Signaling, desensitization, and trafficking of G protein-coupled receptors revealed by green fluorescent protein conjugates.
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Arrestins↗
Biomedical subjects
S S Ferguson
Publications and source records attributed to S S Ferguson.
Role for G protein-coupled receptor kinase in agonist-specific regulation of mu-opioid receptor responsiveness.
The G protein-coupled mu-opioid receptor (mu OR) mediates the physiological effects of endogenous opioid peptides as well as the structurally distinct opioid alkaloids morphine and etorphine. An intriguing feature of mu OR signaling is the differential receptor trafficking and desensitization properties following activation by distinct agonists, which have been proposed as possible mechanisms related to opioid tolerance. Here we report that the ability of distinct opioid agonists to differentially regulate mu OR internalization and desensitization is related to their ability to promote G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-dependent phosphorylation of the mu OR. Although both etorphine and morphine effectively activate the mu OR, only etorphine elicits robust mu OR phosphorylation followed by plasma membrane translocation of beta-arrestin and dynamin-dependent receptor internalization. In contrast, corresponding to its inability to cause mu OR internalization, morphine is unable to either elicit mu OR phosphorylation or stimulate beta-arrestin translocation. However, upon the overexpression of GRK2, morphine gains the capacity to induce mu OR phosphorylation, accompanied by the rescue of beta-arrestin translocation and receptor sequestration. Moreover, overexpression of GRK2 also leads to an attenuation of morphine-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. These findings point to the existence of marked differences in the ability of different opioid agonists to promote mu OR phosphorylation by GRK. These differences may provide the molecular basis underlying the different analgesic properties of opioid agonists and contribute to the distinct ability of various opioids to induce drug tolerance.
Cell Line↗
The G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 is a microtubule-associated protein kinase that phosphorylates tubulin.
The G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates and desensitizes agonist-occupied G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here we demonstrate that GRK2 is a microtubule-associated protein and identify tubulin as a novel GRK2 substrate. GRK2 is associated with microtubules purified from bovine brain, forms a complex with tubulin in cell extracts, and colocalizes with tubulin in living cells. Furthermore, an endogenous tubulin kinase activity that copurifies with microtubules has properties similar to GRK2 and is inhibited by anti-GRK2 monoclonal antibodies. Indeed, GRK2 phosphorylates tubulin in vitro with kinetic parameters very similar to those for phosphorylation of the agonist-occupied beta2-adrenergic receptor, suggesting a functionally relevant role for this phosphorylation event. In a cellular environment, agonist occupancy of GPCRs, which leads to recruitment of GRK2 to the plasma membrane and its subsequent activation, promotes GRK2-tubulin complex formation and tubulin phosphorylation. These findings suggest a novel role for GRK2 as a GPCR signal transducer mediating the effects of GPCR activation on the cytoskeleton.
Animals↗
Essential role for G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase.
The classical paradigm for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction involves the agonist-dependent interaction of GPCRs with heterotrimeric G proteins at the plasma membrane and the subsequent generation, by membrane-localized effectors, of soluble second messengers or ion currents. Termination of GPCR signals follows G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)- and beta-arrestin-mediated receptor uncoupling and internalization. Here we show that these paradigms are inadequate to account for GPCR-mediated, Ras-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases Erk1 and -2. In HEK293 cells expressing dominant suppressor mutants of beta-arrestin or dynamin, beta2-adrenergic receptor-mediated activation of MAP kinase is inhibited. The inhibitors of receptor internalization specifically blocked Raf-mediated activation of MEK. Plasma membrane-delimited steps in the GPCR-mediated activation of the MAP kinase pathway, such as tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and Raf kinase activation by Ras, are unaffected by inhibitors of receptor internalization. Thus, GRKs and beta-arrestins, which uncouple GPCRs and target them for internalization, function as essential elements in the GPCR-mediated MAP kinase signaling cascade.
