Patent ID: 7723071

Claim:
An isolated and purified or recombinant DNA molecule containing a nucleotide sequence encoding an opioid receptor wherein said opioid receptor is defined as encoded by a nucleotide sequence that is retrievable from a vertebrate wherein said retrievable nucleotide sequence hybridizes under conditions of low stringency to a probe consisting of SEQ ID NO:7 or its complement, wherein said low stringency conditions are hybridization in 0.5 M NaPO 4 , pH 7.2/1% BSA/1 mM EDTA/7% SDS/100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 60° C. for 16-24 hours, followed by washing first in 40 mM NaPO 4 , pH 7.2/0.5% BSA/5% SDS/1 mM EDTA twice for one hour each, and then in 40 mM NaPO 4 , pH 7.2/1% BSA/1 mM EDTA for one hour each all at 60° C.; and wherein said encoded opioid receptor binds to an opioid ligand.