Molecular similarities in the ligand binding pockets of an odorant receptor and the metabotropic glutamate receptors

The GPRC6A receptor displays constitutive internalization and sorting to the slow recycling pathway

The class C G protein-coupled receptor GPRC6A is a putative nutrient-sensing receptor and represents a possible new drug target in metabolic disorders. However, the specific physiological role of this receptor has yet to be identified, and the mechanisms regulating its activity and cell surface availability also remain enigmatic. In the present study, we investigated the trafficking properties of GPRC6A by use of both a classical antibody feeding internalization assay in which cells were visualized using confocal microscopy and a novel internalization assay that is based on real-time measurements of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Both assays revealed that GPRC6A predominantly undergoes constitutive internalization, whereas the agonist-induced effects were imperceptible. Moreover, postendocytic sorting was investigated by assessing the co-localization of internalized GPRC6A with selected Rab protein markers. Internalized GPRC6A was mainly co-localized with the early endosome marker Rab5 and the long loop recycling endosome marker Rab11 and to a much lesser extent with the late endosome marker Rab7. This suggests that upon agonist-independent internalization, GPRC6A is recycled via the Rab11-positive slow recycling pathway, which may be responsible for ensuring a persistent pool of GPRC6A receptors at the cell surface despite chronic agonist exposure. Distinct trafficking pathways have been reported for several of the class C receptors, and our results thus substantiate that non-canonical trafficking mechanisms are a common feature for the nutrient-sensing class C family that ensure functional receptors in the cell membrane despite prolonged agonist exposure.

Phospholipase C and diacylglycerol mediate olfactory responses to amino acids in the main olfactory epithelium of an amphibian

The semi-aquatic lifestyle of amphibians represents a unique opportunity to study the molecular driving forces involved in the transition of aquatic to terrestrial olfaction in vertebrates. Most amphibians have anatomically segregated main and vomeronasal olfactory systems, but at the cellular and molecular level the segregation differs from that found in mammals. We have recently shown that amino acid responses in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) of larval Xenopus laevis segregate into a lateral and a medial processing stream, and that the former is part of a vomeronasal type 2 receptor expression zone in the MOE. We hypothesized that the lateral amino acid responses might be mediated via a vomeronasal-like transduction machinery. Here we report that amino acid-responsive receptor neurons in the lateral MOE employ a phospholipase C (PLC) and diacylglycerol-mediated transduction cascade that is independent of Ca²⁺ store depletion. Furthermore, we found that putative transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blockers inhibit most amino acid-evoked responses in the lateral MOE, suggesting that ion channels belonging to the TRP family may be involved in the signaling pathway. Our data show, for the first time, a widespread PLC- and diacylglycerol-dependent transduction cascade in the MOE of a vertebrate already possessing a vomeronasal organ.

Structural and functional studies of S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding proteins: a ligand-centric approach

BACKGROUND

The post-genomic era poses several challenges. The biggest is the identification of biochemical function for protein sequences and structures resulting from genomic initiatives. Most sequences lack a characterized function and are annotated as hypothetical or uncharacterized. While homology-based methods are useful, and work well for sequences with sequence identities above 50%, they fail for sequences in the twilight zone (<30%) of sequence identity. For cases where sequence methods fail, structural approaches are often used, based on the premise that structure preserves function for longer evolutionary time-frames than sequence alone. It is now clear that no single method can be used successfully for functional inference. Given the growing need for functional assignments, we describe here a systematic new approach, designated ligand-centric, which is primarily based on analysis of ligand-bound/unbound structures in the PDB. Results of applying our approach to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) binding proteins are presented.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 1,224 structures that belong to 172 unique families of the Protein Information Resource Superfamily system. Our ligand-centric approach was divided into four levels: residue, protein/domain, ligand, and family levels. The residue level included the identification of conserved binding site residues based on structure-guided sequence alignments of representative members of a family, and the identification of conserved structural motifs. The protein/domain level included structural classification of proteins, Pfam domains, domain architectures, and protein topologies. The ligand level included ligand conformations, ribose sugar puckering, and the identification of conserved ligand-atom interactions. The family level included phylogenetic analysis.

CONCLUSION

We found that SAM bound to a total of 18 different fold types (I-XVIII). We identified 4 new fold types and 11 additional topological arrangements of strands within the well-studied Rossmann fold Methyltransferases (MTases). This extends the existing structural classification of SAM binding proteins. A striking correlation between fold type and the conformation of the bound SAM (classified as types) was found across the 18 fold types. Several site-specific rules were created for the assignment of functional residues to families and proteins that do not have a bound SAM or a solved structure.

Orthosteric and allosteric drug binding sites in the Caenorhabditis elegans mgl-2 metabotropic glutamate receptor

The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are evolutionarily conserved from nematodes to vertebrates. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) genome contains three mGluR genes referred to as mgl-1, mgl-2, and mgl-3. The aim of this study was to characterize the pharmacological profiles of orthosteric and allosteric mGluR ligands on mgl-2. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that mgl-2 is closely associated with the mammalian Group 1 mGluRs (mGluR1 and mGluR5) and is distinct from Group 2 and 3 mGluRs. The ligand binding domain of mgl-2 displayed higher homology to the rat Group 1 mGluRs binding domains compared to the level of homology in the heptahelical transmembrane domain regions. We found that, when transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, mgl-2 can be activated by glutamate and couples to human G-proteins to induce the release of intracellular calcium. Dose-response analyses revealed that mgl-2 has approximately a 15-20-fold lower affinity for glutamate and quisqualate compared to rat mGluR5. In contrast to orthosteric agonists, Group 1 negative allosteric modulators that target the transmembrane domain were ineffective at mgl-2. Surprisingly, CDPPB, an mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator, potentiated glutamate mediated activation of mgl-2, although MPEP and fenobam, two mGluR5 antagonists that share similar binding residues with CDPPB were ineffective at mgl-2. These findings indicate that selective pressures on mGluR protein structures have resulted in conservation of the glutamate binding site, whereas the allosteric modulator sites have been subjected to greater divergent evolutionary changes.

