Dimers of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptor show asymmetry in agonist affinity and association with G proteins

Evidence for heterodimerization and functional interaction of the urotensin II and the angiotensin II type 1 receptors

Despite the observation of synergistic interactions between the urotensinergic and angiotensinergic systems, the interplay between the urotensin II receptor (hUT) and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (hAT1R) in regulating cellular signaling remains incompletely understood. Notably, the putative interaction between hUT and hAT1R could engender reciprocal allosteric modulation of their signaling signatures, defining a unique role for these complexes in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. Using a combination of co-immunoprecipitation, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) and FlAsH BRET-based conformational biosensors, we first demonstrated the physical interaction between hUT and hAT1R. Next, to analyze how this functional interaction regulated proximal and distal hUT- and hAT1R-associated signaling pathways, we used BRET-based signaling biosensors and western blots to profile pathway-specific signaling in HEK 293 cells expressing hUT, hAT1R or both. We observed that hUT-hAT1R heterodimers triggered distinct signaling outcomes compared to their respective parent receptors alone. Notably, co-transfection of hUT and hAT1R has no impact on hUII-induced Gq activation but significantly reduced the potency and efficacy of Ang II to mediate Gq activation. Interestingly, URP, the second hUT endogenous ligand, produce a distinct signaling signature compared to hUII at hUT-hAT1R. Our results therefore suggest that assembly of hUT with hAT1R might be important for allosteric modulation of outcomes associated with specific hardwired signaling complexes in healthy and disease states. Altogether, our work, which potentially explains the interplay observed in native cells and tissues, validates such complexes as potential targets to promote the design of compounds that can modulate heterodimer function selectively.

Toward Understanding the Impact of Dimerization Interfaces in Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is a prototypical class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has an important role in cardiovascular pathologies and blood pressure regulation as well as in the central nervous system. GPCRs may exist and function as monomers; however, they can assemble to form higher order structures, and as a result of oligomerization, their function and signaling profiles can be altered. In the case of AT1R, the classical Gα_q/11 pathway is initiated with endogenous agonist angiotensin II binding. A variety of cardiovascular pathologies such as heart failure, diabetic nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and hypertension are associated with this pathway. Recent findings reveal that AT1R can form homodimers and activate the noncanonical (β-arrestin-mediated) pathway. Nevertheless, the exact dimerization interface and atomic details of AT1R homodimerization have not been still elucidated. Here, six different symmetrical dimer interfaces of AT1R are considered, and homodimers were constructed using other published GPCR crystal dimer interfaces as template structures. These AT1R homodimers were then inserted into the model membrane bilayers and subjected to all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulation results along with the principal component analysis and water pathway analysis suggest four different interfaces as the most plausible: symmetrical transmembrane (TM)1,2,8; TM5; TM4; and TM4,5 AT1R dimer interfaces that consist of one inactive and one active protomer. Moreover, we identified ILE238^6.33 as a hub residue in the stabilization of the inactive state of AT1R.

Dimers of G-protein coupled receptors as versatile storage and response units

The status and use of transmembrane, extracellular and intracellular domains in oligomerization of heptahelical G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are reviewed and for transmembrane assemblies also supplemented by new experimental evidence. The transmembrane-linked GPCR oligomers typically have as the minimal unit an asymmetric ~180 kDa pentamer consisting of receptor homodimer or heterodimer and a G-protein αβγ subunit heterotrimer. With neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors, this assembly is converted to ~90 kDa receptor monomer-Gα complex by receptor and Gα agonists, and dimers/heteropentamers are depleted by neutralization of Gαi subunits by pertussis toxin. Employing gradient centrifugation, quantification and other characterization of GPCR dimers at the level of physically isolated and identified heteropentamers is feasible with labeled agonists that do not dissociate upon solubilization. This is demonstrated with three neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors and could apply to many receptors that use large peptidic agonists.

Non-specific binding and general cross-reactivity of Y receptor agonists are correlated and should importantly depend on their acidic sectors

Non-specific binding of Y receptor agonists to intact CHO cells, and to CHO cell or rat brain particulates, is much greater for human neuropeptide Y (hNPY) compared to porcine peptide Y (pPYY), and especially relative to human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP). This binding of hNPY is reduced by alkali cations in preference to non-ionic chaotrope urea, while the much lower non-specific binding of pPYY is more sensitive to urea. The difference could mainly be due to the 10-16 stretch in 36-residue Y agonists (residues 8-14 in N-terminally clipped 34-peptides), located in the sector that contains all acidic residues of physiological Y agonists. Anionic pairs containing aspartate in the 10-16 zone could be principally responsible for non-specific attachments, but may also aid the receptor site binding. Two such pairs are found in hNPY, one in pPYY, and none in hPP. The hydroxyl amino acid residue at position 13 in mammalian PYY and PP molecules could lower conformational plasticity and the non-selective binding via intrachain hydrogen bonding. The acidity of this tract could also be important in agonist selectivity of the Y receptor subtypes. The differences point to an evolutionary reduction of promiscuous protein binding from NPY to PP, and should also be important for Y agonist selectivity within NPY receptor group, and correlate with partial agonism and out-of group cross-reactivity with other receptors.

Expanding the Concept of G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Dimer Asymmetry towards GPCR-Interacting Proteins

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), major targets of drug discovery, are organized in dimeric and/or oligomeric clusters. The minimal oligomeric unit, the dimer, is composed of two protomers, which can behave differently within the dimer. Several examples of GPCR asymmetry within dimers at the level of ligand binding, ligand-promoted conformational changes, conformational changes within transmembrane domains, G protein coupling, and most recently GPCR-interacting proteins (GIPs), have been reported in the literature. Asymmetric organization of GPCR dimers has important implications on GPCR function and drug design. Indeed, the extension of the “asymmetry concept” to GIPs adds a new level of specific therapeutic intervention.