Using synthetic lipids to stabilize purified beta2 adrenoceptor in detergent micelles.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Brian Kobilka.
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Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of the beta-2 adrenoceptor (B2AR) play a fundamental role in receptor regulation by agonists. We have examined the effects of several agonists on net levels of B2AR palmitoylation and phosphorylation using epitope tagging in stably transfected human embryonal kidney (HEK) 293 cells, immunoaffinity purification, and mass spectrometry combined with the method of stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). Palmitoylation of Cys341 was confirmed and did not change detectably after 30 min exposure of cells to saturating concentrations of dopamine, epinephrine, or isoproterenol. However, all of these agonists produced a marked increase in net phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of the third cytoplasmic loop was increased to a similar degree by all three agonists, whereas differences between agonists were observed in net phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain (isoproterenol approximately epinephrine >> dopamine). Interestingly, agonist-induced phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain was observed exclusively in a proximal portion (between residues 339-369). None of the agonists produced detectable phosphorylation in a distal portion of the cytoplasmic tail, which contains all sites of agonist-induced phosphorylation identified previously by in vitro reconstitution. These results provide insight to agonist-dependent regulation of the B2AR in intact cells, suggest the existence of significant differences in regulatory phosphorylation events occurring between in vitro and in vivo conditions, and outline a general analytical approach to investigate regulated PTM of receptors in mammalian cells.
The beta(2) adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) is a prototypical family A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and an excellent model system for studying the mechanism of GPCR activation. The beta(2)AR agonist binding site is well characterized, and there is a wealth of structurally related ligands with functionally diverse properties. In the present study, we use catechol (1,2-benzenediol, a structural component of catecholamine agonists) as a molecular probe to identify mechanistic differences between beta(2)AR activation by catecholamine agonists, such as isoproterenol, and by the structurally related non-catechol partial agonist salbutamol. Using biophysical and pharmacologic approaches, we show that the aromatic ring of salbutamol binds to a different site on the beta(2)AR than the aromatic ring of catecholamines. This difference is important in receptor activation as it has been hypothesized that the aromatic ring of catecholamines plays a role in triggering receptor activation through interactions with a conserved cluster of aromatic residues in the sixth transmembrane segment by a rotamer toggle switch mechanism. Our experiments indicate that the aromatic ring of salbutamol does not activate this mechanism either directly or indirectly. Moreover, the non-catechol ring of partial agonists does not interact optimally with serine residues in the fifth transmembrane helix that have been shown to play an important role in activation by catecholamines. These results demonstrate unexpected differences in binding and activation by structurally similar agonists and partial agonists. Moreover, they provide evidence that activation of a GPCR is a multistep process that can be dissected into its component parts using agonist fragments.
beta adrenoceptor (betaAR) signaling is finely regulated to mediate the sympathetic nervous system control of cardiovascular function. In neonatal cardiac myocytes, beta1AR activates the conventional Gs/cAMP pathway, whereas beta2AR sequentially activates both the Gs and Gi pathways to regulate the myocyte contraction rate. Here, we show that phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) selectively impacts signaling by beta2AR in neonatal cardiac myocytes, while having little or no effect on beta1AR signaling. Although beta2AR activation leads to an increase in cAMP production, the cAMP generated does not have access to the protein kinase A-dependent signaling pathways by which the beta1AR regulates the contraction rate. However, this restricted access is lost in the presence of PDE4 inhibitors or after ablation of PDE4D. These results not only suggest that PDE4D is an integral component of the beta2AR signaling complex, but also underscore the critical role of subcellular cAMP regulation in the complex control of receptor signaling. They also illustrate a mechanism for fine-tuned betaAR subtype signaling specificity and intensity in the cardiac system.
Plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy is an optical technique that can be used to probe the molecular interactions occurring within anisotropic proteolipid membranes in real time without requiring molecular labeling. This method directly monitors mass density, conformation, and molecular orientation changes occurring in such systems and allows determination of protein-ligand binding constants and binding kinetics. In the present study, PWR has been used to monitor the incorporation of the human beta(2)-adrenergic receptor into a solid-supported egg phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayer and to follow the binding of full agonists (isoproterenol, epinephrine), a partial agonist (dobutamine), an antagonist (alprenolol), and an inverse agonist (ICI-118,551) to the receptor. The combination of differences in binding kinetics and the PWR spectral changes point to the occurrence of multiple conformations that are characteristic of the type of ligand, reflecting differences in the receptor structural states produced by the binding process. These results provide new evidence for the conformational heterogeneity of the liganded states formed by the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor.
