TAAR5 Background Information
The novel family of G protein-coupled receptors known as trace-amine-associated receptors, TAAR, are biogenic amines present in very low levels in mammalian tissue. These proteins have defined roles as neurotransmitters in invertebrates, making their receptors significant therapeutic targets. TAAR5 (trace amine-associated receptor 5, PNR) is a multi-pass 338 amino acid membrane protein expressed almost exclusively in skeletal muscle and selected areas of the brain, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, thalamus and hypothalamus, with weak expression also observed in the substantia nigra. It contains a seven-transmembrane domain characteristic of G protein-coupled receptors and a potential N-glycosylation site. TAAR proteins, including TAAR5, are being investigated as potential targets for drugs of abuse including amphetamine and MDMA as well as neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and attention deficit disorder.
