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R J Lefkowitz

Publications and source records attributed to R J Lefkowitz.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Pleckstrin homology domain-mediated membrane association and activation of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase requires coordinate interaction with G beta gamma subunits and lipid.

The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is an approximately 100-amino-acid region of sequence homology present in numerous proteins of diverse functions, which forms a discrete structural module. Several ligands capable of binding to PH domain-containing proteins have been identified including phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and the G beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (G beta gamma), which bind to the amino and carboxyl termini of the PH domain, respectively. Here we report that the binding of G beta gamma and lipid to the PH domain of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK) synergistically enhances agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation and that both PH domain-binding ligands are required for membrane association of the kinase. PIP2 and to a lesser extent phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid were the only lipids tested capable, in the presence of G beta gamma, of enhancing beta ARK activity. In contrast, the Km and Vmax for phosphorylation of a soluble beta ARK substrate (casein) was not altered in either the presence or absence of G beta gamma and/or PIP2. A fusion protein of the beta ARK containing an intact PH domain inhibits G beta gamma/PIP2-dependent beta ARK activity. In contrast, a mutant fusion protein in which a tryptophan residue, invariant in all PH domain sequences, is mutated to alanine shows no inhibitory activity. The requirement for the simultaneous presence of two PH domain binding ligands represents a previously unappreciated mechanism for effecting membrane localization of a protein and may have relevance to other PH domain-containing proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immunoaffinity purification of epitope-tagged human beta 2-adrenergic receptor to homogeneity.

To obtain large quantities of pure human beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2-AR) needed for structural studies, an efficient method for beta 2-AR purification was developed using a recombinant receptor with an eight amino acid epitope at its C-terminus. This epitope is recognized by KT3-monoclonal antibody. The epitope tagged beta 2-AR was expressed in Sf9 cells with a specific activity of 5-20 pmol/mg of membrane protein. The epitope-tagged and wild-type receptors had identical ligand binding properties. The tagged receptor was solubilized using dodecyl-beta-maltoside with a quantitative yield. Solubilized epitope-tagged receptors were partially purified by KT3-mAb immunoaffinity in 60-70% yield. Further purification of the receptors on an alprenolol-affinity column resulted in a homogenous preparation with an overall yield of > 30%. The purified receptor was concentrated to > 1 mg/ml without loss of ligand binding activity.

Alprenolol↗
PubMed1995

Marked enhancement in myocardial function resulting from overexpression of a human beta-adrenergic receptor gene.

Transgenic mice with intense cardiac expression of a human beta-adrenergic receptor gene were engineered and shown to display marked improvements in baseline myocardial and left ventricular function. Heart/body weight ratios and histologic appearance were not found to be significantly altered, suggesting that receptor gene expression did not induce pathologic changes. Given the substantial reduction in beta-adrenergic receptor density and resultant reduction in inotropic responsiveness observed in chronic heart failure, these findings represent a novel approach for increasing myocardial function with important clinical implications.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

G beta gamma interactions with PH domains and Ras-MAPK signaling pathways.

G-protein-coupled receptor signaling and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling are two mechanisms of transmembrane communication used by numerous extracellular agents and stimuli. The beta gamma-subunit complex of G proteins mediates many of the functions associated with G-protein-coupled receptor signaling and may even provide a means to link G proteins to RTK-initiated cascades. This connection may be mediated by the pleckstrin homology domain, a modular domain found in many signaling proteins that interact with G beta gamma.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Protein kinases that phosphorylate activated G protein-coupled receptors.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases that specifically recognize agonist-occupied, activated G protein-coupled receptor proteins as substrates. Phosphorylation of an activated receptor by a GRK terminates signaling by that receptor, by initiating the uncoupling of the receptor from heterotrimeric G proteins. Six distinct mammalian GRKs are known, which differ in tissue distribution and in regulatory properties. The intracellular localization of GRKs to membrane-bound receptor substrates is the most important known regulatory feature of these enzymes. Rhodopsin kinase (GRK1) requires a post-translationally added farnesyl isoprenoid to bind to light-activated rhodopsin. The beta-adrenergic receptor kinases (GRK2 and GRK3) associate with heterotrimeric G protein beta gamma-subunits, released upon receptor activation of G proteins, for membrane anchorage. The recently-described GRKs 4, 5, and 6 comprise a distinct subgroup of GRKs. These kinases utilize distinct mechanisms for membrane localization, which are just beginning to be defined. All GRKs appear to play the same general cellular role of desensitizing activated G protein-coupled receptors, but utilize distinctly individual means to the same end.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Cardiac muscarinic potassium channel activity is attenuated by inhibitors of G beta gamma.

