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Biomedical subjects

R D Ye

Publications and source records attributed to R D Ye.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

cDNA cloning of a novel G protein-coupled receptor with a large extracellular loop structure.

A cDNA designated as AZ3B has been isolated from a differentiated HL-6 0 cell cDNA library with a probe derived from the N-formyl peptide receptor gene. The 1.97-kb cDNA encodes a novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with 482 amino acids. In addition to the predicted 7 transmembrane domains common to all GPCRs, the protein encoded by AZ3B contains a large extracellular loop of approximately 172 amino acids between the fourth and the fifth transmembrane domains, a feature unique among the hundreds of GPCRs identified to date. High sequence homology exists between the AZ3B protein and a number of chemoattractant receptors in the amino-terminal 170 residues and the carboxyl-terminal 150 residues. Northern and flow cytometric analyses suggested that the AZ3B message and protein are widely expressed in several differentiated hematopoietic cell lines, in the lung, placenta, heart, and endothelial cells. We postulate that the AZ3B protein defines a distinct group of receptors within the GPCR superfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stimulation of NF-kappa B activation and gene expression by platelet-activating factor.

PAF stimulation of NF-kappa B activation and transcription of immediate-early genes have been investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the cloned PAF receptor. These studies identified a G protein-coupled pathway for PAF induction of gene expression and transcription factor activation, which differs from the mechanisms employed by other immediate-early gene inducers. Potential significance of PAF induced NF-kappa B activation is discussed.

Animals↗

Gene transcription through activation of G-protein-coupled chemoattractant receptors.

Receptors for leukocyte chemoattractants, including chemokines, are traditionally considered to be responsible for the activation of special leukocyte functions such as chemotaxis, degranulation, and the release of superoxide anions. Recently, these G-protein-coupled serpentine receptors have been found to transduce signals leading to gene transcription and translation in leukocytes. Transcription factors, such as NF kappa B and AP-1, are activated upon stimulation of the cells with several chemoattractants at physiologically relevant concentrations. Activation of transcription factors through these receptors involves G-protein coupling and the activation of protein kinases. The underlying signaling pathways appear to be different from those utilized by TNF-alpha, a better characterized cytokine that induces the transcription of immediate-early genes. Chemoattractants stimulate the expression of several inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which in turn may activate their respective receptors and initiate an autocrine regulatory mechanism for persistent cytokine and chemokine gene expression.

Animals↗

Biological consequences of thrombin receptor deficiency in mice.

The thrombin receptor (ThrR) is a membrane-bound, G-protein-coupled receptor for the serine protease thrombin. This receptor is expressed in a wide variety of cells and tissues, and elicits a range of physiological responses associated with tissue injury, inflammation, and wound repair. To achieve a better understanding of the physiological role of the ThrR, we have employed homologous recombination to create mice with a disrupted ThrR gene. Following heterozygous (+/-) intercrosses, a total of 351 surviving offspring were genotyped. Only 7% of these offspring were identified as homozygous (-/-) for the disrupted allele, indicating a profound effect on embryonic development. Paradoxically, adult ThrR-/- mice appeared to be normal by anatomical and histological analysis, including their platelet number and function. Similarly, ThrR deficiency had no detectable effect in adult ThrR-/- mice on basal heart rate, arterial blood pressure, vasomotor responses to angiotensin II and acetycholine, and coagulation parameters, even though the ThrR is expressed in many cardiovascular tissue types. In addition, the loss of ThrR function in the peripheral vasculature of adult ThrR-/- mice was confirmed by the absence of various standard hemodynamic effects of the ThrR-activating peptides SFLLRN-NH2 and TFLLRNPNDK-NH2. Our results indicate that ThrR deficiency has a strong impact on fetal development; however. ThrR-/- mice that proceed to full development display surprisingly little change in phenotype compared to the wild-type.

Animals↗

Platelet-activating factor induces NF-kappa B activation through a G protein-coupled pathway.

