Ready-to-Assay MC2 Frozen Cells

Biochem/physiol Actions

Target Sub-Family: Melanocortin

GPCR Class: A

Protein Target: MC2

Cell Line Description

GPCR Cell Lines

Host cells: Chem-1

Components

Pack contains 2 vials of mycoplasma-free cells, 1 ml per vial.Fifty (50) mL of Media Component.

General description

Millipore's Ready-to-Assay GPCR frozen cells are designed for simple, rapid calcium assays with no requirement for intensive cell culturing. Millipore has optimized the freezing conditions to provide cells with high viability and functionality post-thaw. The user simply thaws the cells and resuspends them in media, dispenses cell suspension into assay plates and, following over night recovery, assays for calcium response.

The melanocortins, α-, β- and γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), are peptides derived from a precursor protein POMC. The MSH peptides and ACTH bind to a family of five Class 1 Gs-coupled seven transmembrane receptors (MC1-5) and play important roles in energy balance, reproductive function, pigmentation and inflammation (Gantz and Fong, 2003). MC2, the ACTH receptor, is a member of this family but is the only one that does not bind the MSHs, it instead binds ACTH exclusively. MC2 is expressed mainly in cells of the adrenal cortex, where it signals cells in the adrenal cortex to synthesize and secrete glucocorticoids (Clark A. et al., 2006). Mutations in MC2 lead to familial glucocorticoid deficiency, or ACTH insensitivity. Familial glucocorticoid deficiency can lead to increased pigmentation and increased longitudinal bone growth (Clark A, et al. 1993, Imamine H, et al. 2005). In addition to mutations in MC2 leading to Familial glucocorticod deficiency, it has also been shown that mutations in a protein called MC2-R accessory protein (MRAP) also lead to this disorder (Clark A, 2005). Expression of MC2 on the cell surface has been found to be dependent on the interaction of MC2 with MRAP. This interaction helps to move MC2 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. Millipore's cloned human MC2-expressing cell line is made in the Chem-1 host, which supports high levels of recombinant MC2 expression on the cell surface and contains high levels of the promiscuous G protein Gα15 to couple the receptor to the calcium signaling pathway. Thus, the cell line is an ideal tool for screening for agonists, antagonists, and modulators at MC2.