Obosi, L.A., Schuette, D.G., Europe-Finner, G.N., Beadle, D.J., Hen, R., King, L.A., Bermudez, I. (1996). Functional characterisation of the Drosophila 5-HT_dro1 and 5-HT_dro2B serotonin receptors in insect cells: activation of a G_s-like protein by 5-HT_dro1 but lack of coupling to inhibitory G-proteins by 5-HT_dro2B.  FEBS Lett. 381(3): 233--236.

FBrf0086561

Research paper

Insect cells are routinely used for the production of receptor proteins. Expression of the Drosophila 5-HTdro1 serotonin receptor resulted in positive coupling of the receptor to adenylyl cyclase via the G(alpha)s G-protein subtype. The Drosophila 5-HTdro2B receptor stimulated the metabolism of inositol phospholipid via a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein, but exhibited no detectable inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Immunoblot analysis of the endogenous G-proteins revealed that Sf9 cells lack the G-protein subtypes G(alpha i 1-3) and G(alpha)o, but express the subtype G(alpha)s and G(alpha)q.