The capability of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to induce transcription factor activation was examined. In stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the PAF receptor (CHO-PAFR), PAF stimulation resulted in the nuclear expression of a DNA binding activity with specificity to the kappa B sequence. The p50 and p65 proteins, constituents of the prototypic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), were identified as components of the DNA protein complexes by antipeptide antibodies in gel supershift as well as UV cross-linking experiments. PAF induced an initial decrease and subsequent increase of cytoplasmic I kappa B alpha levels, accompanied by up-regulation of the I kappa B alpha messenger RNA, a feature of NF-kappa B activation. PAF-induced kappa B binding activity was detected within 15 min after agonist stimulation, peaked at 30-40 min, and remained detectable by 2.5 h. SR 27417, a PAF receptor antagonist, blocked PAF-induced kappa B binding activity but not that induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Cholera toxin treatment markedly reduced PAF-induced kappa B binding activity, whereas pertussis toxin had no significant inhibitory effect. Neither of the two toxins affected the kappa B binding activity induced by TNF alpha in the same cells. In addition to the CHO-PAFR cells, PAF stimulated kappa B binding activity in the murine P388D1 macrophage and the human ASK.0 B cell lines that express endogenous PAF receptors. These results imply a potential role of PAF in the regulation of gene expression through a G protein-coupled transcription factor activation pathway.

Animals↗

Binding of low affinity N-formyl peptide receptors to G protein. Characterization of a novel inactive receptor intermediate.

G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-containing receptors, such as the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) of neutrophils, likely undergo a conformational change upon binding of ligand, which enables the receptor to transmit a signal to G proteins. We have examined the functional significance of numerous conserved charged amino acid residues proposed to be located within or near the transmembrane domains. Whereas the wild type FPR exhibits a Kd for an agonist of 1-3 nM, which is reduced to approximately 40 nM in the presence of guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S), substitution of either Asp71 or Arg123 resulted in mutant receptors that bound ligand with only low affinity (Kd = 30-50 nM) independent of GTP gamma S. In contrast, substitution of Arg163, predicted to be located at a similar depth within the membrane as Asp71, had no effect on ligand binding. Replacement of residues Arg309-Glu310-Arg311 resulted in an FPR with intermediate ligand binding characteristics. Functional analysis of the mutant receptors revealed that substitution of either Asp71 or Arg123 resulted in a mutant receptor that was unable to mediate calcium mobilization, whereas replacement of residues Arg309-Glu310-Arg311 yielded a receptor with an EC50 of 50 nM, compared with 0.5 nM for the wild type FPR. In order to determine the point of the defect in signal transduction, we performed reconstitution of the solubilized receptors with purified G proteins. The wild type FPR displayed a Kd for G protein of approximately 0.6 microM compared with the Arg309/Glu310/Arg311 mutant with a Kd of approximately 30 microM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Platelet-activating factor stimulates transcription of the heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor in monocytes. Correlation with an increased kappa B binding activity.

Human peripheral blood monocytes responded to stimulation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) with up-regulation of the transcript for heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells. This function of PAF was observed at nanomolar concentrations of the ligand, starting at 30 min after stimulation. The PAF-induced up-regulation of HB-EGF mRNA was accompanied by an increase in kappa B binding activity. These functions of PAF appeared to be mediated through the cell surface PAF receptors, as two PAF receptor antagonists, WEB 2086 and L-659,989, blocked both the up-regulation of HB-EGF mRNA and kappa B binding activity induced by PAF. The antagonists, however, had no effect on phorbol ester-induced up-regulation of HB-EGF mRNA and kappa B binding activity. Pretreatment of monocytes with pertussis toxin inhibited these functions of PAF, whereas cholera toxin had no inhibitory effect. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an inhibitor for NF-kappa B activation, markedly reduced PAF-stimulated kappa B binding activity as well as up-regulation of HB-EGF mRNA. These results suggest a potential role of PAF in HB-EGF expression and provide evidence that this stimulation may occur through increased kappa B binding activity.

