Amino-terminal Extracellular Region Research Articles

Members of CRF Family and their Receptors: From Past to Future

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), originally isolated from the mammalian hypothalamus, is a 41 amino acid peptide that plays an important physiological role and is implicated in the pathophysiology of various diseases. In addition to CRF and its related peptides, a large number of small non-peptide CRF analogs have been recently synthesized, some currently in clinical trials having considerable therapeutic potential in the treatment of CRF-related illnesses. CRF and its related peptides exert their multiple actions by interacting with two types of plasma membrane G-protein coupled CRF receptors, the type 1 (CRF(1)) and type 2 (CRF(2)). These receptors, like all GPCRs consist of an amino-terminal extracellular region, a carboxyl-terminal intracellular tail and seven, membrane-spanning segments, connected by alternating intracellular and extracellular loops. This review describes the functional role of CRF receptors and their ligands emphasizing the structural elements that are important for their function and could potentially contribute in the development of future target-based approaches to design new CRF-related drugs which will enrich the pharmaceutical armoire against serious diseases.

Functional Characterization of Three G Protein-coupled Receptors for Pigment Dispersing Factors in Caenorhabditis elegans

Here, we report the identification, cloning, and functional characterization of three Caenorhabditis elegans G protein-coupled pigment dispersing factor (PDF) receptors, which we designated as Ce_PDFR-1a, -b, and -c. They represent three splice isoforms of the same gene (C13B9.4), which share a high degree of similarity with the Drosophila PDF receptor and are distantly related to the mammalian vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors (VPAC2) and calcitonin receptors. In a reverse pharmacological screen, three bioactive C. elegans neuropeptides, which were recently identified as the Drosophila PDF orthologues, were able to activate these receptors in a dose-dependent manner with nanomolar potency (isoforms a and b). Integrated green fluorescent protein reporter constructs reveal the expression of these PDF receptors in all body wall muscle cells and many head and tail neurons involved in the integration of environmental stimuli and the control of locomotion. Using a custom data analysis system, we demonstrate the involvement of this newly discovered neuropeptide signaling system in the regulation of locomotor behavior. Overexpression of PDF-2 phenocopies the locomotor defects of a PDF-1 null mutant, suggesting that they elicit opposite effects on locomotion through the identified PDF receptors. Our findings strengthen the hypothesis that the PDF signaling system, which imposes the circadian clock rhythm on behavior in Drosophila, has been functionally conserved throughout the protostomian evolutionary lineage.

Trafficking of 5-HT3and GABAAreceptors (Review)

The 5-HT(3) and GABA(A) receptors are members of the Cys-loop family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that also include receptors for glycine and acetylcholine. The 5-HT(3) and acetylcholine receptors (cationic ion channels) and the GABA(A) and glycine receptors (anionic ion channels) generally depolarize or hyperpolarize, respectively, the neuronal membrane. Within the amino-terminal extracellular region, all members of this family exhibit a similar architecture of ligand binding domains and a number of key residues are completely conserved. The molecular characterization of their ligand binding and gating characteristics has benefited from the existence of a large repertoire of individual subunits that contribute to the pentameric ion channel. Although differences do exist, advances in our knowledge of one member offers valuable insight into the family as a whole. Each member of the Cys-loop receptors (and all other multimeric ion channels) must face the same challenges: How to assemble individual subunits into an ion channel and which subunits to use? How are assembled receptors distinguished from those that are unassembled or misassembled, then exported from the endoplasmic reticulum and delivered to the cell surface? How are they targeted to, and anchored at synaptic and extrasynaptic sites? How and when are they to be removed from these sites to provide long-term regulation of neuronal activity? In this review, we summarize our current knowledge for the 5-HT(3) and GABA(A) receptors that have provided complementary information and helped us build an overall picture of how receptor biogenesis and trafficking occurs.

