Abstract: The present invention is directed toward isolation, characterization and pharmacological use of the human D4 dopamine receptor. The nucleotide sequence of the gene corresponding to this receptor and alleleic variant thereof are provided by the invention. The invention also includes recombinant eukaryotic expression constructs capable of expressing the human D4 dopamine receptor in cultures of transformed eukaryotic cells. The invention provides cultures of transformed eukaryotic cells which synthesize the human D4 dopamine receptor, and methods for characterizing novel psychotropic compounds using such cultures.

Abstract: Cloned genes which code for the D.sub.1 dopamine receptor are disclosed. The receptors coded for by these clones bind dopamine ligands with the proper pharmacological profile and, when expressed in the cell membrane of a suitable host and so bound, stimulate adenylyl cyclase. Also disclosed are vectors comprising a cloned gene encoding a D.sub.1 -dopamine receptor, cells transformed with such vectors, and oligonucleotide probes capable of selectively hybridizing to DNA comprising a portion of a gene coding for a D.sub.1 -dopamine receptor. The cloned genes are useful for making proteins and cell membrane preparations which can be used to screen compounds for D.sub.1 -dopamine receptor binding activity, are useful in molecular biology, and are useful as diagnostic probes.