Bacterial Toxins↗

Investigation of neutrophil signal transduction using a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Neutrophils contain a multicomponent NADPH oxidase system that is involved in the production of microbicidal oxidants. Stimulation of human neutrophils with the peptide FMLP activates this respiratory burst enzyme to produce superoxide and also has been shown to result in activation of phosphatidylinositol (Ptdlns) 3-kinase. Treatment of human neutrophils with 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), a potent and specific inhibitor of Ptdlns 3-kinase, resulted in complete inhibition of Ptdlns 3-kinase activity as well as in inhibition of superoxide production in FMLP-treated neutrophils in suspension; FMLP-stimulated oxidant production in adherent cells was also abolished. Treatment of human neutrophils with PMA resulted in production of superoxide without activation of Ptdlns 3-kinase; LY294002 did not block superoxide production in neutrophils exposed to PMA. In addition, LY294002 did not inhibit cellfree NADPH oxidase activation, CD11b-dependent adhesion, actin polymerization in response to FMLP, or FMLP-induced calcium flux. These results suggest that the signal transduction pathway of the FMLP-receptor involves activation of Ptdlns 3-kinase, which is required for subsequent superoxide production induced by the chemotactic peptide. Furthermore, Ptdlns 3-kinase may be located directly upstream of protein kinase C or other protein kinases, which in turn activate the NADPH oxidase system.

Actins↗

Phosphorylation of the N-formyl peptide receptor carboxyl terminus by the G protein-coupled receptor kinase, GRK2.

Attenuation of receptor-mediated signal amplification in response to external stimuli, an essential step in the balance of cellular activation, may be mediated by receptor phosphorylation. We have recently shown that the carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) interacts with G proteins and demonstrate here that this same region of the FPR is specifically phosphorylated by a neutrophil cytosolic kinase with properties similar to the G protein-coupled receptor kinase, GRK2. Both kinase activities show a lack of sensitivity toward protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors but demonstrate almost identical sensitivity toward the kinase inhibitor heparin. Kinetic studies demonstrated that GRK2 has a Km for the carboxyl-terminal domain of the FPR of approximately 1.5 microM and that denaturation of the substrate results in an almost complete loss of phosphorylation. Comparative studies reveal that GRK3 has approximately 50% of the activity of GRK2 toward the FPR carboxyl terminus, whereas GRK5 and GRK6 have no detectable activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of numerous regions of the FPR carboxyl terminus demonstrated that, whereas Glu326/Asp327 and Asp333 are critical for phosphorylation, the carboxyl-terminal 10 amino acids are not required. Simultaneous substitution of Thr334, Thr336, Ser338, and Thr339 resulted in an approximately 50% reduction in phosphorylation, whereas simultaneous substitution of the upstream Ser328, Thr329, Thr331, and Ser332 or merely the Ser328 and Thr329 residues resulted in an approximately 80% reduction in phosphorylation. The introduction of negatively charged glutamate residues for Ser328 and Thr329 or Thr331 and Ser332 resulted in marked stimulation of phosphorylation. These results suggest a hierarchical mechanism in which phosphorylation of amino-terminal serine and threonine residues is required for the subsequent phosphorylation of carboxyl-terminal residues. These results provide the first direct evidence that an intracellular domain of a chemoattractant receptor is a high affinity substrate for GRK2 and further suggest a role for GRK2 or a closely related kinase in the attenuation of receptor-mediated activation of inflammatory cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ligand-induced adhesion to activated endothelium and to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in lymphocytes transfected with the N-formyl peptide receptor.

Binding of FMLP to the neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) transmits signals through pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins triggering Ca2+ flux, superoxide production, granule exocytosis, and neutrophil aggregation and adhesion involving the beta 2 (CD18) integrins. Expression of the FPR in mouse fibroblasts or human kidney cells has been shown to confer an N-formyl peptide-inducible Ca2+ flux in transfectants. Here we demonstrate that the transfected receptor can also support ligand-induced alterations in cellular adhesion. We established stable transfectants of mouse L1-2 pre-B cells with cDNA for human FPR (L1-2 FPR cells). The transfectants bind N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-fluorescein with 1.4 x 10(5) sites per cell and a dissociation constant of 3.3 nM. Stimulation with FMLP induces a transient Ca2+ flux. FMLP also triggers adhesion of L1-2 FPR cells to TNF-alpha- or LPS-activated bEnd3 cells (mouse brain-derived endothelial cells) and to purified mouse VCAM-1. Binding is inhibited by Abs to VCAM-1 and to the alpha-chain of its lymphocyte receptor (the alpha 4 beta 1 integrin, VLA-4). Stimulation with FMLP does not induce a change in cell surface expression of alpha 4. Induced adhesion to VCAM-1 is rapid, detectable at the earliest times measurable (30 to 60 s after FMLP addition), and is inhibited by pertussis toxin. We conclude that FPR can mediate integrin activation not only in neutrophils but also in lymphocytes, and can trigger rapid adhesion via lymphocyte alpha 4 beta 1. The adhesion of lymphocytes is critical to their migration and targeting; our results suggest the possibility of manipulating adhesive responses through expression of chemoattractant receptors in lymphoid cells engineered for cellular therapy, allowing targeted adhesion and potentially migration in response to locally administered ligands.

