Expression pattern of the orphan receptor LGR4/GPR48 gene in the mouse

Leucine-rich G-protein-coupled Receptors (LGR) constitute a subfamily of receptors related to glycoprotein hormone receptors. Amongst them, LGR4, LGR5 and LGR6 form a cluster for which natural agonists are still unknown. By an extensive gene trapping approach, Leighton et al. (2001) obtained a mouse line in which the LGR4 gene is disrupted by a trap vector carrying two biological markers, beta-geo (a fusion between bacterial beta-galactosidase and neomycin phosphotransferase) and a placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Due to perinatal lethality, characterization of adult mice homozygous for this insertion has been impaired. In the present study we have investigated LacZ and PLAP activity patterns in heterozygous mice as a marker for LGR4 natural expression at both macroscopic and histological levels. We present a detailed atlas of LGR4 expression, which displays very wide expression with particularly strong activity in cartilages, kidneys, reproductive tracts and nervous system cells.