Relationship between amino acid properties and functional parameters in olfactory receptors and discrimination of mutants with enhanced specificity

BACKGROUND

Olfactory receptors are key components in signal transduction. Mutations in olfactory receptors alter the odor response, which is a fundamental response of organisms to their immediate environment. Understanding the relationship between odorant response and mutations in olfactory receptors is an important problem in bioinformatics and computational biology. In this work, we have systematically analyzed the relationship between various physical, chemical, energetic and conformational properties of amino acid residues, and the change of odor response/compound's potency/half maximal effective concentration (EC50) due to amino acid substitutions.

RESULTS

We observed that both the characteristics of odorant molecule (ligand) and amino acid properties are important for odor response and EC50. Additional information on neighboring and surrounding residues of the mutants enhanced the correlation between amino acid properties and EC50. Further, amino acid properties have been combined systematically using multiple regression techniques and we obtained a correlation of 0.90-0.98 with odor response/EC50 of goldfish, mouse and human olfactory receptors. In addition, we have utilized machine learning methods to discriminate the mutants, which enhance or reduce EC50 values upon mutation and we obtained an accuracy of 93% and 79% for self-consistency and jack-knife tests, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis provides deep insights for understanding the odor response of olfactory receptor mutants and the present method could be used for identifying the mutants with enhanced specificity.

Calcium-sensing receptor modulates cell adhesion and migration via integrins

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a family C G protein-coupled receptor that is activated by elevated levels of extracellular divalent cations. The CaSR couples to members of the G(q) family of G proteins, and in the endocrine system this receptor is instrumental in regulating the release of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid gland and calcitonin from thyroid cells. Here, we demonstrate that in medullary thyroid carcinoma cells, the CaSR promotes cellular adhesion and migration via coupling to members of the integrin family of extracellular matrix-binding proteins. Immunopurification and mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-localization studies showed that the CaSR and β1-containing integrins are components of a macromolecular protein complex. In fibronectin-based cell adhesion and migration assays, the CaSR-positive allosteric modulator NPS R-568 induced a concentration-dependent increase in cell adhesion and migration; both of these effects were blocked by a specific CaSR-negative allosteric modulator. These effects were mediated by integrins because they were blocked by a peptide inhibitor of integrin binding to fibronectin and β1 knockdown experiments. An analysis of intracellular signaling pathways revealed a key role for CaSR-induced phospholipase C activation and the release of intracellular calcium. These results demonstrate for the first time that an ion-sensing G protein-coupled receptor functionally couples to the integrins and, in conjunction with intracellular calcium release, promotes cellular adhesion and migration in tumor cells. The significance of this interaction is further highlighted by studies implicating the CaSR in cancer metastasis, axonal growth, and stem cell attachment, functions that rely on integrin-mediated cell adhesion.

Oligomeric size of the m2 muscarinic receptor in live cells as determined by quantitative fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), measured by fluorescence intensity-based microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging, has been used to estimate the size of oligomers formed by the M(2) muscarinic cholinergic receptor. The approach is based on the relationship between the apparent FRET efficiency within an oligomer of specified size (n) and the pairwise FRET efficiency between a single donor and a single acceptor (E). The M(2) receptor was fused at the N terminus to enhanced green or yellow fluorescent protein and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Emission spectra were analyzed by spectral deconvolution, and apparent efficiencies were estimated by donor-dequenching and acceptor-sensitized emission at different ratios of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-M(2) receptor to enhanced green fluorescent protein-M(2) receptor. The data were interpreted in terms of a model that considers all combinations of donor and acceptor within a specified oligomer to obtain fitted values of E as follows: n = 2, 0.495 +/- 0.019; n = 4, 0.202 +/- 0.010; n = 6, 0.128 +/- 0.006; n = 8, 0.093 +/- 0.005. The pairwise FRET efficiency determined independently by fluorescence lifetime imaging was 0.20-0.24, identifying the M(2) receptor as a tetramer. The strategy described here yields an explicit estimate of oligomeric size on the basis of fluorescence properties alone. Its broader application could resolve the general question of whether G protein-coupled receptors exist as dimers or larger oligomers. The size of an oligomer has functional implications, and such information can be expected to contribute to an understanding of the signaling process.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors: physiology, pharmacology, and disease

The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are family C G-protein-coupled receptors that participate in the modulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability throughout the central nervous system. The mGluRs bind glutamate within a large extracellular domain and transmit signals through the receptor protein to intracellular signaling partners. A great deal of progress has been made in determining the mechanisms by which mGluRs are activated, proteins with which they interact, and orthosteric and allosteric ligands that can modulate receptor activity. The widespread expression of mGluRs makes these receptors particularly attractive drug targets, and recent studies continue to validate the therapeutic utility of mGluR ligands in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Purification, Characterization, and Effect of Thiol Compounds on Activity of the Erwinia carotovora L-Asparaginase

L-asparaginase was extracted from Erwinia carotovora and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation (60–70%), Sephadex G-100, CM cellulose, and DEAE sephadex chromatography. The apparent Mr of enzyme under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions was 150 kDa and 37 ± 0.5 kDa, respectively. L-asparaginase activity was studied in presence of thiols, namely, L-cystine (Cys), L-methionine (Met), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Kinetic parameters in presence of thiols (10–400 μM) showed an increase in V_max values (2000, 2223, 2380, 2500, and control 1666.7 μmoles mg⁻¹min⁻¹) and a decrease in K_m values (0.086, 0.076, 0.062, 0.055 and control 0.098 mM) indicating nonessential mode of activation. K_A values displayed propensity to bind thiols. A decrease in V_max/K_m ratio in concentration plots showed inverse relationship between free thiol groups (NAC and GSH) and bound thiol group (Cys and Met). Enzyme activity was enhanced in presence of thiol protecting reagents like dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), and GSH, but inhibited by p-chloromercurybenzoate (PCMB) and iodoacetamide (IA).

