Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated mammalian histamine receptor, isolated or recombinant nucleic acids and recombinant vectors encoding the same, host cells comprising the nucleic acids and vectors, and methods of making the receptor using the host cells. This invention further provides antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof which specifically bind to the receptor and are useful for treating medical conditions caused or mediated by histamine. Also provided are screening methods for identifying specific agonists and antagonists of the mammalian histamine receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated mammalian histamine receptor, isolated or recombinant nucleic acids and recombinant vectors encoding the same, host cells comprising the nucleic acids and vectors, and methods of making the receptor using the host cells. This invention further provides antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof which specifically bind to the receptor and are useful for treating medical conditions caused or mediated by histamine. Also provided are screening methods for identifying specific agonists and antagonists of the mammalian histamine receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutically useful compound which comprises testing an LC132 receptor agonist in a screening assay for psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. More particularly, the screening method is based on contacting an LC132 receptor with an agent suspected of being an agonist of the LC132 receptor function, followed by the detection of the binding and/or the agonist activity of the compound and then testing of an agent with LC132 agonist activity in an antiepileptic, anticonvulsant or anxiolytic screening assay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutically useful compound which comprises testing an LC132 receptor agonist in a screening assay for psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. More particularly, the screening method is based on contacting an LC132 receptor with an agent suspected of being an agonist of the LC132 receptor function, followed by the detection of the binding and/or the agonist activity of the compound and then testing of an agent with LC132 agonist activity in an antiepileptic, anticonvulsant or anxiolytic screening assay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel mammalian anti-opioid receptor protein (OFQR), peptide ligands (such as OFQ) that bind to OFQR, and methods of using the OFQ peptide and analogues to reverse the physiologic effects of opiates such as morphine. The isolation, characterization and pharmacological use of the endogenous peptide ligand is described. A particular embodiment of the OFQ peptide is a heptadecapeptide having an FGGF aminoterminal motif. The peptide specifically binds to an OFQ receptor protein heterologously expressed in mammalian cells. The peptide does not bind with high affinity to &mgr;, &dgr; or &kgr; receptors, but it antagonizes opioid mediated effects (such as analgesia and hypothermia) without increasing nociceptive sensitivity. Tyrosine substitution variants of the peptide ligand specifically bind to the opioid receptor and can be radioiodinated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or halogen;R.sup.3 is phenyl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by lower alkyl, CF.sub.3, lower alkoxy or halogen;R.sup.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, --C(O)-lower alkyl, --C(O)-phenyl, lower alkyl-C(O)-phenyl, lower alkylene-C(O)O-lower alkyl, lower alkantriyl-di-C(O)O-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O-lower alkyl, lower alkyl-CH(OH)CF.sub.3, phenyl or benzyl,R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each independently hydrogen, phenyl, lower alkyl or di-lower alkyl or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound form a phenyl ring, orR.sup.5 and one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.