The cardiac muscarinic potassium channel (IK.ACh) is activated by a G protein upon receptor stimulation with acetylcholine. The G protein subunit responsible for activation (G alpha versus G beta gamma) has been disputed. We used G beta gamma inhibitors derived from the beta-adrenergic kinase 1 (beta ARK1) to assess the relative importance of G beta gamma in IK.ACh activation. In rabbit atrial myocytes, IK.ACh had a conductance of 49 +/- 6.2 pS. In inside-out patches, the mean open time was 1.60 +/- 0.57 ms, mean time constant (tau o) was 1.59 +/- 0.53 ms, and mean closed time was 3.02 +/- 1.35 ms (n = 38). beta ARK1 is a G beta gamma-sensitive enzyme that interacts with G beta gamma through a defined sequence near its carboxyl terminus. A 28-amino-acid peptide derived from the carboxyl terminus of beta ARK1 (peptide G) increased the closed time to 10.04 ms (P < .001) and decreased opening probability (NPo) by 71% (P < .001). Fusion proteins containing the entire carboxyl terminus of beta ARK1, glutathione S-transferase beta ARK1ct and hexahistidine beta ARK1ct, decreased NPo by 67% (P = .03) and 48% (P = .009), respectively. They also both significantly increased the closed time. None of the inhibitors affected mean open time or channel amplitude. A control peptide derived from a neighboring region of beta ARK1 had no significant effect on IK.ACh activity. These results provide further evidence for the role of G beta gamma in the activation of IK.ACh.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Agonist-dependent phosphorylation of the mouse delta-opioid receptor: involvement of G protein-coupled receptor kinases but not protein kinase C.

With chronic opiate use, opioid receptor desensitization may be one of the important mechanisms underlying the development of opiate tolerance and addiction. Opioid receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. In this study, the mouse delta-opioid receptor (delta OR) was used in a model system to investigate the role of opioid receptor phosphorylation in receptor desensitization. When expressed in 293 cells and exposed to agonist, the delta OR underwent receptor-specific desensitization within 10 min. This agonist-induced desensitization corresponded temporally to a 3-fold increase in receptor phosphorylation. Phorbol ester, but not forskolin, also stimulated phosphorylation of the delta OR in 293 cells. Although down-regulation of protein kinase C failed to affect agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation, it abolished phorbol ester-induced receptor phosphorylation. Agonist-induced delta OR phosphorylation must therefore involve kinases other than protein kinase C. Whereas overexpression of a dominant negative mutant (K220R) of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase-1 (beta ARK1) in 293 cells significantly reduced agonist-dependent phosphorylation of the delta OR, overexpression of beta ARK1 or G protein-coupled receptor kinase-5 significantly enhanced this phosphorylation. Concordantly, beta ARK1-K220R overexpression reduced agonist-dependent delta OR desensitization, whereas beta ARK1 overexpression enhanced this densensitization. We conclude that short term desensitization of the delta OR involves phosphorylation of the receptor by one or more G protein-coupled receptor kinases.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1995

Odorant receptors and desensitization proteins colocalize in mammalian sperm.