Arrestins↗
G protein-coupled receptor adaptation mechanisms.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transduce extracellular signals that modulate the activity of a wide variety of biological processes, such as neurotransmission, chemoattraction, cardiac function, olfaction, and vision. However, GPCR signalling desensitizes rapidly as the consequence of receptor phosphorylation. G protein-coupled receptor kinase-mediated receptor phosphorylation promotes the binding of beta-arrestin proteins, which not only uncouple GPCRs from their cognate heterotrimeric G protein, but also target them for endocytosis. The sequestration (endocytosis) of desensitized GPCRs to endosomes is required for their dephosphorylation and subsequent resensitization to their pre-ligand exposed state. This review concentrates on the mechanisms underlying GPCR desensitization and resensitization.
Adaptation, Physiological↗
Molecular mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptor desensitization and resensitization.
Beta-arrestin proteins play a dual role in regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) responsiveness by contributing to both receptor desensitization and internalization. Recently, beta-arrestins were also shown to be critical determinants for beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) resensitization. This was demonstrated by overexpressing wild-type beta-arrestins to rescue the resensitization-defect of a beta2AR (Y326A) mutant (gain of function) and overexpressing a dominant-negative beta-arrestin inhibitor of beta2AR sequestration to impair beta2AR dephosphorylation and resensitization (loss of function). Moreover, the ability of the beta2AR to resensitize in different cell types was shown to be dependent upon beta-arrestin expression levels. To further study the mechanisms underlying beta-arrestin function, green fluorescent protein was coupled to beta-arrestin2 (beta arr2GFP), thus allowing the real-time visualization of the agonist-dependent trafficking of beta-arrestin in living cells. Beta arr2GFP translocation from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane proceeded with a time course, sensitivity and specificity that was indistinguishable from the most sensitive second messenger readout systems. Beta arr2GFP translocation was GRK-dependent and was demonstrated for 16 different ligand-activated GPCRs. Because beta-arrestin binding is a common divergent step in GPCR signalling, this assay represents a universal methodology for screening orphan receptors, GRK inhibitors and novel GPCR ligands. Moreover, beta arr2GFP provides a valuable new tool to dissect the biological function and regulation of beta-arrestin proteins.
Animals↗
Role of beta-arrestins in the intracellular trafficking of G-protein-coupled receptors.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Using green fluorescent protein to understand the mechanisms of G-protein-coupled receptor regulation.
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation is followed rapidly by adaptive changes that serve to diminish the responsiveness of a cell to further stimulation. This process, termed desensitization, is the consequence of receptor phosphorylation, arrestin binding, sequestration and down-regulation. GPCR phosphorylation is initiated within seconds to minutes of receptor activation and is mediated by both second messenger-dependent protein kinases and receptor-specific G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). Desensitization in response to GRK-mediated phosphorylation involves the binding of arrestin proteins that serve to sterically uncouple the receptor from its G protein. GPCR sequestration, the endocytosis of receptors to endosomes, not only contributes to the temporal desensitization of GPCRs, but plays a critical role in GPCR resensitization. GPCR down-regulation, a loss of the total cellular complement of receptors, is the consequence of both increased lysosomal degradation and decreased mRNA synthesis of GPCRs. While each of these agonist-mediated desensitization processes are initiated within a temporally dissociable time frame, recent data suggest that they are intimately related to one another. The use of green fluorescent protein from the jellyfish Aqueora victoria as an epitope tag with intrinsic fluorescence has facilitated our understanding of the relative relationship between GRK phosphorylation, arrestin binding, receptor sequestration and down-regulation.
