黑素皮质素受体(melanocortin receptor, MCR)家族属于最小的G蛋白偶联受体家族之一, 具有7个跨膜的α螺旋, 在脊索动物生理活动中具有重要作用。在哺乳类及四肢类动物的MCR研究中共发现有5种不同功能的同源基因(MC1R、MC2R、MC3R、MC4R、MC5R), 它们在机体色素沉积、摄食行为、能量平衡、类固醇合成和性行为等方面发挥重要功能。近年来, 鱼类MCRs的研究逐渐得到学者们的普遍关注, 一些鱼类的MCRs亚型相继被克隆, 并对其功能进行了分析。鱼类作为脊椎动物进化中较为原始的类群, 具有与哺乳动物MCRs相似的保守特征, 同时也具有其特殊性。对鱼类MCRs的深入研究有利于揭示MCRs在脊椎动物中的进化规律, 掌握MCRs对鱼类生理功能的调控特征, 为促进渔业生产提供科学理论基础。本文主要对近年来鱼类MCRs的克隆、分子特征、药理学及生物学功能等方面的研究进展进行简要的综述。

The melanocortin receptor family, with seven transmembrane alpha-helixs, is a member of the smallest G-protein-coupled receptor and of great importance in chordate physiological function. The melanocortin receptor family has five subtypes (MC1R, MC2R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R) in mammalian and tetrapod, with rather diverse functions. It has been confirmed that MCRs are involved in diverse number of physiological functions, including pigmentation, steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, inflammation and sexual function. In recent years, fish MCRs have gained more and more concern of researchers. Different MCR subtypes have been cloned and analyzed in several fish species. The MCRs of fish, the earliest vertebrates in evolution, is highly conserved compared with mammalian in molecular characterization and physiology fuction. Meanwhile they have some special features of their own. Thorough research on MCRs will contribute to our understanding of vertebrate MCRs evolution and its regulation functions in fish physiology. To facilitate the study on MCRs, we provide a review about clone, molecular characterization, pharmacology and physiological function of fish melanocortin receptors and highlight progress made in these areas.