Cytokine Receptor Homology Domain Research Articles

Prospects for a small molecule able to induce somatic growth through the growth hormone receptor

This article reviews the prospects for a small-molecule agonist of the growth hormone receptor in the light of current successes in identifying small agonist molecules for other homomeric class 1 cytokine receptors. A variety of mutagenic analyses on both hormone and receptor, studies with monoclonal antibody agonists of the GH receptor, and the use of a constitutively dimerized GH receptor chimera which displays constitutive activity lead us to believe that such a development is possible. However, it is likely that a precise alignment of the lower cytokine receptor homology domains will be necessary in order to facilitate cross-activation of cytoplasmic Janus kinases bound to Box 1.

Human Leptin Receptor: DETERMINATION OF DISULFIDE STRUCTURE ANDN-GLYCOSYLATION SITES OF THE EXTRACELLULAR DOMAIN

The leptin receptor (OB-R) is a member of the class I cytokine receptor family and mediates the weight regulatory effects of its ligand through interaction with cytoplasmic kinases. The extracellular domain of this receptor is comprised of two immunoglobulin-like and cytokine-receptor homology domains each and type III fibronectin domains. The extracellular domain of human leptin receptor was expressed in and purified from Chinese hamster ovary cells and was found to contain extensive N-glycosylation (approximately 36% of the total protein). The purified protein had a molecular weight of approximately 145,000 and exhibited ligand binding ability as evidenced by formation of ligand-receptor complex, followed by chemical cross-linking. The determined disulfide motif of the soluble leptin receptor contained several distinct cystine knots as well as 10 free cysteines. The N-glycosylation analysis revealed that Asn624 of the WSXWS motif (residues 622-626) within the C-terminal cytokine receptor homology domain was glycosylated, indicating that this region is solvent-exposed. On the other hand, the N-terminal WSXWS motif was not glycosylated.

Coexpression of G-CSF with an Unglycosylated G-CSF Receptor Mutant Results in Secretion of a Stable Complex

Previously, we have shown that the entire extracellular domain of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor (sG-CSFr) produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells forms a stable complex with its ligand G-CSF, at a stoichiometry of 2:2. A truncated receptor molecule consisting of the cytokine receptor homology domain and N-terminus Ig-like domain (Ig CRH) behaves quite similarly. Both of these forms of the receptor are highly glycosylated. To address the importance of glycosylation toward receptor activity and stability, and possibly obtain nonglycosylated receptor for crystallization, mutations were made to replace four Asn residues which are N-glycosylated in the truncated receptor. Virtually no receptor was recovered from conditioned media of CHO cells transfected with this mutant construct, although a high-level of mRNA coding for receptor was detected; this mRNA was translated as determined by Western blots of cell lysates. These results indicate that the translated product is apparently not secreted from these cells. Cells transfected with mutant receptor cDNA were cotransfected with a cDNA construct expressing G-CSF in which the single O-glycosylation site was eliminated by mutation. Upon fermentation of the cotransfectants, we observed a large amount of receptor–ligand complex in the conditioned media. The purified unglycosylated complex appeared to be of the same binding stoichiometry and approximate binding affinity as that of complex formed by addition of purified ligand and unmutated receptor. These results show that while glycosylation of sG-CSFr is not necessary for ligand binding, it appears to be crucial in folding and export from the cell.

Expression and Purification of Cytokine Receptor Homology Domain of Human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Receptor inEscherichia coli

In an attempt to generate a stable non-glycosylated cytokine receptor homology (CRH) domain (Tyr97-Ala309) of human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor, two free cysteines in the CRH domain were converted to serine by site-directed mutagenesis. Taking advantage of the tight regulation for the expression of T7 RNA polymerase, the mutated CRH domain was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) with a pelB signal sequence at its NH2-terminus and with a His tag at its COOH-terminus. The processed and secreted CRH domain after solubilization and in vitro refolding retained G-CSF binding activity, and its yield (approximately 40 micrograms/30 ml culture) was more than 100-fold higher than that of the mouse CRH domain expressed by the MalE fusion system in E. coli.