Molecular basis for amino acid sensing by family C G-protein-coupled receptors

Family C of human G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is constituted by eight metabotropic glutamate receptors, two gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA(B1-2)) subunits forming the heterodimeric GABA(B) receptor, the calcium-sensing receptor, three taste1 receptors (T1R1-3), a promiscuous L-alpha;-amino acid receptor G-protein-coupled receptor family C, group 6, subtype A (GPRC6A) and seven orphan receptors. Aside from the orphan receptors, the family C GPCRs are dimeric receptors characterized by a large extracellular Venus flytrap domain which bind the endogenous agonists. Except from the GABA(B1-2) and T1R2-3 receptor, all receptors are either activated or positively modulated by amino acids. In this review, we outline mutational, biophysical and structural studies which have elucidated the interaction of the amino acids with the Venus flytrap domains, molecular mechanisms of receptor selectivity and the initial steps in receptor activation.

Molecular pharmacology of promiscuous seven transmembrane receptors sensing organic nutrients

A number of highly promiscuous seven transmembrane (7TM) receptors have been cloned and characterized within the last few years. It is noteworthy that many of these receptors are activated broadly by amino acids, proteolytic degradation products, carbohydrates, or free fatty acids and are expressed in taste tissue, the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, adipose tissue, and/or kidney. These receptors thus hold the potential to act as sensors of food intake, regulating, for example, release of incretin hormones from the gut, insulin/glucagon from the pancreas, and leptin from adipose tissue. The promiscuous tendency in ligand recognition of these receptors is in contrast to the typical specific interaction with one physiological agonist seen for most receptors, which challenges the classic "lock-and-key" concept. We here review the molecular mechanisms of nutrient sensing of the calcium-sensing receptor, the G protein-coupled receptor family C, group 6, subtype A (GPRC6A), and the taste1 receptor T1R1/T1R3, which are sensing L-alpha-amino acids, the carbohydrate-sensing T1R2/T1R3 receptor, the proteolytic degradation product sensor GPR93 (also termed GPR92), and the free fatty acid (FFA) sensing receptors FFA1, FFA2, FFA3, GPR84, and GPR120. The involvement of the individual receptors in sensing of food intake has been validated to different degrees because of limited availability of specific pharmacological tools and/or receptor knockout mice. However, as a group, the receptors represent potential drug targets, to treat, for example, type II diabetes by mimicking food intake by potent agonists or positive allosteric modulators. The ligand-receptor interactions of the promiscuous receptors of organic nutrients thus remain an interesting subject of emerging functional importance.

Xenopus oocyte electrophysiology in GPCR drug discovery

Deorphanization of the large group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for which an endogenous activating ligand has not yet been identified (orphan GPCRs) has become increasingly difficult. A specialized technique that has been successfully applied to deorphanize some of these GPCRs involves two-electrode voltage-clamp recordings of currents through ion channels, which are activated by GPCRs heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The ion channels that couple to GPCR activation in Xenopus oocytes can be endogenous calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) or heterologously expressed G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs). We will describe a general approach for expression of GPCRs in Xenopus oocytes and characterization of these using electrophysiological recordings. We will focus on the detection of GPCR activation by recordings of currents through CaCCs that are activated by calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum and thus the G(q) signaling pathway.

Analysis of the goldfish Carassius auratus olfactory epithelium transcriptome reveals the presence of numerous non-olfactory GPCR and putative receptors for progestin pheromones

Background

The goldfish (Carassius auratus) uses steroids and prostaglandins as pheromone cues at different stages of the reproductive cycle to facilitate spawning synchronization. Steroid progestin pheromone binding has been detected in goldfish olfactory membranes but the receptors responsible for this specific binding remain unknown. In order to shed some light on the olfactory epithelium transcriptome and search for possible receptor candidates a large set of EST from this tissue were analysed and compared to and combined with a similar zebrafish (Danio rerio) resource.

Results

We generated 4,797 high quality sequences from a normalized cDNA library of the goldfish olfactory epithelium, which were clustered in 3,879 unique sequences, grouped in 668 contigs and 3,211 singletons. BLASTX searches produced 3,243 significant (E-value < e^-10) hits and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis annotated a further 1,223 of these genes (37.7%). Comparative analysis with zebrafish olfactory epithelium ESTs revealed 1,088 identical unigenes. The transcriptome size of both species was estimated at about 16,400 unigenes, based on the proportion of genes identified involved in Glucose Metabolic Process. Of 124 G-protein coupled receptors identified in the olfactory epithelium of both species, 56 were olfactory receptors. Beta and gamma membrane progestin receptors were also isolated by subcloning of RT-PCR products from both species and an olfactory epithelium specific splice form identified.

Conclusion

The high similarity between the goldfish and zebrafish olfactory systems allowed the creation of a 'cyprinid' olfactory epithelium library estimated to represent circa 70% of the transcriptome. These results are an important resource for the identification of components of signalling pathways involved in olfaction as well as putative targets for pharmacological and histochemical studies. The possible function of the receptors identified in the olfactory system is described. Moreover, the role of olfactory epithelium specific isoforms of classical membrane progestin receptor genes as candidates for preovulatory pheromone sensing is discussed.