The role of N-linked glycosylation in determining the surface expression, G protein interaction and effector coupling of the alpha (α) isoform of the human thromboxane A 2 receptor

In humans, thromboxane (TX) A 2 signals through two TXA 2 receptor (TP) isoforms, termed TPα and TPβ, that diverge exclusively within the carboxyl terminal cytoplasmic domains. The amino terminal extracellular region of the TPs contains two highly conserved Asn ( N)-linked glycosylation sites at Asn 4 and Asn 16. While it has been established that impairment of N-glycosylation of TPα significantly affects ligand binding/intracellular signalling, previous studies did not ascertain whether N-linked glycosylation was critical for ligand binding per se or whether it was required for the intracellular trafficking and the functional expression of TPα on the plasma membrane (PM). In the current study, we investigated the role of N-linked glycosylation in determining the functional expression of TPα, by assessment of its ligand binding, G protein coupling and intracellular signalling properties, correlating it with the level of antigenic TPα protein expressed on the PM and/or retained intracellularly. From our data, we conclude that N-glycosylation of either Asn 4 or Asn 16 is required and sufficient for expression of functionally active TPα on the PM while the fully non-glycosylated TPα N4,N16–Q4,Q16 is almost completely retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and remains functionally inactive, failing to associate with its coupling G protein Gα q and, in turn, failing to mediate phospholipase (PL) Cβ activation.

Characterization of the Elastin Binding Domain in the Cell-surface 25-kDa Elastin-binding Protein of Staphylococcus aureus (EbpS)

Our previous studies have established that a cell-surface 25-kDa elastin-binding protein of Staphylococcus aureus (EbpS) mediates binding of this pathogen to the extracellular matrix protein elastin. Results from binding assays examining the activity of various EbpS fragments suggested that the elastin recognition domain is contained within the first 59 amino acids. In this report, we have used functional analyses with synthetic peptides and recombinant truncated forms of EbpS to localize the elastin binding domain to a 21-amino acid region contained within residues 14-34 of EbpS. Further evidence for the importance of this domain was obtained by demonstrating that the inhibitory activity of anti-EbpS antibodies on staphylococcal elastin binding was neutralized when these antibodies were pre-absorbed with a truncated recombinant EbpS construct containing residues 1-34. Overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to EbpS residues 14-36 were then generated and tested for elastin binding activity to define further the elastin binding domain, and results from these studies showed that sequences spanning amino acids Gln14-Asp23, Asp17-Asp23, and Thr18-Glu34 inhibit binding of Staphylococcus aureus to elastin. Our analyses indicate that the hexameric sequence Thr18-Asn-Ser-His-Gln-Asp23 is the minimal sequence common to all active synthetic peptides, proteolytic fragments, and recombinant constructs of EbpS. Furthermore, substitution of Asp23 with Asn abrogated the blocking activity of the synthetic peptides, demonstrating the requirement for a charged amino acid at this location. The composite data indicate that staphylococcal elastin binding is mediated by a discrete domain defined by short peptide sequences in the amino-terminal extracellular region of EbpS.

Molecular dissection of benzodiazepine binding and allosteric coupling using chimeric gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor subunits.

Although gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor alpha subunits are important for benzodiazepine (BZD) binding and GABA-current potentiation by BZDs, the presence of a gamma subunit is required for high affinity BZD effects. To determine which regions unique to the gamma2S subunit confer BZD binding and potentiation, we generated chimeric protein combinations of rat gamma2S and alpha1 subunits using a modified protocol to target crossover events to the amino-terminal extracellular region of the subunits. Several chimeras with full open reading frames were constructed and placed into vectors for either voltage-clamp experiments in Xenopus laevis oocytes or radioligand binding experiments in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Chimeras (chi) containing at least the amino-terminal 161 amino acids of gamma2S bound BZDs with wild-type affinity when coexpressed with alpha1 and beta2 subunits. Further analysis of the gamma2S binding site region uncovered two areas, gamma2S K41-W82 and gamma2S R114-D161, that together are necessary and sufficient for high affinity BZD binding. Surprisingly, although the 161-amino acid residue amino terminus of the gamma2S subunit is sufficient for high affinity BZD binding, it is not sufficient for efficient allosteric coupling of the GABA and BZD binding sites, as demonstrated by reduced diazepam potentiation of the GABA-gated current and GABA potentiation of [3H]flunitrazepam binding. Thus, by using gamma/alpha chimeras, we identified two gamma2 subunit regions required for BZD binding that are distinct from domain or domains responsible for allosteric coupling of the BZD and GABA binding sites.

Polymorphisms in the CCR5 genes of African green monkeys and mice implicate specific amino acids in infections by simian and human immunodeficiency viruses.