Identification of a Ligand-binding Site on the Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Receptor by Molecular Modeling and Mutagenesis

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) initiates its effects on cells of the neutrophil lineage by inducing formation of a homodimeric receptor complex. The structure of the G-CSF receptor has not yet been determined, therefore we used molecular modeling to identify regions of the receptor that were likely to be involved in ligand binding. The G-CSF receptor sequence was aligned with all the available sequences of the gp130 and growth hormone receptor families and a model of the cytokine receptor homologous domain was constructed, based on the growth hormone receptor structure. Alanine substitution mutagenesis was performed on loops and individual residues that were predicted to bind ligand. Mutant receptors were expressed in factor-dependent Ba/F3 cells and assessed for proliferation response and ligand binding. Six residues were identified that significantly reduced receptor function, with Arg288 in the F'-G' loop having the greatest effect. These residues formed a binding face on the receptor model resembling the growth hormone receptor site, which suggests that the model is reasonable. However, electrostatic analysis of the model provided further evidence that the mechanism of receptor dimerization is different from that of the growth hormone receptor.

Neutralising Antibodies to the Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor Receptor Recognise both the Immunoglobulin-like Domain and the Cytokine Receptor Homologous Domain

To define regions of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor that are important for ligand binding, neutralising monoclonal antibodies to the human receptor have been produced. Eleven antibodies recognised six different receptor epitopes. Antibodies from three of the epitope groups were able to detect the receptor by western blotting but did not inhibit G-CSF binding. The other three antibody groups inhibited G-CSF binding either completely (groups 1 and 2) or partially (group 3). All the antibodies inhibited proliferation of BA/F3 cells expressing the G-CSF receptor to varying extents. By using human-murine chimeric receptors, the binding sites of the antibodies were mapped to the immunoglobulin-like domain (groups 1 and 3), the cytokine receptor homologous domain (group 2) or the fibronectin type III domains (groups 4 to 6). These results show that the immunoglobulin-like and cytokine receptor homologous domains of the receptor are important for ligand binding and subsequent signalling.

Structure of the gene encoding the human differentiation-stimulating factor/leukemia inhibitory factor receptor.

The human gene encoding the differentiation-stimulating factor (D-factor)/leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor was cloned and its structure was analyzed. The gene spans more than 70 kilobases and contains 20 exons. The D-factor/LIF receptor can be subdivided into several regions; cytokine receptor homologous domain 1, an Ig-like domain, cytokine receptor homologous domain 2, three fibronectin type III domains, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic region. Each domain of the receptor is encoded by a set of exons. There is a TATA sequence upstream of the transcription initiation site. One unit of the Alu sequence is present in the 5' flanking region. An NF-IL6 site is located 31 bases downstream of the transcription initiation site.

Molecular analysis of the IL-6 receptor in human multiple myeloma, an IL-6-related disease

A PCR-SSCP approach was used to search for mutations in IL-6 receptor genes in 9 human plasma cell lines (HMCL) and in tumor plasma cells from 19 patients with fulminating multiple myeloma, an IL-6-related disease. Whereas no mutation was found in the cytokine receptor homologous (CRH) domain of IL-6Rα, DNA and RNA polymorphisms in the gp130 CRH domain was detected in tumoral samples as well as in blood samples from healthy donors. Finally, mutations in the gp130 critical cytoplasmic domain were found in one HMCL and in tumor plasma cells of one patient. Only the mutated allele was expressed in the HMCL.

Mutational mapping of functional residues in tissue factor: identification of factor VII recognition determinants in both structural modules of the predicted cytokine receptor homology domain.