Structural diversity of G protein-coupled receptors and significance for drug discovery

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane-bound receptors and also the targets of many drugs. Understanding of the functional significance of the wide structural diversity of GPCRs has been aided considerably in recent years by the sequencing of the human genome and by structural studies, and has important implications for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the five main human GPCR families--Rhodopsin, Secretin, Adhesion, Glutamate and Frizzled/Taste2--with a focus on gene repertoire, general ligand preference, common and unique structural features, and the potential for future drug discovery.

The rat GPRC6A: cloning and characterization

GPRC6A is a novel member of family C of G protein-coupled receptors with so far elusive biological function. GPRC6A has been described in human and mouse as a promiscuous l-alpha-amino acid receptor. We now report the cloning, expression analysis and, functional characterization of the rat orthologue of GPRC6A. Full-length cloning of rat GPRC6A (rGPRC6A) was accomplished using amplification of cDNA from taste tissue, and the identity of rGPRC6A confirmed at both the genomic and the protein level by similarity studies. Using selective primers, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed that the mRNA is widely but weakly distributed, except for a high expression in the soft palate, the so-called geschmacksstreifen. On the protein level, rGPRC6A was shown to be glycosylated and most likely oligomeric, and using immunochemistry we observed that rGPRC6A is expressed at the plasma membrane of mammalian cell lines. Utilizing co-expression of rGPRC6A and the promiscuous Galpha(q)(G66D) protein in an engineered cell-based inositol phosphate turnover assay, we were able to study the ligand profile of the receptor. We found that l-ornithine is the most potent and efficacious l-amino acid agonist with an EC(50) value of 264 microM, followed by several other aliphatic, neutral, and basic amino acids. Furthermore, the divalent cation Mg(2+) was found to be a positive modulator of the l-ornithine response. The presented quantitative pharmacological data underlines the evolutionary conservation of GPRC6A to the rat and signifies the physiological importance and emerging pharmacological potential of GPRC6A.

Pharmacological characterization of mouse GPRC6A, an L-alpha-amino-acid receptor modulated by divalent cations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

GPRC6A is a novel member of family C of G protein-coupled receptors with so far unknown function. We have recently described both human and mouse GPRC6A as receptors for L-alpha-amino acids. To date, functional characterization of wild-type GPRC6A has been impaired by the lack of activity in quantitative functional assays. The aim of this study was thus to develop such an assay and extend the pharmacological characterization of GPRC6A.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We have engineered a novel cell-based inositol phosphate turnover assay for wild-type mouse GPRC6A based on transient co-expression with the promiscuous Galpha(qG66D) protein, known to increase receptor signalling sensitivity. This assay allowed for measurements of L-alpha-amino acid potencies. Furthermore, in combination with an assay measuring inward currents at Ca(2+)-activated chloride channels in Xenopus oocytes, the divalent cation-sensing ability of the receptor was examined.

KEY RESULTS

Using our novel assay, we demonstrate that the basic L-alpha-amino acids ornithine, lysine, and arginine are the most potent agonists at wild-type mouse GPRC6A. Using two different assay systems, we show that divalent cations do not activate the G(q) signalling pathway of mouse GPRC6A per se but positively modulate the amino-acid response.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This is the first reported assay for a wild-type GPRC6A successfully applied for quantitative pharmacological characterization of amino acid and divalent cation responses at mouse GPRC6A. The assay enables further search for GPRC6A ligands such as allosteric modulators, which may provide essential information about the physiological function of GPRC6A.

Known regulators of nitric oxide synthase and arginase are agonists at the human G-protein-coupled receptor GPRC6A

GPRC6A is a novel family C G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with so far unknown physiological function. It was the aim of our study to further characterize the ligand preferences of the receptor and elucidate structural requirements for activity. We have previously generated a functional chimeric receptor construct, h6A/5.24, containing the ligand-binding amino-terminal domain of the human GPRC6A and the seven-transmembrane domain and carboxy terminus of the homologous goldfish receptor 5.24. Based on knowledge that this chimera prefers basic L-alpha-amino acids such as arginine, lysine and ornithine, we searched for commercially available analogues of these and other L-alpha-amino acids, and tested them for activity in a fluorescence-based calcium assay. The majority of the tested compounds are involved in the regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and arginase enzymes. Altogether we profiled 30 different analogues. We found that a structurally wide range of L-alpha-amino-acid analogues of both arginine, lysine, and ornithine are agonists at h6A/5.24, whereas no antagonists were identified. From the profiling it is concluded that L-alpha-amino acids containing a highly basic side chain confer the highest activity, although the most potent compound was only twice as potent as L-arginine, which has a EC50 value of 23.5 microM. The reported agonism of NOS- and arginase-active compounds at GPRC6A has obvious implications in interpretation of experiments involving the NOS and arginase systems, and interfering effects at GPRC6A should be regarded of relevance, especially as the physiological function of the receptor is not yet understood.

Common ligands of G-protein-coupled receptors and arginine-utilizing enzymes

A new family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPRC6A) has recently been described and characterized with unknown physiological role. Three isoforms of GPRC6A are expressed from the same gene by alternative splicing. Agonists for GPRC6A are basic amino acids, particularly the analogues and derivatives of L-arginine and L-ornithine. These compounds are known ligands of nitric oxide synthase and arginase isoenzymes, but amino-acid sequences of these enzymes have not shown significant homologies. Various hypotheses for physiological roles of these receptors have been proposed but not yet substantiated. In order to define the most potent agonists, and elucidate further the biological significance of the receptor family, a detailed ligand-based quantitative structure-activity relationship study may be helpful.

The repertoire of olfactory C family G protein-coupled receptors in zebrafish: candidate chemosensory receptors for amino acids

Background

Vertebrate odorant receptors comprise at least three types of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): the OR, V1R, and V2R/V2R-like receptors, the latter group belonging to the C family of GPCRs. These receptor families are thought to receive chemosensory information from a wide spectrum of odorant and pheromonal cues that influence critical animal behaviors such as feeding, reproduction and other social interactions.