Arrestin↗
A beta-arrestin/green fluorescent protein biosensor for detecting G protein-coupled receptor activation.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) represent the single most important drug targets for medical therapy, and information from genome sequencing and genomic data bases has substantially accelerated their discovery. The lack of a systematic approach either to identify the function of a new GPCR or to associate it with a cognate ligand has added to the growing number of orphan receptors. In this work we provide a novel approach to this problem using a beta-arrestin2/green fluorescent protein conjugate (betaarr2-GFP). It provides a real-time and single cell based assay to monitor GPCR activation and GPCR-G protein-coupled receptor kinase or GPCR-arrestin interactions. Confocal microscopy demonstrates the translocation of betaarr2-GFP to more than 15 different ligand-activated GPCRs. These data clearly support the common hypothesis that the beta-arrestin binding of an activated receptor is a convergent step of GPCR signaling, increase by 5-fold the number of GPCRs known to interact with beta-arrestins, demonstrate that the cytosol is the predominant reservoir of biologically active beta-arrestins, and provide the first direct demonstration of the critical importance of G protein-coupled receptor kinase phosphorylation to the biological regulation of beta-arrestin activity and GPCR signal transduction in living cells. The use of betaarr2-GFP as a biosensor to recognize the activation of pharmacologically distinct GPCRs should accelerate the identification of orphan receptors and permit the optical study of their signal transduction biology intractable to ordinary biochemical methods.
Animals↗
A central role for beta-arrestins and clathrin-coated vesicle-mediated endocytosis in beta2-adrenergic receptor resensitization. Differential regulation of receptor resensitization in two distinct cell types.
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) sequestration to endosomes is proposed to be the mechanism by which G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-phosphorylated receptors are dephosphorylated and resensitized. The identification of beta-arrestins as GPCR trafficking molecules suggested that beta-arrestins might represent critical determinants for GPCR resensitization. Therefore, we tested whether beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) resensitization was dependent upon beta-arrestins and an intact clathrin-coated vesicle endocytic pathway. The overexpression of either the beta-arrestin 1-V53D dominant negative inhibitor of beta2AR sequestration or dynamin I-K44A to block clathrin-coated vesicle-mediated endocytosis impaired both beta2AR dephosphorylation and resensitization. In contrast, resensitization of a sequestration-impaired beta2AR mutant (Y326A) was reestablished following the overexpression of either GRK2 or beta-arrestin 1. Moreover, beta2ARs did not resensitize in COS-7 cells as the consequence of impaired sequestration and dephosphorylation. However, beta2AR resensitization was restored in these cells following the overexpression of beta-arrestin 2. These findings demonstrate, using both loss and gain of function paradigms, that beta2AR dephosphorylation and resensitization are dependent upon an intact sequestration pathway. These studies also indicate that beta-arrestins play an integral role in regulating not only the desensitization and intracellular trafficking of GPCRs but their ability to resensitize. beta-Arrestin expression levels appear to underlie cell type-specific differences in the regulation of GPCR resensitization.
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Molecular mechanism of desensitization of the chemokine receptor CCR-5: receptor signaling and internalization are dissociable from its role as an HIV-1 co-receptor.
The chemokine receptor, CCR-5, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which mediates chemotactic responses of certain leukocytes, has been shown to serve as the primary co-receptor for macrophage-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here we describe functional coupling of CCR-5 to inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i) protein mechanism in transfected HEK 293 cells. In response to chemokines, CCR-5 was desensitized, phosphorylated and sequestered like a prototypic GPCR only following overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and beta-arrestins in HEK 293 cells. The lack of CCR-5 desensitization in HEK 293 cells in the absence of GRK overexpression suggests that differences in cellular complements of GRK and/or beta-arrestin proteins could represent an important mechanism determining cellular responsiveness. When tested, the activity of CCR-5 as an HIV-1 co-receptor was dependent neither upon its ability to signal nor its ability to be desensitized and internalized following agonist stimulation. Thus, while chemokine-promoted cellular signaling, phosphorylation and internalization of CCR-5 may play an important role in regulation of chemotactic responses in leukocytes, these functions are dissociable from its HIV-1 co-receptor function.
Arrestins↗
HIV-1-induced cell fusion is mediated by multiple regions within both the viral envelope and the CCR-5 co-receptor.