Alanine scanning mutagenesis of tissue factor, the initiating receptor and cofactor molecule for the coagulation pathways, was used to define residue side chains with functional contributions. Approximately half of the residues were exchanged, and several stretches of functional residues throughout the entire extracellular domain were identified which contributed to overall coagulant function. Mutants were further characterized with respect to their affinity for binding of ligand, providing evidence that identified functional sequence spans are involved in ligand interaction. The tissue factor extracellular domain is suggested to adopt the folding pattern of the cytokine receptor homology unit, which is typically composed of two seven-beta-strand modules. Evaluation of the mutational analysis within this structural context suggests that functionally important residues are spatially proximate and clustered at the boundary of the predicted beta-strand modules. Residues contributing to ligand binding by tissue factor were identified in positions corresponding to ligand interactive residues in the growth hormone receptor and contact residues of other cytokine receptors, consistent with a conserved structural region for ligand interaction throughout the cytokine receptor family.

Signal transduction mediated by growth hormone receptor and its chimeric molecules with the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor.

The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSF-R) and growth hormone receptor (GH-R) belong to the cytokine receptor family and have some similarity in the cytokine receptor-homologous (CRH) domain of the extracellular region. Among members of this family, the G-CSF-R and GH-R seem to function as homodimers. Previously, we showed that mouse myeloid precursor FDC-P1 cells expressing the G-CSF-R can respond to G-CSF for growth. Here we show that the GH-R can also transduce the growth signal in FDC-P1 cells in the range 10 pM-100 nM GH. At a higher concentration of GH, GH did not promote the growth of the transformant cells. A series of chimeric receptor cDNAs between the G-CSF-R and GH-R cDNAs was constructed by exon swapping and was expressed in FDC-P1 cells. A ligand-binding assay with transformants expressing chimeric receptors indicated that the entire CRH domain is necessary for specific binding of the ligand. Although the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions of the G-CSF-R and GH-R have no apparent similarity, these regions were interchangeable, resulting in growth-signal transduction in FDC-P1 cells.

Chromosomal gene organization of the human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor.

The human chromosomal gene for the granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) receptor was molecularly cloned from a human gene library. The gene is about 16.5 kb long, and present in a single copy per haploid human genome. The human G-CSF receptor gene consists of 17 exons, and the sequences of exons are completely identical to those of cDNAs isolated from human U-937 myeloid leukemia or placenta cDNA libraries. The G-CSF receptor can be subdivided into several regions: an Ig-like domain, a cytokine receptor homologous domain, three fibronectin type III domains, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic region. Exons 3-17 code for the G-CSF receptor protein, and each subdomain of the receptor is encoded by a set of exons. Primer extension analysis of the G-CSF receptor mRNA identified major and minor transcription start sites. There is no canonical "TATA" box upstream of the CAP site. About 110 nucleotides upstream of the transcription initiation site of the gene, there is an element of 18 nucleotides that is homologous to the sequences found in the promoter of human myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase genes.

Functional domains of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor.

The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor has a composite structure consisting of an immunoglobulin(Ig)-like domain, a cytokine receptor-homologous (CRH) domain and three fibronectin type III (FNIII) domains in the extracellular region. Introduction of G-CSF receptor cDNA into IL-3-dependent murine myeloid cell line FDC-P1 and pro-B cell line BAF-B03, which normally do not respond to G-CSF, enabled them to proliferate in response to G-CSF. On the other hand, expression of the G-CSF receptor cDNA in the IL-2-dependent T cell line CTLL-2 did not enable it to grow in response to G-CSF, although G-CSF could transiently stimulate DNA synthesis. Mutational analyses of the G-CSF receptor in FDC-P1 cells indicated that the N-terminal half of the CRH domain was essential for the recognition of G-CSF, but the Ig-like, FNIII and cytoplasmic domains were not. The CRH domain and a portion of the cytoplasmic domain of about 100 amino acids in length were indispensable for transduction of the G-CSF-triggered growth signal.