Results

Using genome database mining and other informatics approaches, we identified and characterized the repertoire of 54 intact "V2R-like" olfactory C family GPCRs in the zebrafish. Phylogenetic analysis – which also included a set of 34 C family GPCRs from fugu – places the fish olfactory receptors in three major groups, which are related to but clearly distinct from other C family GPCRs, including the calcium sensing receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptors, GABA-B receptor, T1R taste receptors, and the major group of V2R vomeronasal receptor families. Interestingly, an analysis of sequence conservation and selective pressure in the zebrafish receptors revealed the retention of a conserved sequence motif previously shown to be required for ligand binding in other amino acid receptors.

Conclusion

Based on our findings, we propose that the repertoire of zebrafish olfactory C family GPCRs has evolved to allow the detection and discrimination of a spectrum of amino acid and/or amino acid-based compounds, which are potent olfactory cues in fish. Furthermore, as the major groups of fish receptors and mammalian V2R receptors appear to have diverged significantly from a common ancestral gene(s), these receptors likely mediate chemosensation of different classes of chemical structures by their respective organisms.

Broad-spectrum L-amino acid sensing by class 3 G-protein-coupled receptors

The sensing of nutrients is essential to the control of growth and metabolism. Although the sensing mechanisms responsible for the detection and coordination of metabolic responses to some nutrients, most notably glucose, are well understood, the molecular basis of amino acid sensing by cells and tissues is only now emerging. In this article, we consider evidence that some members of G-protein-coupled receptor class 3 are broad-spectrum amino acid sensors that couple changes in extracellular amino acid levels to the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. In particular, we consider both the molecular basis of specific and broad-spectrum amino acid sensing by different members of class 3 and the physiological significance of broad spectrum amino acid sensing by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor, heterodimeric taste receptors and the recently "deorphanized" receptor GPRC6A and its goldfish homolog, the 5.24 chemoreceptor.

Ancestral reconstruction of the ligand-binding pocket of Family C G protein-coupled receptors

The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) within the Family C subclass of G protein-coupled receptors are crucial modulators of synaptic transmission. However, their closest relatives include a diverse group of sensory receptors whose biological functions are not associated with neurotransmission, raising the question of the evolutionary origin of amino acid-binding Family C receptors. A common feature of most, if not all, functional Family C receptors is the presence of an amino acid-binding site localized within the large extracellular Venus flytrap domain. Here, we used maximum likelihood methods to infer the ancestral state of key residues in the amino acid-binding pocket of a primordial Family C receptor. These residues were reconstructed in the background of the fish 5.24 chemosensory receptor, a broad-spectrum amino acid-activated receptor. Unlike the WT 5.24 receptor, which was not activated by mGluR agonists and displayed low sensitivity toward l-glutamate, the reconstructed ancestral receptor possessed a pharmacological profile characterized by high affinity for both l-glutamate and selective Group I mGluR agonists. This pharmacological phenotype could be largely recapitulated by mutating only two residues in the 5.24 receptor-binding pocket. Our results suggest that this primordial Family C receptor may have arisen early in metazoan evolution and that it already was preadapted as a glutamate receptor for its later use at excitatory synapses in glutamate-mediated neurotransmission.

Olfactory receptors and signalling elements in the Grueneberg ganglion

The Grueneberg ganglion (GG) is a cluster of neurones present in the vestibule of the anterior nasal cavity. Although its function is still elusive, recent studies have shown that cells of the GG transcribe the gene encoding the olfactory marker protein (OMP) and project their axons to glomeruli of the olfactory bulb, suggesting that they may have a chemosensory function. Chemosensory responsiveness of olfactory neurones in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO) is based on the expression of either odorant receptors or vomeronasal putative pheromone receptors. To scrutinize its presumptive olfactory nature, the GG was assessed for receptor expression by extensive RT-PCR analyses, leading to the identification of a distinct vomeronasal receptor which was expressed in the majority of OMP-positive GG neurones. Along with this receptor, these cells expressed the G proteins Go and Gi, both of which are also present in sensory neurones of the vomeronasal organ. Odorant receptors were expressed by very few cells during prenatal and perinatal stages; a similar number of cells expressed adenylyl cyclase type III and G(olf/s), characteristic signalling elements of the main olfactory system. The findings of the study support the notion that the GG is in fact a subunit of the complex olfactory system, comprising cells with either a VNO-like or a MOE-like phenotype. Moreover, expression of a vomeronasal receptor indicates that the GG might serve to detect pheromones.

Mutually exclusive glomerular innervation by two distinct types of olfactory sensory neurons revealed in transgenic zebrafish

The olfactory epithelium of fish contains two major types of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that are distinct morphologically (ciliated vs microvillous) and possibly functionally. Here, we found that these OSNs express different sets of signal transduction machineries: the ciliated OSNs express OR-type odorant receptors, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel A2 subunit, and olfactory marker protein (OMP), whereas the microvillous OSNs express V2R-type receptors and transient receptor potential channel C2 (TRPC2). To visualize patterns of axonal projection from the two types of OSNs to the olfactory bulb (OB), we generated transgenic zebrafish in which spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins are expressed in the ciliated and microvillous OSNs under the control of OMP and TRPC2 gene promoters, respectively. An observation of whole-mount OB in adult double-transgenic zebrafish revealed that the ciliated OSNs project axons mostly to the dorsal and medial regions of the OB, whereas the microvillous OSNs project axons to the lateral region of the OB. A careful histological examination of OB sections clarified that the axons from the two distinct types of OSNs target different glomeruli in a mutually exclusive manner. This segregation is already established at very early developmental stages in zebrafish embryos. These findings clearly demonstrate the relationships among cell morphology, molecular signatures, and axonal terminations of the two distinct types of OSNs and suggest that the two segregated neural pathways are responsible for coding and processing of different types of odor information in the zebrafish olfactory system.

