G Protein Activation by Serotonin Type 4 Receptor Dimers: EVIDENCE THAT TURNING ON TWO PROTOMERS IS MORE EFFICIENT (original) (raw)

G Protein Activation by Serotonin Type 4 Receptor Dimers

Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2011

The discovery that class C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) function as obligatory dimeric entities has generated major interest in GPCR oligomerization. Oligomerization now appears to be a common feature among all GPCR classes. However, the functional significance of this process remains unclear because, in vitro, some monomeric GPCRs, such as rhodopsin and ␤ 2-adrenergic receptors, activate G proteins. By using wild type and mutant serotonin type 4 receptors (5-HT 4 Rs) (including a 5-HT 4-RASSL) expressed in COS-7 cells as models of class A GPCRs, we show that activation of one protomer in a dimer was sufficient to stimulate G proteins. However, coupling efficiency was 2 times higher when both protomers were activated. Expression of combinations of 5-HT 4 , in which both protomers were able to bind to agonists but only one could couple to G proteins, suggested that upon agonist occupancy, protomers did not independently couple to G proteins but rather that only one G protein was activated. Coupling of a single heterotrimeric G s protein to a receptor dimer was further confirmed in vitro, using the purified recombinant WT RASSL 5-HT 4 R obligatory heterodimer. These results, together with previous findings, demonstrate that, differently from class C GPCR dimers, class A GPCR dimers have pleiotropic activation mechanisms.

Dimers of class A G protein-coupled receptors function via agonist-mediated trans-activation of associated G proteins

The Journal of biological chemistry, 2003

The histamine H1 receptor and the ␣ 1b -adrenoreceptor are G protein-coupled receptors that elevate intracellular [Ca 2؉ ] via activation of G q /G 11 . Assessed by coimmunoprecipitation and time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer they both exist as homodimers. The addition of the G protein G 11 ␣ to the C terminus of these receptors did not prevent dimerization. Agonists produced a large stimulation of guanosine

Inhibition of Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine2C Receptor Function through Heterodimerization: RECEPTOR DIMERS BIND TWO MOLECULES OF LIGAND AND ONE G-PROTEIN

Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2005

Although dimerization appears to be a common property of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), it remains unclear whether a GPCR dimer binds one or two molecules of ligand and whether ligand binding results in activation of one or two G-proteins when measured using functional assays in intact living cells. Previously, we demonstrated that serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine2C (5-HT 2C) receptors form homodimers (Herrick-Davis, K., Grinde, E., and Mazurkiewicz, J. (2004) Biochemistry 43, 13963-13971). In the present study, an inactive 5-HT 2C receptor was created and coexpressed with wild-type 5-HT 2C receptors to determine whether dimerization regulates receptor function and to determine the ligand/dimer/G-protein stoichiometry in living cells. Mutagenesis of Ser 138 to Arg (S138R) produced a 5-HT 2C receptor incapable of binding ligand or stimulating inositol phosphate (IP) signaling. Confocal fluorescence imaging revealed plasma membrane expression of yellow fluorescent protein-tagged S138R receptors. Expression of wild-type 5-HT 2C receptors in an S138R-expressing stable cell line had no effect on ligand binding to wild-type 5-HT 2C receptors, but inhibited basal and 5-HT-stimulated IP signaling as well as constitutive and 5-HT-stimulated endocytosis of wild-type 5-HT 2C receptors. M1 muscarinic receptor activation of IP production was normal in the S138R-expressing cells. Heterodimerization of S138R with wild-type 5-HT 2C receptors was visualized in living cells using confocal fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET was dependent on the donor/acceptor ratio and independent of the receptor expression level. Therefore, inactive 5-HT 2C receptors inhibit wild-type 5-HT 2C receptor function by forming nonfunctional heterodimers expressed on the plasma membrane. These results are consistent with a model in which one GPCR dimer binds two molecules of ligand and one G-protein and indicate that dimerization is essential for 5-HT receptor function. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) 2 represent one of the largest families of signaling proteins in the human genome and are targets for a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Recent studies investigating GPCR structure and function indicate that they form dimeric or oligomeric * This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants MH057019 (to K. H.-D.