Although the human hCCR-5 chemokine receptor can serve as a co-receptor for both M-tropic (ADA and BaL) and dual-tropic (89.6) strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the closely related mouse mCCR-5 homolog is inactive. We used chimeric hCCR-5-mCCR-5 receptor molecules to examine the functional importance of the three extracellular domains of hCCR-5 that differ in sequence from their mCCR-5 equivalents. While this analysis revealed that all three of these extracellular domains could participate in the functional interaction with HIV-1 envelope, clear differences were observed when different HIV-1 strains were analyzed. Thus, while the ADA HIV-1 isolate could effectively utilize chimeric human-mouse CCR-5 chimeras containing any single human extracellular domain, the BaL isolate required any two human extracellular sequences while the 89.6 isolate would only interact effectively with chimeras containing all three human extracellular sequences. Further analysis using hybrid HIV-1 envelope proteins showed that the difference in co-receptor specificity displayed by the ADA and BaL isolates was due partly to a single amino acid change in the V3 loop, although this interaction was clearly also modulated by other envelope domains. Overall, these data indicate that the interaction between HIV-1 envelope and CCR-5 is not only complex but also subject to marked, HIV-1 isolate-dependent variation.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Internal trafficking and surface mobility of a functionally intact beta2-adrenergic receptor-green fluorescent protein conjugate.
The beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) is prototypic of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) whose desensitization and resensitization are regulated by intracellular kinases, arrestin proteins, phosphatases, and ill-defined components of the cellular endocytic machinery. The study of beta2AR signal transduction and behavior in living cells is technically difficult because of the relatively low cellular expression of the receptor and a lack of useful biological reagents. Availability of a functional beta2AR tagged with the highly sensitive Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) could allow measurements of the various properties of the beta2AR. We demonstrate that a fully functional beta2AR/GFP can be engineered. In mammalian cells, beta2AR/S65T/GFP demonstrates strong, diffuse plasma membrane fluorescence when observed with 480 nm excitation. The fluorescent receptor binds agonist and antagonist, stimulates adenylyl cyclase, undergoes phosphorylation, and is internalized in a manner indistinguishable from wild-type receptor. We then show that its internal trafficking and surface mobility can be determined by measuring only the endogenous fluorescence of the conjugate. beta2AR/S65T/GFP was found to be localized on endosomal membranes in living cells within minutes of agonist treatment, and within 15 min it is observed in more complicated structures formed from fusion of multiple endosomes. Finally, its free diffusion (diffusion coefficient, 4.0-12 x 10(-9) cm2/sec) was assessed on living cells using photobleaching recovery measurements. This approach and the fidelity of the biochemical properties of the beta2AR/S65T/GFP demonstrate that real-time optical measurements of beta2AR (as well as other GPCR) interactions and dynamics on living cells are feasible.
Adenylyl Cyclases↗
Synergistic regulation of beta2-adrenergic receptor sequestration: intracellular complement of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase and beta-arrestin determine kinetics of internalization.
Two of the common mechanisms regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction are phosphorylation and sequestration (internalization). Agonist-mediated receptor phosphorylation by the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK) facilitates subsequent interaction with an arrestin protein, resulting in receptor desensitization. Studies of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) receptor in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells indicate that betaARK and arrestin proteins (beta-arrestins) also regulate sequestration. Consistent with this notion, we show in HEK 293 cells that reduction in or removal of the ability of the beta2AR to be phosphorylated by betaARK or to interact normally with beta-arrestin substantially reduces agonist-mediated sequestration. To evaluate betaARK and beta-arrestin regulation of beta2AR sequestration, we examined the relationship between betaARK and/or beta-arrestin expression and beta2AR sequestration in a variety of cultured cells, including HEK 293, COS 7, CHO, A431, and CHW. COS cells had both the lowest levels of endogenous beta-arrestin expression and beta2AR sequestration, whereas HEK 293 had the highest. Overexpression of beta-arrestin, but not betaARK, in COS cells increased the extent of wild-type beta2AR sequestration to levels observed in HEK 293 cells. However, a betaARK phosphorylation-impaired beta2AR mutant (Y326A) required the simultaneous overexpression of both betaARK and beta-arrestin for this to occur. Among all cell lines, sequestration correlated best with the product of betaARK and beta-arrestin expression. Moreover, an agonist-mediated translocation of wild-type beta2AR and endogenous beta-arrestin 2 to endocytic vesicles prepared from CHO fibroblasts was observed. These data suggest not only that the complement of cellular betaARK and arrestin proteins synergistically regulate beta2AR sequestration but also that beta-arrestins directly regulate beta2AR trafficking as well as desensitization.