Animals↗

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein expression in primary human hepatocytes and HepG2 hepatoma cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) is a normal plasma protein and an acute phase reactant important for host responses to Gram-negative bacteria and LPS. LBP forms high affinity complexes with LPS which bind to CD14, a monocyte surface protein, to initiate the release of inflammatory mediators. We found that human primary hepatocytes synthesize LBP and that the synthesis is up-regulated by interleukin (IL)-6. To examine this phenomenon in more detail, we evaluated the capacity of IL-6, IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor to induce LBP synthesis in HepG2 cells in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. IL-6 induced LBP synthesis. Dexamethasone, IL-1, and tumor necrosis factor had a synergistic effect when combined with IL-6, but demonstrated minimal effect independently. LBP biosynthesis was evaluated by immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled LBP from HepG2 supernatants, measurement of steady-state LBP mRNA levels, and analysis of LBP-dependent LPS binding to CD14 positive cells. An 35S-labeled, 60-kDa protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-LBP antibody from IL-6-stimulated HepG2 cell supernatants. Northern blot analysis of cellular RNA revealed an increase in LBP mRNA in IL-6-stimulated cells. CD14 expressing cells bound fluoresceinated LPS in the presence of supernatants from HepG2 cells treated with IL-6. These data provide the first information about specific cytokine and dexamethasone regulation of LBP expression in HepG2 cells. LBP behaves like a Type 1 acute phase protein.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Domains of the human neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor involved in G protein coupling. Mapping with receptor-derived peptides.

Chemotactic signaling by the human neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor requires its association with heterotrimeric G protein. Synthetic peptides and a fusion protein derived from the intracellular regions of the receptor were used to identify sites which interact with G protein. A peptide derived from the second intracellular loop (C12R), and peptides (F15R and S22L) and a fusion protein derived from the receptor's carboxyl terminus inhibited binding of anti-Gi alpha antibody (R16,17) to Gi alpha in a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay, and antagonized pertussis-toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha. C12R also inhibited G protein-dependent, high affinity ligand binding to the receptor and physical coupling of receptor to G protein. In contrast, a peptide consisting of the entire third loop of the N-formyl peptide receptor was totally inactive in these assays. Collectively, these data suggest that the second intracellular loop and the carboxyl-terminal tail are important for effective N-formyl peptide receptor/G protein coupling, but that the third intracellular loop is less important in coupling, unlike previous findings with other G protein-coupled receptor systems. The chemoattractant receptor family may rely on different structural determinants to interact with GTP-binding proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Signal transducing properties of the N-formyl peptide receptor expressed in undifferentiated HL60 cells.