Activity of L-alpha-amino acids at the promiscuous goldfish odorant receptor 5.24

The goldfish odorant receptor 5.24 is a member of family C of G protein-coupled receptors and is closely related to the human receptor GPRC6A. Receptor 5.24 has previously been shown to have binding affinity for L-alpha-amino acids, especially the basic amino acids arginine and lysine. Here we report the agonist activities of the 20 proteinogenic L-alpha-amino acids, and L-ornithine and L-citrulline, measured in an intracellular calcium release assay in mammalian tsA cells. The results show that receptor 5.24 is broadly activated by 19 of the tested L-alpha-amino acids and displays a preference for basic amino acids.

An evaluation of automated in silico ligand docking of amino acid ligands to Family C G-protein coupled receptors

Family C G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) consist of the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), the T1R taste receptors, the GABA(B) receptor, the V2R pheromone receptors, and several chemosensory receptors. A common feature of Family C receptors is the presence of an amino acid binding pocket. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the automatic docking program FlexX to predict the favored amino acid ligand at several Family C GPCRs. The docking process was optimized using the crystal structure of mGluR1 and the 20 amino acids were docked into homology models of the CaSR, the 5.24 chemosensory receptor, and the GPRC6A amino acid receptor. Under optimized docking conditions, glutamate was docked in the binding pocket of mGluR1 with a root mean square deviation of 1.56 angstroms from the co-crystallized glutamate structure and was ranked as the best ligand with a significantly better FlexX score compared to all other amino acids. Ligand docking to a homology model of the 5.24 receptor gave generally correct predictions of the favored amino acids, while the results obtained with models of GPRC6A and the CaSR showed that some of the favored amino acids at these receptors were correctly predicted, while a few other top scoring amino acids appeared to be false positives. We conclude that with certain caveats, FlexX can be successfully used to predict preferred ligands at Family C GPCRs.

Activation of family C G-protein-coupled receptors by the tripeptide glutathione

The Family C G-protein-coupled receptors include the metabotropic glutamate receptors, the gamma-aminobutyric acid, type B (GABAB) receptor, the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), which participates in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in the body, and a diverse group of sensory receptors that encompass the amino acid-activated fish 5.24 chemosensory receptor, the mammalian T1R taste receptors, and the V2R pheromone receptors. A common feature of Family C receptors is the presence of an amino acid binding site. In this study, a preliminary in silico analysis of the size and shape of the amino acid binding pocket in selected Family C receptors suggested that some members of this family could accommodate larger ligands such as peptides. Subsequent screening and docking experiments identified GSH as a potential ligand or co-ligand at the fish 5.24 receptor and the rat CaSR. These in silico predictions were confirmed using an [3H]GSH radioligand binding assay and a fluorescence-based functional assay performed on wild-type and chimeric receptors. Glutathione was shown to act as an orthosteric agonist at the 5.24 receptor and as a potent enhancer of calcium-induced activation of the CaSR. Within the mammalian receptors, this effect was specific to the CaSR because GSH neither directly activated nor potentiated other Family C receptors including GPRC6A (the putative mammalian homolog of the fish 5.24 receptor), the metabotropic glutamate receptors, or the GABAB receptor. Our findings reveal a potential new role for GSH and suggest that this peptide may act as an endogenous modulator of the CaSR in the parathyroid gland where this receptor is known to control the release of parathyroid hormone, and in other tissues such as the brain and gastrointestinal tract where the role of the calcium receptor appears to subserve other, as yet unknown, physiological functions.

Identification of a novel extracellular cation-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor

The C family G-protein-coupled receptors contain members that sense amino acid and extracellular cations, of which calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) is the prototypic extracellular calcium-sensing receptor. Some cells, such as osteoblasts in bone, retain responsiveness to extracellular calcium in CASR-deficient mice, consistent with the existence of another calcium-sensing receptor. We examined the calcium-sensing properties of GPRC6A, a newly identified member of this family. Alignment of GPRC6A with CASR revealed conservation of both calcium and calcimimetic binding sites. In addition, calcium, magnesium, strontium, aluminum, gadolinium, and the calcimimetic NPS 568 resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of GPRC6A overexpressed in human embryonic kidney cells 293 cells. Also, osteocalcin, a calcium-binding protein highly expressed in bone, dose-dependently stimulated GPRC6A activity in the presence of calcium but inhibited the calcium-dependent activation of CASR. Coexpression of beta-arrestins 1 and 2, regulators of G-protein signaling RGS2 or RGS4, the RhoA inhibitor C3 toxin, the dominant negative Galpha(q)-(305-359) minigene, and pretreatment with pertussis toxin inhibited activation of GPRC6A by extracellular cations. Reverse transcription-PCR analyses showed that mouse GPRC6A is widely expressed in mouse tissues, including bone, calvaria, and the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. These data suggest that in addition to sensing amino acids, GPRC6A is a cation-, calcimimetic-, and osteocalcin-sensing receptor and a candidate for mediating extracellular calcium-sensing responses in osteoblasts and possibly other tissues.

Molecular determinants of ligand selectivity in a vertebrate odorant receptor

The identification of the chemical structure of an odorant by the vertebrate olfactory system is thought to occur through the combinatorial activity from multiple receptors, each tuned to recognize different chemical features. What are the molecular determinants underlying the selectivity of individual odorant receptors for their cognate ligands? To address this question, we performed molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis on the ligand-binding region of two orthologous amino acid odorant receptors belonging to the "C family" of G-protein-coupled receptors in goldfish and zebrafish. We identified the critical ligand-receptor interactions that afford ligand binding as well as selectivity for different amino acids. Moreover, predictions regarding binding pocket structure allowed us to alter, in a predictable manner, the receptor preferences for different ligands. These results reveal how this class of odorant receptor has evolved to accommodate ligands of varying chemical structure and further illuminate the molecular principles underlying ligand recognition and selectivity in this family of chemosensory receptors.

