# GPR88 localization to primary cilia and its impact on striatal cAMP signaling

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $393,050

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
This proposal seeks to elucidate the basic cellular neurobiology of GPR88, an orphan G protein-coupled receptor
(GPCR) that is of great interest as a potential therapeutic target for neuropsychiatric disease but remains poorly
understood at the level of cellular mechanism. The project begins (Specific Aim 1) with a detailed anatomical
and morphological characterization of GPR88 expression in brain and across development, building on
preliminary studies indicating that GPR88 is developmentally regulated and is differentially targeted to or
excluded from primary cilia in distinct neuronal populations. It then focuses on delineating the mechanistic basis
of selective targeting of GPR88 to neuronal cilia (Specific Aim 2), and determining how GPR88 modulates
signaling in relevant striatal neurons and how ciliary receptor localization or exclusion changes this function
(Specific Aim 3). The proposed studies build on recent advances in GPR88 pharmacology and signaling
biosensor tool development. These studies seek to provide the first direct evidence regarding the effects of
GPR88 on neuromodulation at native receptor expression levels, define functional consequences of GPR88
localization to primary cilia of neurons, and help delineate a framework for understanding the functional
consequence(s) of primary cilia in GPCR-mediated neuromodulation more generally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9996796
- **Project number:** 5R01MH120212-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark E VonZastrow
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $393,050
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9996796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9996796, GPR88 localization to primary cilia and its impact on striatal cAMP signaling (5R01MH120212-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9996796. Licensed CC0.

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