Animals↗
Molecular mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptor signaling: role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases and arrestins in receptor desensitization and resensitization.
Dynamic regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling demands a coordinated balance between mechanisms leading to the generation, turning off and re-establishment of agonist-mediated signals. G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and arrestin proteins not only mediate agonist-dependent G protein-coupled receptor desensitization, but also initiate the internalization (sequestration) of activated receptors, a process leading to receptor resensitization. Studies on the specificity of beta-arrestin functions reveal a multiplicity of G protein-coupled receptor endocytic pathways and suggest that beta-arrestins might serve as adaptors specifically targeting receptors for dynamin-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, inactivation of the GRK2 gene in mice has lead to the discovery of an unexpected role of GRK2 in cardiac development, further emphasizing the pleiotropic function of GRKs and arrestins.
Animals↗
Dynamin and beta-arrestin reveal distinct mechanisms for G protein-coupled receptor internalization.
The process of agonist-promoted internalization (sequestration) of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is intimately linked to the regulation of GPCR responsiveness. Following agonist-mediated desensitization, sequestration of GPCR is presumably associated with the dephosphorylation and recycling of functional receptors. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for GPCR sequestration, even for the prototypic beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR), have remained controversial. We demonstrate here that dynamin, a GTPase that regulates the formation and internalization of clathrin-coated vesicles, is essential for the agonist-promoted sequestration of the beta2AR, suggesting that the beta2AR internalizes via the clathrin-coated vesicle-mediated endocytic pathway. In contrast, internalization of the angiotensin II type 1A receptor (AT1AR), another typical GPCR, does not require dynamin. In addition, the AT1AR internalizes independent of the function of beta-arrestin, a critical component for beta2AR cellular trafficking, but additional AT1ARs are mobilized to the dynamin-dependent pathway upon overexpression of beta-arrestin. These findings demonstrate that GPCRs can utilize distinct endocytic pathways, distinguishable by dynamin and beta-arrestin, and that beta-arrestins function as adaptor proteins specifically targeting GPCRs for dynamin-dependent endocytosis via clathrin-coated vesicles.
Animals↗
Members of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase family that phosphorylate the beta2-adrenergic receptor facilitate sequestration.
We recently reported that a beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) mutant, Y326A, defective in its ability to sequester in response to agonist stimulation was a poor substrate for G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-mediated phosphorylation; however, its ability to be phosphorylated and sequestered could be restored by overexpressing GRK2 [Ferguson et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 24782]. In the present report, we tested the ability of each of the known GRKs (GRK1-6) to phosphorylate and rescue the sequestration of the Y326A mutant in HEK-293 cells. We demonstrate that in addition to GRK2, GRK3-6 can phosphorylate the Y326A mutant and rescue its sequestration; however, GRK1 was totally ineffective in rescuing either the phosphorylation or the sequestration of the mutant receptor. We found that the agonist-dependent rescue of Y326A mutant phosphorylation by GRK2, -3, and -5 was associated with the agonist-dependent rescue of sequestration. In contrast, overexpression of GRK4 and -6 led mainly to agonist-independent phosphorylation of the Y326A mutant accompanied by increased basal receptor sequestration. Our results demonstrate that phosphorylation per se, but not the interaction with a specific GRK, is required to facilitate beta2AR sequestration.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
Role of beta-arrestin in mediating agonist-promoted G protein-coupled receptor internalization.
beta-Arrestins are proteins that bind phosphorylated heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and contribute to the desensitization of GPCRs by uncoupling the signal transduction process. Resensitization of GPCR responsiveness involves agonist-mediated receptor sequestration. Overexpression of beta-arrestins in human embryonic kidney cells rescued the sequestration of beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) mutants defective in their ability to sequester, an effect enhanced by simultaneous overexpression of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1. Wild-type beta 2AR sequestration was inhibited by the overexpression of two beta-arrestin mutants. These findings suggest that beta-arrestins play an integral role in GPCR internalization and thus serve a dual role in the regulation of GPCR function.
Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