BACKGROUND: The identification of transcripts encoding putative olfactory receptors in mammalian germ cells (1) has generated the hypothesis that olfactory receptors may serve a chemosensory role in sperm chemotaxis during fertilization. We have sought to identify and localize these receptors and their regulatory machinery in rat sperm in order to gain further insight into mammalian sperm chemotaxis and odorant receptor physiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate primers directed against sequences conserved across members of the known odorant receptor family to identify transcripts from testis and round spermatids. Western analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed using antibodies raised against two peptide sequences conserved among odorant receptors and using fusion protein antibodies to G-protein receptor kinase 3 (GRK3/beta ARK2) and beta-arrestin2. RESULTS: We detected transcripts encoding putative odorant receptors in both testis and round spermatids of the adult rat. Restriction digests of the PCR products demonstrated the existence of multiple gene products. Two anti-odorant receptor antibodies specifically recognized a 64 kD band in rat sperm preparations by Western blot. The proteins GRK3 and beta-arrestin2, implicated in olfactory desensitization, were detected in sperm cytosolic extracts using Western analysis. Immunohistochemistry colocalized putative odorant receptors, GRK3 and beta-arrestin2 to elongating spermatids in the testis and to the midpiece of mature sperm. CONCLUSIONS: The specific localization of odorant receptors to the respiratory center of mature sperm is consistent with a role for these proteins in transducing chemotactic signals. Based on the colocalization, it is plausible that GRK3 and beta-arrestin2 function in sperm to regulate putative chemoreceptor responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Direct evidence that Gi-coupled receptor stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase is mediated by G beta gamma activation of p21ras.

Stimulation of Gi-coupled receptors leads to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases). In several cell types, this appears to be dependent on the activation of p21ras (Ras). Which G-protein subunit(s) (G alpha or the G beta gamma complex) primarily is responsible for triggering this signaling pathway, however, is unclear. We have demonstrated previously that the carboxyl terminus of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase, containing its G beta gamma-binding domain, is a cellular G beta gamma antagonist capable of specifically distinguishing G alpha- and G beta gamma-mediated processes. Using this G beta gamma inhibitor, we studied Ras and MAP kinase activation through endogenous Gi-coupled receptors in Rat-1 fibroblasts and through receptors expressed by transiently transfected COS-7 cells. We report here that both Ras and MAP kinase activation in response to lysophosphatidic acid is markedly attenuated in Rat-1 cells stably transfected with a plasmid encoding this G beta gamma antagonist. Likewise in COS-7 cells transfected with plasmids encoding Gi-coupled receptors (alpha 2-adrenergic and M2 muscarinic), the activation of Ras and MAP kinase was significantly reduced in the presence of the coexpressed G beta gamma antagonist. Ras-MAP kinase activation mediated through a Gq-coupled receptor (alpha 1-adrenergic) or the tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor was unaltered by this G beta gamma antagonist. These results identify G beta gamma as the primary mediator of Ras activation and subsequent signaling via MAP kinase in response to stimulation of Gi-coupled receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Determination of the G beta gamma-binding domain of phosducin. A regulatable modulator of G beta gamma signaling.

Although a role for the beta gamma-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (G beta gamma) in signal transduction by several cellular systems has been established, the structural features of cellular proteins interacting with G beta gamma have yet to be fully elucidated. The G beta gamma-binding region of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK), a cytosolic enzyme recruited to the membrane receptor substrate by G beta gamma, has been localized to the carboxyl terminus of the enzyme. Here, we demonstrate that the amino terminus of phosducin, a 33-kDa G beta gamma-binding retinal phosphoprotein, contains sequences homologous with the G beta gamma-binding domain of beta ARK. Accordingly, a glutathione S-transferase-fusion protein containing only the amino-terminal 105 amino acids of phosducin displayed G beta gamma binding ability. This domain of phosducin contains a protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation site, and upon phosphorylation, the binding of full-length phosducin to G beta gamma is reduced. In addition, transient expression of phosducin in COS-7 cells significantly inhibits G beta gamma-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. This inhibitory effect is completely reversed by pretreatment of cells with dibutyryl cAMP, an activator of PKA. Thus, the binding of G beta gamma to phosducin can be regulated by PKA-phosphorylation in an intact cell model system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Palmitoylation of G protein-coupled receptor kinase, GRK6. Lipid modification diversity in the GRK family.