Differentiated HL60 cells respond to challenge with ligand by mobilizing intracellular second messengers, resulting in superoxide production, degranulation, and actin polymerization with subsequent chemotaxis and phagocytosis. The functional capabilities of undifferentiated HL60 cells have not been similarly characterized due to the absence of the cell surface receptors required to initiate these processes. To investigate these properties, undifferentiated HL60 cells were transfected with one of the better characterized neutrophil chemotactic receptors, the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR). Expression of the recombinant FPR gene product in FPR-transfected HL60 cells and the absence of the endogenous FPR in vector-transfected HL60 cells was demonstrated by Northern blot and flow cytometric analyses. FPR-transfected HL60 cells retained their ability to undergo granulocytic differentiation with dibutyryl cAMP, as determined by FMLP- and PMA-stimulated superoxide production. Furthermore, incubation of FPR-transfected HL60 cells for 5 days in the presence of FMLP resulted in limited differentiation as evidenced by the expression of functional C5a receptors. Binding studies of FPR-transfected HL60 cells demonstrated the presence of two binding affinities with dissociation constants of 0.6 and 33 nM, similar to dibutyryl cAMP differentiated HL60 cells and human neutrophils but contrasting the single high affinity state of the FPR expressed in mouse L cell fibroblasts. FPR-transfected HL60 cells displayed FMLP-dependent calcium mobilization with an EC50 of 3 nM and actin polymerization with an EC50 of approximately 10 nM. Actin polymerization was not observed in FPR-transfected L cell fibroblasts or undifferentiated vector-transfected HL60 cells. Both calcium mobilization and actin polymerization were sensitive to treatment with pertussis toxin, indicating the requirement for a Gi-like protein. Stimulation of either undifferentiated or differentiated HL60 cells with ATP resulted in pertussis toxin-insensitive calcium mobilization but was ineffective in producing actin polymerization. The results described herein show for the first time that undifferentiated HL60 cells can respond to chemoattractant receptor stimulation with many of the properties of the mature neutrophil. Transfected HL60 cells will provide an excellent system to study the characteristics of chemotactic receptors as well as the functional properties of myeloid cells.

Actins↗

The role of the third intracellular loop of the neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor in G protein coupling.

The G-protein-coupled N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) contains one of the smallest known third intracellular loops of this class of receptors, consisting of only 15 amino acids. To study the role of this region of the receptor in G protein coupling and signal transduction, we generated a deletion mutant (D3i) in which 10 amino acids of the loop were removed, as well as a series of site-directed mutants containing substitutions of the charged and polar amino acids of this loop. The D3i mutant, expressed at normal levels on the cell surface, displayed a KD for labelled N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe ([3H]FMLP) of 165 nM. This value compares with a KD for the wild-type FPR of 1.0 nM, or 20 nM in the presence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, which uncouples G proteins from the receptor. These results indicate that D3i contains significant structural defects, beyond the disruption of G protein coupling, that affect ligand binding properties. Ten site-directed mutants generated in the third intracellular loop (T226A, K227E, H229A, K230Q, K235Q, S236A, S236A/S237G, R238G, R241E and S244A) displayed KD values between 0.5 and 1.0 nM, with expression levels between 22% (K227E) and 111% (H229A) of that of wild type receptor. The capacity of the mutants for signal transductions was determined by measuring intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Eight of the ten mutants displayed EC50 values for FMLP of between 0.07 and 0.9 nM, as compared with 0.12 nM for the wild-type receptor. The two mutants K227E and R238G had EC50 values of 2.7 and 2.9 nM respectively. The increase in EC50 could be accounted for partially by the low levels of receptor expression. All ten mutants gave maximum levels of Ca2+ mobilization similar to that produced by the wild-type FPR. These results contradict the conclusions reached with other G-protein-coupled receptors and indicate that the third intracellular loop of the FPR does not have a critical role in the functional coupling of G proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multiple domains of the N-formyl peptide receptor are required for high-affinity ligand binding. Construction and analysis of chimeric N-formyl peptide receptors.

Binding of the chemotactic tripeptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP) to its receptor on phagocytes activates these cells through a G protein-coupled pathway. To delineate the structural requirement of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) for ligand binding and signaling, we constructed chimeric receptors between FPR and a recently identified granulocyte receptor, FPR2 (Ye, R. D., Cavanagh, S. L., Quehenberger, O., Prossnitz, E. R., and Cochrane, C. G. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 184, 582-589). FPR2 shares 69% sequence homology with the FPR; yet it binds fMLP with a low affinity (Kd = 430 nM), as compared with the high affinity (Kd = 1 nM) displayed by the FPR. This property of the FPR2 was utilized for mapping the FPR ligand binding domains. Seven chimeric FPR/FPR2 receptors were generated by sequential replacement of the FPR segments with the corresponding regions from FPR2. Three reciprocal FPR2/FPR chimeric receptors were also constructed by selective substitution of the FPR segments into FPR2. These chimeric receptors were stably expressed in transfected fibroblasts and analyzed for their ligand binding and transmembrane signaling properties. Replacement of the FPR domains, including the first and the third extracellular loops, resulted in 275- and 85-fold decrease in ligand binding affinity, respectively. Introduction of both domains into the FPR2 significantly increased ligand binding affinity (Kd = 18 nM), whereas substitution of the domains containing the first or third extracellular loop alone improved ligand binding to a lesser degree (Kd = 90 and 372 nM, respectively). In contrast, substitution of either the amino or the carboxyl-terminal regions with those of the FPR2 had little effect on ligand binding affinity. An analysis of the sequences of the two receptors revealed several key residues in the first and the third extracellular loops of the FPR and their adjacent transmembrane domains that may be essential for binding of fMLP. We propose that multiple domains of the FPR are required for high-affinity ligand binding, with a major determinant located in the first extracellular loop and its adjacent transmembrane domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Anti-C5a receptor antibodies. Characterization of neutralizing antibodies specific for a peptide, C5aR-(9-29), derived from the predicted amino-terminal sequence of the human C5a receptor.