CCR5, a receptor for the CC chemokines RANTES, Mip1alpha, and Mip1beta, has been identified as a coreceptor for infections by macrophage-tropic isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To study its structure and function, we isolated cDNA clones of human, African green monkey (AGM), and NIH/Swiss mouse CCR5s, and we quantitatively analyzed infections by macrophage-tropic HIV-1 and SIVmac251 after transfecting human HeLa-CD4 cells with the CCR5 expression vectors. The AGM and NIH/Swiss mouse CCR5 proteins are 97.7 to 98.3% and 79.8% identical to the human protein, respectively. In addition, we analyzed site-directed mutants and chimeras of these CCR5s. Cell surface expression of CCR5 proteins was monitored by using a specific rabbit antiserum and by binding the chemokine [125I]Mip1beta. Our major results were as follows. (i) Two distinct AGM CCR5 sequences were reproducibly found in DNA from CV-1 cells. The AGM clone 1 CCR5 protein differs from that of clone 2 by two substitutions, Y14N in the amino-terminal extracellular region and L352F at the carboxyl terminus. Interestingly, AGM clone 1 CCR5 was inactive as a coreceptor for all tested macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1, whereas AGM clone 2 CCR5 was active. As shown by chimera studies and site-directed mutagenesis, the Y14N substitution in AGM clone 1 CCR5 was solely responsible for blocking HIV-1 infections. In contrast, both AGM CCR5 clones were active coreceptors for SIVmac251. Studies of DNA samples from other AGMs indicated frequent additional CCR5 polymorphisms, and we cloned an AGM clone 2 variant with a Q93R substitution in the extracellular loop 1 from one heterozygote. This variant CCR5 was active as a coreceptor for SIVmac251 but was only weakly active for macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1. In addition, SIVmac251 appeared to be dependent on the extracellular amino terminus and loop 2 regions of human CCR5 for maximal infection. Our results suggest major differences in the interactions of SIVmac251 and macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates with 19, N13, and Y14 in the amino terminus; with Q93 in extracellular loop 1; and with extracellular loop 2 of human CCR5. (ii) The NIH/Swiss mouse CCR5 protein differs at multiple positions from sequences recently reported for other inbred strains of mice. This CCR5 was inactive as a coreceptor for HIV-1 and SIVmac251. Studies of chimeras that contained different portions of NIH/Swiss mouse CCR5 substituted into human CCR5, as well as the reciprocal chimeras, indicated that the amino-terminal region and extracellular loops 1 and 2 of human CCR5 contribute to its coreceptor activity for macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1. Specific differences with previous CCR5 chimera results occurred because the NIH/Swiss mouse CCR5 contains a unique substitution corresponding to P183L in extracellular loop 2 that is nonpermissive for coreceptor activity. We conclude that diverse CCR5 sequences occur in AGMs and mice, that SIVmac251 and macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates interact differently with specific CCR5 amino acids, and that multiple regions of human CCR5 contribute to its coreceptor functions. In addition, we have identified naturally occurring amino acid polymorphisms in three extracellular regions of CCR5 (Y14N, Q93R, and P183L) that do not interfere with cell surface expression or Mip1beta binding but prevent infections by macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1. In contrast to previous evidence, these results suggest that CCR5 contains critical sites that are essential for HIV-1 infections.

Genetically divergent strains of simian immunodeficiency virus use CCR5 as a coreceptor for entry.

Entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires CD4 and one of a family of related seven-transmembrane-domain coreceptors. Macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates are generally specific for CCR5, a receptor for the CC chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta, while T-cell line-tropic viruses tend to use CXCR4 (also known as fusin, LESTR, or HUMSTR). Like HIV-1, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) requires CD4 on the target cell surface; however, whether it also requires a coreceptor is not known. We report here that several genetically divergent SIV isolates, including SIVmac, SIVsmSL92a, SIVsmLib-1, and SIVcpzGAB, can use human and rhesus CCR5 for entry. CXCR4 did not facilitate entry of any of the simian viruses tested, nor did any of the other known chemokine receptors. Moreover, SIVmac251 that had been extensively passaged in a human transformed T-cell line retained its use of CCR5. Rhesus and human CCR5 differed at only eight amino acid residues, four of which were in regions of the receptor that could be exposed, two in the amino-terminal extracellular region and two in the second extracellular loop. The human coreceptor was as active as the simian for SIV entry. In addition, HIV-1 was able to use the rhesus homologs of the human coreceptors, CCR5 and CXCR4. The SIV strains tested were specific for CCR5 regardless of whether they were able to replicate in transformed T-cell lines or macrophages and whether they were phenotypically syncytium inducing or noninducing in MT-2 cells. However, SIV replication was not restricted to cells expressing CCR5. SIV strains replicated efficiently in the human transformed lymphoid cell line CEMx174, which does not express detectable amounts of transcripts of CCR5. SIV also replicated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were genetically deficient in CCR5. These findings indicated that, in addition to CCR5, SIV can use one or more unknown coreceptors that are expressed on human PBMCs and CEMx174 cells.

