Primary structure of the human platelet serotonin 5-HT2A receptor: identity with frontal cortex serotonin 5-HT2Areceptor

Previous radioligand binding studies have demonstrated human platelet serotonin2A (5-HT2A) receptor binding sites. Pharmacological similarities between platelet and frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptor binding parameters have been demonstrated. However, it is not clear whether the platelet 5-HT2A receptor primary structure is identical to that of the brain receptor. Three overlapping cDNAs were obtained to span completely the coding region of the 5-HT2A receptor. These clones were sequenced with external and internal primers. The nucleotide sequence of human platelet 5-HT2A cDNA was identical to that reported for the human frontal cortex 5-HT2A receptor, except for nucleotide 102 (T → C), which has been reported to represent a normal DNA polymorphism that does not alter the amino acid sequence. This finding may have implications in the study of neuropsychiatric disorders for which altered platelet 5-HT2A receptor binding has been demonstrated.