GRK6, a 66-kDa serine/threonine protein kinase, is a recently identified member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family. GRKs are involved in the phosphorylation of seven-transmembrane receptors, a process mediating desensitization of signal transduction. An important feature of these enzymes is their membrane-associated nature, which for some members is stimulus-dependent. The structural basis for this membrane association previously has been shown in different members of the GRK family to include isoprenylation, G protein beta gamma-binding domains, and basic regions to provide electrostatic interactions with phospholipids. We provide evidence that another mechanism includes fatty acid acylation. GRK6, but not other GRKs tested, incorporated tritium after incubation with [3H]palmitate in Sf9 and in COS-7 cells overexpressing the kinase. The incorporated radioactivity was released from the protein by neutral hydroxylamine, indicating the presence of a thioester bond, and was confirmed as palmitic acid by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Site-directed mutagenesis defined the region of palmitate attachment as a cluster of 3 cysteines (Cys561, Cys562, and Cys565) in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the kinase, consistent with the location of the membrane targeting domains of GRKs 1, 2, 3, and 5. Palmitoylation of GRK6 appears essential for membrane association, since palmitoylated kinase was found only in the membrane fraction. This lipid modification provides a structural basis for potential regulation of the subcellular distribution of GRK6 through acylation/deacylation cycles.

Acylation↗
PubMed1994

Myocardial expression of a constitutively active alpha 1B-adrenergic receptor in transgenic mice induces cardiac hypertrophy.

Transgenic mice were generated by using the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter coupled to the coding sequence of a constitutively active mutant alpha 1B-adrenergic receptor (AR). These transgenic animals demonstrated cardiac-specific expression of this alpha 1-AR with resultant activation of phospholipase C as shown by increased myocardial diacylglycerol content. A phenotype consistent with cardiac hypertrophy developed in adult transgenic mice with increased heart/body weight ratios, myocyte cross-sectional areas, and ventricular atrial natriuretic factor mRNA levels relative to nontransgenic controls. These transgenic animals may provide insight into the biochemical triggers that induce hypertrophy in cardiac disease and serve as a convenient experimental model for studies of this condition.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Activation of the cloned muscarinic potassium channel by G protein beta gamma subunits.

Acetylcholine released during parasympathetic stimulation of the vagal nerve slows the heart rate through the activation of muscarinic receptors and subsequent opening of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel. The activation of these muscarinic potassium channels is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein). It has not been resolved whether exogenously applied G alpha or G beta gamma, or both, activate the channel. Using a heterologous expression system, we have tested the ability of different G protein subunits to activate the cloned muscarinic potassium channel, GIRK1. We report here that coexpression of GIRK1 with G beta gamma but not G alpha beta gamma in Xenopus oocytes results in channel activity that persists in the absence of cytoplasmic GTP. This activity is reduced by fusion proteins of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase and of recombinant G alpha i-GDP, both of which are known to interact with G beta gamma. Moreover, application of recombinant G beta gamma, but not G alpha i-GTP-gamma S, activates GIRK1 channels. Thus G beta gamma appears to be sufficient for the activation of GIRK1 muscarinic potassium channels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor signaling by expression of cytoplasmic domains of the receptor.

