Several missense mutations of the endothelin-B receptor (EDNRB) associated with Hirschsprung disease have recently been identified. Five mutated EDNRB (A183G, W276C, R319W, M374I and P383L) cDNAs were transiently expressed in several cell lines to examine the effects of these mutations, Ligand-receptor binding experiments demonstrated that all mutants examined here accept endothelins with a high affinity. Especially, the affinity of endothelins to P383L was increased. However, the number of binding sites of A183G, W276C and P383L was markedly decreased. The subcellular localization of these mutant receptors was the same as that of wild-type EDNRIB, whereas the amount of protein of each mutant receptor was decreased. All mutant receptors were impaired in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. These findings indicate that these missense mutations result in loss of function of EDNRB, and may provide the molecular pathological basis of Hirschsprung disease in some individuals,