Cloning and characterization of a family C orphan G-protein coupled receptor

Members of the family C receptors within the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily include the metabotropic glutamate receptors, GABA(B) receptors, the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), the V2R pheromone receptors, the T1R taste receptors, and a small group of uncharacterized orphan receptors. We have cloned and studied the mouse GPRC6A family C orphan receptor. The open reading frame codes for a protein with highest sequence identity to the fish 5.24 odorant receptor and the mammalian CaSR. The gene structure shows a striking resemblance to that of the CaSR. Results from RT-PCR analyses showed that mouse GPRC6A mRNA is expressed in mouse brain, skeletal muscle, heart, lung, spleen, kidney, liver, and in the early stage mouse embryo. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cloned mouse GPRC6A cDNA expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells demonstrated that GPRC6A was present on the plasma membrane, as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope membranes of transfected cells. A chimeric cDNA construct in which the extracellular ligand binding domain of the fish 5.24 amino acid-activated odorant receptor was ligated to the complementary downstream sequence of the mouse GPRC6A receptor indicated that GPRC6A is coupled to phosphoinositol turnover and release of intracellular calcium. Further studies with mouse GPRC6A expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes demonstrated that this receptor possesses a pharmacological profile resembling that of the fish 5.24 odorant receptor. These findings suggest that GPRC6A may function as the receptor component of a novel cellular transmitter system in mammals.

Pheromone reception in mammals

Pheromonal communication is the most convenient way to transfer information regarding gender and social status in animals of the same species with the holistic goal of sustaining reproduction. This type of information exchange is based on pheromones, molecules often chemically unrelated, that are contained in body fluids like urine, sweat, specialized exocrine glands, and mucous secretions of genitals. So profound is the relevance of pheromones over the evolutionary process that a specific peripheral organ devoted to their recognition, namely the vomeronasal organ of Jacobson, and a related central pathway arose in most vertebrate species. Although the vomeronasal system is well developed in reptiles and amphibians, most mammals strongly rely on pheromonal communication. Humans use pheromones too; evidence on the existence of a specialized organ for their detection, however, is very elusive indeed. In the present review, we will focus our attention on the behavioral, physiological, and molecular aspects of pheromone detection in mammals. We will discuss the responses to pheromonal stimulation in different animal species, emphasizing the complicacy of this type of communication. In the light of the most recent results, we will also discuss the complex organization of the transduction molecules that underlie pheromone detection and signal transmission from vomeronasal neurons to the higher centers of the brain. Communication is a primary feature of living organisms, allowing the coordination of different behavioral paradigms among individuals. Communication has evolved through a variety of different strategies, and each species refined its own preferred communication medium. From a phylogenetic point of view, the most widespread and ancient way of communication is through chemical signals named pheromones: it occurs in all taxa, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. The release of specific pheromones into the environment is a sensitive and definite way to send messages to other members of the same species. Therefore, the action of an organism can alter the behavior of another organism, thereby increasing the fitness of either or both. Albeit slow in transmission and not easily modulated, pheromones can travel around objects in the dark and over long distances. In addition, they are emitted when necessary and their biosynthesis is usually economic. In essence, they represent the most efficient tool to refine the pattern of social behaviors and reproductive strategies.

An orphan receptor adopted by a family of transmitters

A tenet of pharmacology states that a receptor must be selective for and bind its natural ligand with high affinity. Recently discovered ligands of some deorphanized G protein-coupled receptors challenge this concept.

Deorphanization of GPRC6A: a promiscuous L-alpha-amino acid receptor with preference for basic amino acids

One of the most important tasks of molecular pharmacology is the deorphanization of the large number of G-protein-coupled receptors with unidentified endogenous agonists. We recently reported the cloning and analysis of expression of a novel human family C G-protein-coupled receptor, termed hGPRC6A. To identify agonists at this orphan receptor, we faced the challenges of achieving surface expression in mammalian cell lines and establishing an appropriate functional assay. Generating a chimeric receptor construct, h6A/5.24, containing the ligand binding amino-terminal domain (ATD) of hGPRC6A with the signal transducing transmembrane and C terminus of the homologous goldfish 5.24 receptor allowed us to overcome these obstacles. Homology modeling of the hGPRC6A ATD based on the crystal structure of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 predicted interaction with alpha-amino acids and was employed to rationally select potential ligands. Measurement of Ca2+-dependent chloride currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes facilitated the deorphanization of h6A/5.24 and identification of L-alpha-amino acids as agonists. The most active agonists were basic L-alpha-amino acids, L-Arg, L-Lys, and L-ornithine, suggesting that these may function as endogenous signaling molecules. Measurement of intracellular calcium in tsA cells expressing h6A/5.24 allowed determination of EC50 values, which confirmed the agonist preferences observed in oocytes. Cloning, cell surface expression and deorphanization of the mouse ortholog further reinforces the assignment of the agonist preferences of hGPRC6A. This study demonstrates the utility of a chimeric receptor approach in combination with molecular modeling, for elucidating agonist interaction with GPRC6A, a novel family C G-protein-coupled receptor.