Crystal structure of an integrin-binding fragment of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 at 1.8 A resolution.

The cell-surface glycoprotein vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1; ref. 1) mediates intercellular adhesion by specific binding to the integrin very-late antigen-4 (VLA-4, alpha 4 beta 1; ref. 3). VCAM-1, with the intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3 and the mucosal vascular addressin MAd-CAM-1, forms an integrin-binding subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily. In addition to their clinical relevance in inflammation, these molecules act as cellular receptors for viral and parasitic agents. The predominant form of VCAM-1 in vivo has an amino-terminal extracellular region comprising seven immunoglobulin-like domains. Functional studies have identified a conserved integrin-binding motif in domains 1 and 4, variants of which are present in the N-terminal domain of all members of the immunoglobulin superfamily subgroup. We report here the crystal structure of a VLA-4-binding fragment composed of the first two domains of VCAM-1. The integrin-binding motif (Q38IDSPL) is highly exposed and forms the N-terminal region of the loop between beta-strands C and D of domain 1. This motif exhibits a distinctive conformation which we predict will be common to all the integrin-binding IgSF molecules. These, and additional data, map VLA-4 binding to the face of the CFG beta-sheet, the surface previously identified as the site for intercellular adhesive interactions between members of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

The Rat, Mouse and Human Genes Encoding the Receptor for Parathyroid Hormone and Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide Are Highly Homologous

The organization of the PTH/PTHrP receptor gene is highly homologous in three mammalian species, rat, human and mouse. This gene extends over 22 kb and contains at least 15 exons and 14 introns. The most 5′ exon we have identified (exon U) is followed by an approximately 1kb intron. The second exon (exon S) encodes the initiator methionine and the putative signal peptide and is followed by the largest intron of this gene (about 11 kb). The amino-terminal extracellular region is encoded by 4 exons (E1, E2, E3 and G); exon G contains all 4 potential glycosylation sites. Membrane-spanning domains 1-4 and portions of their connecting intracellular and extracellular loops are encoded by 4 exons (M1, M2, M3 and M4). The second extracellular loop and portions of 4th and 5th membrane-spanning domains are encoded by one exon, EL2. The 5th membrane-spanning domain and portion of the 3rd intracellular loop are encoded by one exon, M5. The 6th membrane-spanning domain, the 3rd extracellular loop and the proximal part of the 7th membrane-spanning domain are encoded by one single exon (M6/7); the remaining sequence of the 7th membrane-spanning domain is encoded by a short exon, M7. The carboxy-terminal tail of the receptor and the 3′ untranslated region are encoded by one single exon, exon T. The 3′ untranslated region does not contain the classical polyadenylation signal, AATAAA. Expression in COS-7 cells of a minigene constructed of a 5′ rat cDNA fragment (1.3 Kb) ligated in-frame to a 3′ genomic fragment at the NsiI site, which is located in exon M6/7 resulted in a transcript that was translated into a functional receptor; it bound PTH and showed PTH-stimulated accumulation of intracellular cAMP. Therefore, the PTH/PTHrP receptor gene contains alternative 3′ sequences that allow cleavage and polyadenylation of its transcript.