The third intracellular domain (3i) of G protein-coupled receptors plays a major role in the activation of G proteins. Alterations in this region of the receptor can affect receptor/G protein coupling efficiency and specificity. We recently reported (Luttrell, L. M., Cotecchia, S., Ostrowski, J., Kendall, H., Lefkowitz, R.J. (1993) Science 259, 1453-1457) that coexpression of the 3i domain of the alpha 1B adrenergic receptor (AR) (alpha 1B3i) specifically inhibited alpha 1BAR-mediated inositol phosphate production, with no effect on D1A dopamine receptor (D1ADR)-mediated cAMP production. Similarly, expression of the 3i domain of D1ADR (D1A3i) inhibited D1ADR-mediated cAMP production but did not affect alpha 1BAR-mediated inositol phosphate accumulation. This suggests that peptides derived from a G protein-coupled receptor might serve as antagonists of receptor/G protein interactions. The present studies were performed to test the generality as well as the specificity of this phenomenon. The effect of expression of the second intracellular domain (2i), the 3i domain, and the fourth intracellular domain (4i) of alpha 1BAR on second messenger generation mediated by the alpha 1BAR, the M1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor (M1AChR), and the D1ADR was examined. Although the alpha 1B2i domain had no effect on receptor/G protein coupling for any receptor tested, the alpha 1B3i domain inhibited signaling mediated by alpha 1BAR and M1AChR but not by D1ADR, while the alpha 1B4i domain inhibited signaling mediated by each of the receptors. To investigate the generality of 3i domain-induced inhibition of receptor activity further, the 3i domains of two Gq-coupled receptors (alpha 1BAR and M1AChR) and two Gi-coupled receptors (alpha 2AAR and M2AChR) were tested for effects on the second messenger generation mediated by each of the four receptors. In each case, the homologous 3i domain caused significant inhibition (40-60%), while the 3i domain of the receptor coupled to the same G protein also decreased receptor/G protein coupling. In contrast, receptor/G protein coupling appeared unaffected by expression of 3i domains derived from receptors coupled to different G proteins. The alpha 1B3i domain-provoked inhibition of homologous receptor signaling was surmountable at high receptor density, and assays using a phorbol response element/reporter gene construct detected a weak enhancement of basal second messenger generation in cells expressing the alpha 1B3i domain alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

An approach to the study of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases: an in vitro-purified membrane assay reveals differential receptor specificity and regulation by G beta gamma subunits.

Phosphorylation of GTP-binding-regulatory (G)-protein-coupled receptors by specific G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) is a major mechanism responsible for agonist-mediated desensitization of signal transduction processes. However, to date, studies of the specificity of these enzymes have been hampered by the difficulty of preparing the purified and reconstituted receptor preparations required as substrates. Here we describe an approach that obviates this problem by utilizing highly purified membrane preparations from Sf9 and 293 cells overexpressing G-protein-coupled receptors. We use this technique to demonstrate specificity of several GRKs with respect to both receptor substrates and the enhancing effects of G-protein beta gamma subunits on phosphorylation. Enriched membrane preparations of the beta 2- and alpha 2-C2-adrenergic receptors (ARs, where alpha 2-C2-AR refers to the AR whose gene is located on human chromosome 2) prepared by sucrose density gradient centrifugation from Sf9 or 293 cells contain the receptor at 100-300 pmol/mg of protein and serve as efficient substrates for agonist-dependent phosphorylation by beta-AR kinase 1 (GRK2), beta-AR kinase 2 (GRK3), or GRK5. Stoichiometries of agonist-mediated phosphorylation of the receptors by GRK2 (beta-AR kinase 1), in the absence and presence of G beta gamma, are 1 and 3 mol/mol, respectively. The rate of phosphorylation of the membrane receptors is 3 times faster than that of purified and reconstituted receptors. While phosphorylation of the beta 2-AR by GRK2, -3, and -5 is similar, the activity of GRK2 and -3 is enhanced by G beta gamma whereas that of GRK5 is not. In contrast, whereas GRK2 and -3 efficiently phosphorylate alpha 2-C2-AR, GRK5 is quite weak. The availability of a simple direct phosphorylation assay applicable to any cloned G-protein-coupled receptor should greatly facilitate elucidation of the mechanisms of regulation of these receptors by the expanding family of GRKs.

Animals↗