Molecular mechanisms of ligand binding, signaling, and regulation within the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors: molecular modeling and mutagenesis approaches to receptor structure and function

The superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) could be subclassified into 7 families (A, B, large N-terminal family B-7 transmembrane helix, C, Frizzled/Smoothened, taste 2, and vomeronasal 1 receptors) among mammalian species. Cloning and functional studies of GPCRs have revealed that the superfamily of GPCRs comprises receptors for chemically diverse native ligands including (1) endogenous compounds like amines, peptides, and Wnt proteins (i.e., secreted proteins activating Frizzled receptors); (2) endogenous cell surface adhesion molecules; and (3) photons and exogenous compounds like odorants. The combined use of site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling approaches have provided detailed insight into molecular mechanisms of ligand binding, receptor folding, receptor activation, G-protein coupling, and regulation of GPCRs. The vast majority of family A, B, C, vomeronasal 1, and taste 2 receptors are able to transduce signals into cells through G-protein coupling. However, G-protein-independent signaling mechanisms have also been reported for many GPCRs. Specific interaction motifs in the intracellular parts of these receptors allow them to interact with scaffold proteins. Protein engineering techniques have provided information on molecular mechanisms of GPCR-accessory protein, GPCR-GPCR, and GPCR-scaffold protein interactions. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations have revealed that the inactive state conformations are stabilized by specific interhelical and intrahelical salt bridge interactions and hydrophobic-type interactions. Constitutively activating mutations or agonist binding disrupts such constraining interactions leading to receptor conformations that associates with and activate G-proteins.

Molecular cloning, expression, and sequence analysis of GPRC6A, a novel family C G-protein-coupled receptor

By similarity searching of the human genome sequence using known family C G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as query sequences, we have identified a putative novel human gene product of unknown function (located on chromosome band 6q22.31). The transcript, entitled GPRC6A (isoform 1), was cloned from a human kidney cDNA (DNA complementary to RNA) library and shown to encode a protein of 926 amino acids (aa). Protein sequence analysis revealed the presence of a seven-transmembrane (7TM) domain and an unusually long amino-terminal domain (ATD) of 590 amino acids. These traits, along with a significant homology to the human calcium-sensing receptor (CaR, 34% aa sequence identity), the taste receptor 1 (T1R1, 28%), and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1, 24%), places GPRC6A in family C of the GPCRs. Interestingly, GPRC6A bears the highest resemblance with an odorant goldfish 5.24 receptor (45%) which suggests that GPRC6A is the human orthologue of this receptor. GPRC6A is widely expressed in brain and peripheral tissues with highest levels in kidney, skeletal muscle, testis, and leucocytes. All three isoforms are expressed in mammalian cells, but are poorly expressed on the cell surface. In this work, we report the existence of two additional GPRC6A isoforms (2 and 3) carrying in-frame deletions in the ATD. Except for the kidney, where isoforms 1 and 2 appear equally expressed, isoforms 2 and 3 are generally less abundant than isoform 1. Analysis of the intron-exon composition of the GPRC6A gene confirms that isoforms 2 and 3 are naturally occurring splice variants.

Expression of a truncated secreted form of the mGluR3 subtype of metabotropic glutamate receptor

In this study, 10 truncated constructs encompassing all or part of the extracellular ligand binding domain of the mGluR3 subtype of metabotropic glutamate receptor were generated, expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, and tested for secretion and binding of the high affinity agonist [(3)H]DCG-IV. The effect of inserting epitope tags into the N or C termini on cell secretion and radioligand binding was also examined. Secretion into the cell culture media was observed for 8 of the 10 truncated receptors and all secreted forms displayed high affinity agonist binding. The highest level of binding was observed in the C-terminal polyhistidine-tagged receptor truncated at serine 507. Reduction and enzymatic deglycosylation of the serine 507 truncated receptor using endoglycosidase H and PNGase F showed that the secreted receptor was a disulfide-linked dimer containing complex oligosaccharides. Pharmacological characterization demonstrated that the truncated receptor showed the same rank order of potency of agonist binding, a relatively small 2-fold decrease in agonist affinity, and a larger 10-fold decrease in affinity for the antagonist LY341495 compared to the full-length membrane-bound receptor. These results define the essential requirements for ligand binding to the extracellular domain of mGluR3 and highlight parameters important for the optimization of receptor expression in mammalian cells.

Molecular Basis for the Differential Agonist Affinities of Group III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Agonist stimulation of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) induces an inhibition of neurotransmitter release from neurons. The group III mGluRs are pharmacologically defined by activation with the glutamate analog L-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4). The affinities of these receptors for L-AP4 and glutamate vary over approximately a 1500-fold concentration range. The goal of this study was to elucidate the molecular basis for this dispersion of agonist affinities for the group III receptors mGluR4, mGluR6, and mGluR7. [3H]L-AP4 binding was present in human embryonic kidney cells transfected with the high-affinity mGluR4 receptor but not in cells transfected with mGluR6 or the low-affinity mGluR7 receptor. Analysis of mGluR4/mGluR6 receptor chimeras revealed that replacement of the first 35 amino acids of mGluR6 with the first 50 amino acids of mGluR4 was sufficient to impart [3H]L-AP4 binding to mGluR6. Homology models of mGluR4 and mGluR7 were used to predict amino acids that may affect ligand affinity. Mutations were made in mGluR7 to convert selected residues into the equivalent amino acids present in the high-affinity mGluR4 receptor. The mGluR7 N74K mutation caused a 12-fold increase in affinity in a functional assay, whereas the N74K mutation in combination with mutations in residues 258 to 262, which lie outside the binding pocket, caused a 112-fold increase in affinity compared with unmutated mGluR7. Our results demonstrate that the binding site residues at position lysine 74 in mGluR4, glutamine 58 in mGluR6, and asparagine 74 in mGluR7 are key determinants of agonist affinity and that additional residues situated outside of the binding pocket, including those present in the extreme amino terminus, also contribute to agonist affinity and the pharmacological profiles of the group III mGluRs.