both S:(-)-sulpiride (10 mg/kg), a D(2) antagonist devoid of 5-HT(1A) affinity, and R:(+)-8-OH-DPAT (0.05 mg/kg), a 5-HT(1A) agonist, to increase mPFC dopamine release. These effects of M100907 were abolished by WAY100635 (0.05 mg/kg), a 5-HT(1A) antagonist, which by itself has no effect on mPFC dopamine release. WAY100635 (0.2 mg/kg) also reversed the ability of clozapine (20 mg/kg), olanzapine (1 mg/kg), risperidone (1 mg/kg), and the R:(+)-8-OH-DPAT (0.2 mg/kg) to increase mPFC dopamine release. Clozapine is a direct acting 5-HT(1A) partial agonist, whereas olanzapine and risperidone are not. These results suggest that the atypical APDs via 5-HT(2A) and D(2) receptor blockade, regardless of intrinsic 5-HT(1A) affinity, may promote the ability of 5-HT(1A) receptor stimulation to increase mPFC DA release, and provide additional evidence that coadministration of 5-HT(2A) antagonists and typical APDs, which are D(2) antagonists, may facilitate 5-HT(1A) agonist activity.     

Caveolin-1 affects serotonin binding and cell surface levels of human 5-HT7(a) receptors

Studies using HeLa cells expressing 5-HT7 receptors showed that detergent resistant membranous lipid rafts purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation contained 5-HT7 receptors and caveolin-1. Caveolin-1 siRNA-mediated knockdown or serotonin (5-HT) treatment caused significant reductions of maximum [3H]5-HT binding to 5-HT7 receptors and total immunoreactivity of membranous 5-HT7 receptors in intact cells. Co-treatment with 5-HT, caveolin-1 siRNA and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin had no additive effects on reducing maximum binding of [3H]5-HT to 5-HT7 receptors. 5-HT-mediated reduction of [3H]5-HT binding to 5-HT7 receptors was counteracted by genistein, but not by sucrose. Caveolin-1, specifically localized in cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts, appears to regulate constitutive and agonist-stimulated cell surface levels of 5-HT7 receptors via a clathrin-independent mechanism.     

Allele-specific suppression in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals details of EMS mutagenesis and a possible moonlighting interaction between the vesicular acetylcholine transporter and ERD2 receptors

A missense mutant, unc-17(e245), which affects the Caenorhabditis elegans vesicular acetylcholine transporter UNC-17, has a severe uncoordinated phenotype, allowing efficient selection of dominant suppressors that revert this phenotype to wild-type. Such selections permitted isolation of numerous suppressors after EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) mutagenesis, leading to demonstration of delays in mutation fixation after initial EMS treatment, as has been shown in T4 bacteriophage but not previously in eukaryotes. Three strong dominant extragenic suppressor loci have been defined, all of which act specifically on allele e245, which causes a G347R mutation in UNC-17. Two of the suppressors (sup-1 and sup-8/snb-1) have previously been shown to encode synaptic proteins able to interact directly with UNC-17. We found that the remaining suppressor, sup-2, corresponds to a mutation in erd-2.1, which encodes an endoplasmic reticulum retention protein; sup-2 causes a V186E missense mutation in transmembrane helix 7 of ERD-2.1. The same missense change introduced into the redundant paralogous gene erd-2.2 also suppressed unc-17(e245). Suppression presumably occurred by compensatory charge interactions between transmembrane helices of UNC-17 and ERD-2.1 or ERD-2.2, as previously proposed in work on suppression by SUP-1(G84E) or SUP-8(I97D)/synaptobrevin. erd-2.1(V186E) homozygotes were fully viable, but erd-2.1(V186E); erd-2.2(RNAi) exhibited synthetic lethality [like erd-2.1(RNAi); erd-2.2(RNAi)], indicating that the missense change in ERD-2.1 impairs its normal function in the secretory pathway but may allow it to adopt a novel moonlighting function as an unc-17 suppressor.     

Serotonin systems upregulate the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 via 5-HT2C receptors and induce anorexia via a leptin-independent pathway in mice

NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), a novel satiety molecule, is associated with leptin-independent melanocortin signaling in the central nervous system. Here, we show that systemic administration of m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a serotonin 5-HT1B/2C receptor agonist, significantly increased the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 in wild-type mice. The increases in hypothalamic NUCB2 expression induced by mCPP were attenuated in 5-HT2C receptor mutant mice. Systemic administration of mCPP suppressed food intake in db/db mice with leptin receptor mutation as well as lean control mice. On the other hand, the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) was significantly decreased in hyperphagic and non-obese 5-HT2C receptor mutants compared with age-matched wild-type mice. Interestingly, despite increased expression of hypothalamic POMC, hypothalamic NUCB2 expression was decreased in 5-HT2C receptor mutant mice with heterozygous mutation of β-endorphin gene. These findings suggest that 5-HT systems upregulate the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 via 5-HT2C receptors, and induce anorexia via a leptin-independent pathway in mice.     

Serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor activation induces 2-arachidonoylglycerol release through a phospholipase c-dependent mechanism

To date, several studies have demonstrated that phospholipase C-coupled receptors stimulate the production of endocannabinoids, particularly 2-arachidonoylglycerol. There is now evidence that endocannabinoids are involved in phospholipase C-coupled serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated behavioral effects in both rats and mice. The main objective of this study was to determine whether activation of the 5-HT(2A) receptor leads to the production and release of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. NIH3T3 cells stably expressing the rat 5-HT(2A) receptor were first incubated with [(3)H]-arachidonic acid for 24 h. Following stimulation with 10 mum serotonin, lipids were extracted from the assay medium, separated by thin layer chromatography, and analyzed by liquid scintillation counting. Our results indicate that 5-HT(2A) receptor activation stimulates the formation and release of 2-arachidonoylglycerol. The 5-HT(2A) receptor-dependent release of 2-arachidonoylglycerol was partially dependent on phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activation. Diacylglycerol produced downstream of 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated phospholipase D or phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activation did not appear to contribute to 2-arachidonoylglycerol formation in NIH3T3-5HT(2A) cells. In conclusion, our results support a functional model where neuromodulatory neurotransmitters such as serotonin may act as regulators of endocannabinoid tone at excitatory synapses through the activation of phospholipase C-coupled G-protein coupled receptors.     

Characterization of a polymorphism in the coding region of the human C5a anaphylatoxin receptor

 A polymorphism was identified in the coding region of the human C5a anaphylatoxin receptor gene leading to C to T transition at nucleotide position 450 (a silent substitution in the Ala¹⁵⁰ codon, GCC to GCT). Its distribution was studied in a population of healthy volunteers from the Québec city region (prevalence of 2.8%) and among patients with end-stage renal failure who had previously undergone renal graft (prevalence 1.4%, not significantly different from that of the control group). This new marker provides a valuable tool to assess the risk for putative C5a-associated disorders with genetic determinism. Received: 20 November 1998 / Revised: 24 February 1999