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OBJECTIVE: The sympathetic nervous system enhances cardiac muscle function by activating beta adrenergic receptors (betaARs). Recent studies suggest that chronic betaAR stimulation is detrimental, however, and that it may play a role in the clinical deterioration of patients with congestive heart failure. To examine the impact of chronic beta1AR and beta2AR subtype stimulation individually, we studied the cardiovascular effects of catecholamine infusions in betaAR subtype knockout mice (beta1KO, beta2KO). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, experimental study. SETTING: Animal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: beta1KO and beta2KO mice and wild-type controls. INTERVENTIONS: The animals were subjected to 2 wks of continuous infusion of the betaAR agonist isoproterenol. Analyses of cardiac function and structure were performed during and 3 days after completion of the infusions. Functional studies included graded exercise treadmill testing, in vivo assessments of left ventricular function using Mikro-Tip catheter transducers, right ventricular pressure measurements, and analyses of organ weight to body weight ratios. Structural studies included heart weight measurements, assessments of myocyte ultrastructure using electron microscopy, and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling staining to quantitate myocyte apoptosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We found that isoproterenol-treated beta2KO mice experienced greater mortality rates (p =.001, chi-square test using Fisher's exact method) and increased myocyte apoptosis at 3- and 7-day time points (p =.04 and p =.0007, respectively, two-way analysis of variance). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that in vivo beta2AR activation is antiapoptotic and contributes to myocardial protection.
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beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors (AR) regulate cardiac myocyte function through distinct signaling pathways. In addition to regulating cardiac rate and contractility, beta1AR and beta2AR may play different roles in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Studies on neonatal cardiac myocytes from beta1AR and beta2AR knockout mice suggest that subtype-specific signaling is determined by subtype-specific membrane targeting and trafficking. Stimulation of beta2ARs has a biphasic effect on contraction rate, with an initial increase followed by a sustained Gi-dependent decrease. Recent studies show that a PDZ domain-binding motif at the carboxyl terminus of human beta2AR interacts with ezrin-binding protein 50/sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor, a PDZ-domain-containing protein. The human beta2AR carboxyl terminus also binds to N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, which does not contain a PDZ domain. We found that mutation of the three carboxyl-terminal amino acids in the mouse beta2AR (beta2AR-AAA) disrupts recycling of the receptor after agonist-induced internalization in cardiac myocytes. Nevertheless, stimulation of the beta2AR-AAA produced a greater contraction rate increase than that of the wild-type beta2AR. This enhanced stimulation of contraction rate can be attributed in part to the failure of the beta2AR-AAA to couple to Gi. We also observed that coupling of endogenous, wild-type beta2AR to Gi in beta1AR knockout myocytes is inhibited by treatment with a membrane-permeable peptide representing the beta2AR carboxyl terminus. These studies demonstrate that association of the carboxyl terminus of the beta2AR with ezrin-binding protein 50/sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, or some related proteins dictates physiologic signaling specificity and trafficking in cardiac myocytes.
The activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be modulated by a diverse spectrum of drugs ranging from full agonists to partial agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists. The vast majority of these ligands compete with native ligands for binding to orthosteric binding sites. Allosteric ligands have also been described for a number of GPCRs. However, little is known about the mechanism by which these ligands modulate the affinity of receptors for orthosteric ligands. We have previously reported that Zn(II) acts as a positive allosteric modulator of the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR). To identify the Zn(2+) binding site responsible for the enhancement of agonist affinity in the beta(2)AR, we mutated histidines located in hydrophilic sequences bridging the seven transmembrane domains. Mutation of His-269 abolished the effect of Zn(2+) on agonist affinity. Mutations of other histidines had no effect on agonist affinity. Further mutagenesis of residues adjacent to His-269 demonstrated that Cys-265 and Glu-225 are also required to achieve the full allosteric effect of Zn(2+) on agonist binding. Our results suggest that bridging of the cytoplasmic extensions of TM5 and TM6 by Zn(2+) facilitates agonist binding. These results are in agreement with recent biophysical studies demonstrating that agonist binding leads to movement of TM6 relative to TM5.
There is a growing body of evidence that G protein-coupled receptors function in the context of plasma membrane signaling compartments. These compartments may facilitate interaction between receptors and specific downstream signaling components while restricting access to other signaling molecules. We recently reported that beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (AR) regulate the intrinsic contraction rate in neonatal mouse myocytes through distinct signaling pathways. By studying neonatal myocytes isolated from beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR knockout mice, we found that stimulation of the beta(1)AR leads to a protein kinase A-dependent increase in the contraction rate. In contrast, stimulation of the beta(2)AR has a biphasic effect on the contraction rate. The biphasic effect includes an initial protein kinase A-independent increase in the contraction rate followed by a sustained decrease in the contraction rate that can be blocked by pertussis toxin. Here we present evidence that caveolar localization is required for physiologic signaling by the beta(2)AR but not the beta(1)AR in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Evidence for beta(2)AR localization to caveolae includes co-localization by confocal imaging, co-immunoprecipitation of the beta(2)AR and caveolin 3, and co-migration of the beta(2)AR with a caveolin-3-enriched membrane fraction. The beta(2)AR-stimulated increase in the myocyte contraction rate is increased by approximately 2-fold and markedly prolonged by filipin, an agent that disrupts lipid rafts such as caveolae and significantly reduces co-immunoprecipitation of beta(2)AR and caveolin 3 and co-migration of beta(2)AR and caveolin-3 enriched membranes. In contrast, filipin has no effect on beta(1)AR signaling. These observations suggest that beta(2)ARs are normally restricted to caveolae in myocyte membranes and that this localization is essential for physiologic signaling of this receptor subtype.