The extracellular amino-terminal region of the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide receptor determines the binding affinity for carboxyl-terminal fragments of PTH-(1-34)

The recombinant human PTH/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor, when transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, binds [Nle8,18,Tyr34] bovine PTH-(7-34)amide [PTH-(7-34)], human PTH-(10-34)amide [PTH-(10-34)], and bovine PTH-(15-34)amide [PTH-(15-34)] with at least 50-fold higher affinity than does the rat receptor homolog. In contrast, PTH-(1-34) binding affinities are similar for both receptor homologs. To map those areas of the PTH/PTHrP receptors that determine the binding specificity for carboxyl-terminal fragments of PTH-(1-34), we constructed chimeric rat/human PTH/PTHrP receptors. These bound PTH-(1-34) with normal affinity and, therefore, must have an overall conformation that resembles that of native receptors. Chimeras with the amino-terminal extracellular domain of the human PTH/PTHrP receptor have a considerably higher binding affinity for PTH-(7-34), PTH-(10-34), and PTH-(15-34) than do the reciprocal receptor constructs in which the amino-terminal region is from the rat PTH/PTHrP receptor. The opossum PTH/PTHrP receptor homolog also binds PTH-(7-34) with higher affinity than the rat receptor, and studies of rat/opossum chimeras confirm the importance of the amino-terminal extracellular domain in determining the PTH-(7-34) binding specificity. Mutant rat and human PTH/PTHrP receptors in which either residues 61-105 of the extracellular region or most of the intracellular tail were deleted have PTH-(7-34) binding characteristics indistinguishable from those of either wild-type receptor. These findings indicate that the amino-terminal extracellular region of the PTH/PTHrP receptor contains a domain(s) that largely determines the binding affinity of amino-terminally truncated PTH analogs. This region, therefore, is likely to constitute a site for ligand-receptor interaction.

Intronic nature of the rat luteinizing hormone receptor gene defines a soluble receptor subspecies with hormone binding activity.

A rat testicular luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor cDNA containing a 266-base pair deletion resulting in the omission of the 1st transmembrane region and truncation of the open reading frame was isolated using a rat ovarian LH receptor cDNA probe. Comparison of this clone with a restriction fragment from the LH receptor genomic DNA revealed potential alternative splice sites following the consensus sequence TTXCAG that is present at an intron acceptor splice site and also within the next exon, accounting for the specific deletion mutation observed in this cDNA. Expression of the testicular cDNA in COS1 cells resulted in synthesis and secretion of a soluble binding protein with high affinity and specificity for LH and human chorionic gonadotropin. These studies have demonstrated that the LH receptor gene contains intron(s) within the region coding for the extracellular domain of the molecule, which determine the nature and generation of LH receptor isoforms. Expression of the soluble form of the LH receptor has indicated that the amino-terminal extracellular region plays a major role in gonadotropin binding. These features of the LH receptor are distinct from those of most other G protein-coupled receptors, which are intronless and contain their binding sites within the transmembrane region rather than the extracellular domain.

HLA-DR light chain has a polymorphic N-terminal region and a conserved immunoglobulin-like C-terminal region

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a genetic region originally defined by graft rejection and now known to encode at least three classes of molecules which have important roles in the immune system. The MHC class I and class II antigens are both polymorphic two-chain cell-surface glycoproteins which are recognized by T lymphocytes. However, they are generally recognized by different subsets of T cells and have different functions, different tissue distributions and, by all available evidence, different structures1–4. Much is known about the detailed structure of the class I antigens (HLA-A, B, C in human; H–2K,D,L in mouse)5–7. The 44,000 (44K)-molecular weight (Mr) heavy chain consists of an amino-terminal extracellular region composed of three 10KMr (90 amino acid) domains, a small hydrophobic membraneous segment and a small hydrophilic intracellular carboxy-terminal domain. The two amino-terminal domains are polymorphic, bear the carbohydrate and have no sequence homology with immunoglobulin. The third domain, closest to the membrane, and the 11.6K light chain (β2-microglobulin) are highly conserved and have strong sequence homology with immunoglobulin. The structure of class II antigens (DR, DC1 in human; I–A, I–E in mouse) is much less well understood. Previous experiments involving papain proteolysis of native DR antigen have shown that both the light and heavy chains have a large glycosylated amino-terminal extracellular region, a small hydrophobic membranous region and a small carboxy-terminal hydrophilic region8. We have now applied limited proteolysis to demonstrate that the extracellular region of the light chain consists of two domains, each with a disulphide loop. The amino-terminal domain bears the carbohydrate and is polymorphic, while the carboxy-terminal domain is relatively conserved and has significant amino acid sequence homology with immunoglobulin. These results suggest a new picture of class II antigens indicating strong structural similarities to both class I antigens and immunoglobulins.