Results obtained indicate that a site-directed polyclonal antibody specific for a synthetic peptide based on the predicted amino-terminal sequence of human C5aR (anti-C5aR(9-29)) is capable of binding to both normal human and transfected cells bearing C5aR. Flow cytometric analysis of stable murine L cell transfectants (C5aR-neo), human neutrophils, and human monocytes indicated that these cells bound anti-C5aR(9-29) in a specific manner. Moreover, F(ab')2 fragments of anti-C5aR(9-29) specifically neutralized proinflammatory and immunoregulatory activities induced by natural human C5a. This antiserum was found to block, in a dose-dependent manner, 1) zymosan-induced neutrophil chemotaxis, 2) C5a-induced enzyme release from neutrophils, and 3) C5a-induced cytokine production (IL-6 and IL-8) from human monocytes in vitro. These results suggest that this site-directed polyclonal antiserum specifically interacts with the human C5aR molecule. To the best of our knowledge, none of the existing reports in the literature provided evidence for a site-directed antiserum to C5aR that was capable of specifically blocking C5a-mediated inflammatory/immunoregulatory activities in vitro. Studies conducted with anti-C5aR(9-29) indicated that this antiserum effectively blocked C5a-mediated cell activation but by itself did not activate either neutrophils or monocytes. Combined, these data suggest that this antiserum does not interact with the C5a "effector" site but sterically interferes with C5a binding to its receptor by interacting with the extracellular amino-terminal region of the receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The rabbit neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor. cDNA cloning, expression, and structure/function implications.

The rabbit neutrophil N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) has been well studied for its ligand binding properties. Recent gene cloning experiments have established the existence of a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors that share extensive sequence homology with the FPR, yet lack the capability of high affinity binding to FMLP. These findings prompted us to identify the structural requirement for formyl peptide ligand binding by delineation of the primary structure of the rabbit FPR. A rabbit neutrophil cDNA library was screened with a cloned human FPR cDNA probe and the insert of one positive isolate (B6) was sequenced. The 1268-bp cDNA insert encodes a peptide of 352 amino acids. Stably transfected L cell fibroblasts expressing the rabbit cDNA displayed specific binding of the ligand fMet-Leu-[3H]Phe with two affinities (Kd = 0.31 and 7.5 nM). Addition of the nonhydrolyzable guanosine triphosphate analogue, GTP gamma S, converted > or = 85% of the high affinity sites to the low affinity sites. FMLP induced mobilization of intracellular calcium in the transfected cells (EC50 = 0.5 nM), a response sensitive to pertussis toxin. FMLP stimulation desensitized the receptor such that subsequent stimulation with the same ligand produced a significantly reduced signal. These results indicate that the cloned rabbit receptor represents a high affinity FPR, and that FPR-mediated early signal transduction events can be fully reconstituted in transfected mammalian cells. The rabbit FPR sequence is 78% identical to that of the human FPR, and 68% identical to FPR2, a homologue of FPR with a low binding affinity (Kd > or = 400 nM) for FMLP. Analysis of the aligned sequences of these three proteins revealed that: 1) the amino termini and the second extracellular loops have the lowest sequence homology; 2) sequence in the intracellular domains that couple to G protein are highly conserved; and 3) the first and the third extracellular loops and their adjacent transmembrane domains of the FPR may contain residues essential for the high affinity binding of FMLP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