Beta(1) and beta(2) adrenergic receptors (AR) regulate the intrinsic contraction rate in neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes through distinct signaling pathways. It has been shown that stimulation of beta(1)ARs leads to a protein kinase A-dependent increase in contraction rate. In contrast, stimulation of beta(2)ARs has a biphasic effect on contraction rate, with an initial protein kinase A-independent increase followed by a sustained decrease that is blocked by pertussis toxin. The beta(2)AR undergoes agonist-induced endocytosis in cardiac myocytes while the beta(1)AR remains on the cell surface. It has been shown that a PDZ domain binding motif at the carboxyl terminus of beta(1)AR interacts with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 when both are expressed in HEK293 cells. We found that mutation of this PDZ binding motif in the beta(1)AR (beta(1)AR-PDZ) enabled agonist-induced internalization in cardiac myocytes. Moreover, stimulation of beta(1)AR-PDZ had a biphasic effect on the myocyte contraction rate similar to that observed following stimulation of the beta(2)AR. The secondary decrease in the contraction rate was mediated by G(i) and could be blocked by pertussis toxin. Furthermore, a non-selective endocytosis inhibitor, concanavalin A, inhibited the internalization of wild type beta(2)AR and the mutated beta(1)AR-PDZ, and blocked the coupling of both receptors to G(i). Finally, treating myocytes with a membrane-permeable peptide representing beta(1)AR PDZ motif caused the endogenous beta(1)AR to behave like beta(1)AR-PDZ. These studies suggest that association of the beta(1)AR with PSD-95 or a related protein dictates signaling specificity by retaining the receptor at the cell surface and preventing interaction with G(i).
Zn(2+) is abundant in the brain, where it plays a role in the function of a number of enzymes, structural proteins, and transcription factors. Zn(2+) is also found in synaptic vesicles and is released into synapses achieving concentrations in the range of 100 to 300 microM [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997;94:13386-13387; Mol Pharmacol 1997;51:1015-1023]. Therefore, Zn(2+) may play a physiological role in regulating the function of postsynaptic channels and receptors. We characterized the effect of Zn(2+) on the functional properties of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR). We found that physiological concentrations of Zn(2+) increased agonist affinity and enhanced cAMP accumulation stimulated by submaximal concentrations of the betaAR agonist isoproterenol. These results provide evidence that Zn(2+) released at nerve terminals may modulate signals generated by the beta2AR in vivo.
alpha(2A)-Adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the midbrain regulate sympathetic nervous system activity, and both alpha(2A)-ARs and alpha(2C)-ARs regulate catecholamine release from sympathetic nerve terminals in cardiac tissue. Disruption of both alpha(2A)- and alpha(2C)-ARs in mice leads to chronically elevated sympathetic tone and decreased cardiac function by 4 mo of age. These knockout mice have increased mortality, reduced exercise capacity, decreased peak oxygen uptake, and decreased cardiac contractility relative to wild-type controls. Moreover, we observed significant abnormalities in the ultrastructure of cardiac myocytes from alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)-AR knockout mice by electron microscopy. Our results demonstrate that chronic elevation of sympathetic tone can lead to abnormal cardiac function in the absence of prior myocardial injury or genetically induced alterations in myocardial structural or functional proteins. These mice provide a physiologically relevant animal model for investigating the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the development and progression of heart failure.
Lutropin (LH) and follitropin (FSH) receptors belong to a group of leucine-rich repeat-containing, G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) found in vertebrates and flies. We fused the ectodomain of human LH or FSH receptors to the transmembrane region of fly LGR2. The chimeric human/fly receptors, unlike their wild type counterparts, exhibited ligand-independent constitutive activity. Because ectodomains likely interact with exoloops to constrain the receptors, individual exoloops of the chimeric receptor containing the ectodomain of the LH receptor and transmembrane region of fly LGR2 was replaced with LH receptor sequences. Chimeric receptors with the ectodomain and exoloop 2, but not exoloop 1 or 3, from LH receptors showed decreases in constitutive activity, but ligand treatment stimulated cAMP production. Furthermore, substitution of key resides in the hinge region of fly LGR2 with LH receptor sequences led to constitutive receptor activation; however, concomitant substitution of the homologous exoloop 2 of the LH receptor decreased G(s) coupling. These results suggest that the hinge region of the LH receptor interacts with exoloop 2 to constrain the receptor in an inactive conformation whereas ligand binding relieves this constraint, leading to G(s) activation.