The present invention relates to novel identified polynucleotides,
polypeptides encoded by them and to the use of such- polynucleotides and
polypeptides, and to their production. More particularly, the
polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention relate to the
G-protein coupled receptor family, referred to as IGS4-family. The
invention also relates to inhibiting or activating the action of such
polynucleotides and polypeptides, to a vector containing said
polynucleotides, a host cell containing such vector and transgenic
animals where the IGS4-gene is either overexpressed, misexpressed,
underexpressed or suppressed (knock-out animals). The invention further
relates to a method for screening compounds capable to act as an agonist
or an antagonist of said G-protein coupled receptor family IGS4. The
invention also relates to the identification of the cognate ligand of the
IGS4 polypeptides of the invention. High affinity binding to said IGS4
polypeptides is found for the neuropeptides known as neuromedin U.