RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 International Union of Pharmacology. XXXII. The Mammalian Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptides, Adrenomedullin, Amylin, and Calcitonin Receptors JF Pharmacological Reviews JO Pharmacol Rev FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 233 OP 246 DO 10.1124/pr.54.2.233 VO 54 IS 2 A1 David R. Poyner A1 Patrick M. Sexton A1 Ian Marshall A1 David M. Smith A1 Remi Quirion A1 Walter Born A1 Roman Muff A1 Jan A. Fischer A1 Steven M. Foord YR 2002 UL http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/54/2/233.abstract AB The calcitonin family of peptides comprises calcitonin, amylin, two calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRPs), and adrenomedullin. The first calcitonin receptor was cloned in 1991. Its pharmacology is complicated by the existence of several splice variants. The receptors for the other members the family are made up of subunits. The calcitonin-like receptor (CL receptor) requires a single transmembrane domain protein, termed receptor activity modifying protein, RAMP1, to function as a CGRP receptor. RAMP2 and -3 enable the same CL receptor to behave as an adrenomedullin receptor. Although the calcitonin receptor does not require RAMP to bind and respond to calcitonin, it can associate with the RAMPs, resulting in a series of receptors that typically have high affinity for amylin and varied affinity for CGRP. This review aims to reconcile what is observed when the receptors are reconstituted in vitro with the properties they show in native cells and tissues. Experimental conditions must be rigorously controlled because different degrees of protein expression may markedly modify pharmacology in such a complex situation. Recommendations, which follow International Union of Pharmacology guidelines, are made for the nomenclature of these multimeric receptors.