Dimerization and oligomerization of G-protein-coupled receptors: debated structures with established and emerging functions

The Journal of endocrinology, 2008

Dimerization or oligomerization of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is a novel concept, which may lead to the reevaluation of the actions of pharmacological ligands, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other mediators acting on GPCRs. Although a large number of data obtained using different biophysical, biochemical and structural methods, and functional approaches argue for dimerization or oligomerization of these receptors, several publications criticized the applied methods and challenged the concept. The aim of this paper is to review the data that support the concept of receptor oligomerization, and the most important arguments against it. We conclude that it will require major methodical improvements to obtain decisive proof, whether GPCRs exist in their native membrane environments as homo- or heterodimeric or oligomeric complexes, in which receptor monomers have stable direct interactions. However, overwhelming amounts of data suggest that many GPCRs exhibit functional proper...

Structural and functional aspects of G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization

Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 1998

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the single largest family of cell surface receptors involved in signal transduction. It is estimated that several hundred distinct members of this receptor family in humans direct responses to a wide variety of chemical transmitters, including biogenic amines, amino acids, peptides, lipids, nucleosides, and large polypeptides. These transmembrane receptors are key controllers of such diverse physiological processes as neurotransmission, cellular metabolism, secretion, cellular differentiation, and growth as well as inflammatory and immune responses. GPCRs therefore represent major targets for the development of new drug candidates with potential application in all clinical fields. Many currently used therapeutics act by either activating (agonists) or blocking (antagonists) GPCRs. Studies over the past two decades have provided a wealth of information on the biochemical events underlying cellular signalling by GPCRs. However, our understanding of the molecular interactions between ligands and the receptor protein and, particularly, of the structural correlates of receptor activation or inhibition by agonists and inverse agonists, respectively, is still rudimentary. Most of the work in this area has focused on mapping regions of the receptor responsible for drug binding affinity. Although binding of ligand molecules to specific receptors represents the first event in the action of drugs, the efficacy with which this binding is translated into a physiological response remains the only determinant of therapeutic utility. In the last few years, increasing evidence suggested that receptor oligomerization and in particular dimerization may play an important role in the molecular events leading to GPCR activation. In this paper, we review the biochemical and functional evidence supporting this notion.

G protein coupled receptor dimerization: implications in modulating receptor function

Journal of Molecular Medicine-jmm, 2001

Protein-protein interactions are involved in the regulation of a large number of biological processes. It is well established that a variety of cell surface receptors interact with each other to form dimers, and that this is essential for their activation. Although the existence of G protein coupled receptor dimers was predicted from early pharmacological and biochemical analysis, solid evidence supporting dimerization has come within the past few years following the cloning of G protein coupled receptor cDNAs. Using differential epitope tagging and selective immunoisolation of receptor complexes, dimerization of a number of G protein coupled receptors including members of the rhodopsin, secretin, and metabotropic glutamate receptor families have been reported. More recently fluorescence or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer techniques have been used to examine dimerization of these receptors in live cells. These studies have found that whereas in some cases there is an agonist induced increase in the level of dimers, in others there is a decrease or no change in dimer levels. Several recent studies have also reported the ability of related members of G protein coupled receptors to heterodimerize. These heterodimers exhibit distinct physical and functional properties. Examination of possible sites of interactions between receptors has implicated a role for extracellular, transmembrane and/or C-terminal region in dimerization. The functional consequences of dimerization, explored mainly using mutant receptors, have demonstrated a role in modulating agonist affinity, efficacy, and/or trafficking properties. Thus dimerization appears to be a universal phenomenon that provides an additional mechanism for modulation of receptor function as well as cross-talk between G protein coupled receptors.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor Oligomerization Revisited: Functional and Pharmacological Perspectives

Pharmacological Reviews, 2014

Most evidence indicates that, as for family C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), family A GPCRs form homo-and heteromers. Homodimers seem to be a predominant species, with potential dynamic formation of higher-order oligomers, particularly tetramers. Although monomeric GPCRs can activate G proteins, the pentameric structure constituted by one GPCR homodimer and one heterotrimeric

Basic Pharmacological and Structural Evidence for Class A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Heteromerization

Frontiers in pharmacology, 2016

Cell membrane receptors rarely work on isolation, often they form oligomeric complexes with other receptor molecules and they may directly interact with different proteins of the signal transduction machinery. For a variety of reasons, rhodopsin-like class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) seem an exception to the general rule of receptor-receptor direct interaction. In fact, controversy surrounds their potential to form homo- hetero-dimers/oligomers with other class A GPCRs; in a sense, the field is going backward instead of forward. This review focuses on the convergent, complementary and telling evidence showing that homo- and heteromers of class A GPCRs exist in transfected cells and, more importantly, in natural sources. It is time to decide between questioning the occurrence of heteromers or, alternatively, facing the vast scientific and technical challenges that class A receptor-dimer/oligomer existence pose to Pharmacology and to Drug Discovery.