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Bono F, Fiorentini C, Mutti V, Tomasoni Z, Sbrini G, Trebesova H, Marchi M, Grilli M, Missale C. Central nervous system interaction and crosstalk between nAChRs and other ionotropic and metabotropic neurotransmitter receptors. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106711. [PMID: 36854367 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. nAChRs exert a crucial modulatory influence on several brain biological processes; they are involved in a variety of neuronal diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and nicotine addiction. The influence of nAChRs on brain function depends on the activity of other neurotransmitter receptors that co-exist with nAChRs on neurons. In fact, the crosstalk between receptors is an important mechanism of neurotransmission modulation and plasticity. This may be due to converging intracellular pathways but also occurs at the membrane level, because of direct physical interactions between receptors. In this line, this review is dedicated to summarizing how nAChRs and other ionotropic and metabotropic receptors interact and the relevance of nAChRs cross-talks in modulating various neuronal processes ranging from the classical modulation of neurotransmitter release to neuron plasticity and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bono
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Fiorentini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Veronica Mutti
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Zaira Tomasoni
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Sbrini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Hanna Trebesova
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Mario Marchi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Grilli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, 16148 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Cristina Missale
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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2
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Fernández-Dueñas V, Bonaventura J, Aso E, Luján R, Ferré S, Ciruela F. Overcoming the Challenges of Detecting GPCR Oligomerization in the Brain. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1035-1045. [PMID: 34736381 PMCID: PMC9886828 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211104145727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest group of membrane receptor proteins controlling brain activity. Accordingly, GPCRs are the main target of commercial drugs for most neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the mechanisms by which GPCRs regulate neuronal function is by homo- and heteromerization, with the establishment of direct protein-protein interactions between the same and different GPCRs. The occurrence of GPCR homo- and heteromers in artificial systems is generally well accepted, but more specific methods are necessary to address GPCR oligomerization in the brain. Here, we revise some of the techniques that have mostly contributed to reveal GPCR oligomers in native tissue, which include immunogold electron microscopy, proximity ligation assay (PLA), resonance energy transfer (RET) between fluorescent ligands and the Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay (ALPHA). Of note, we use the archetypical GPCR oligomer, the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)-dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) heteromer as an example to illustrate the implementation of these techniques, which can allow visualizing GPCR oligomers in the human brain under normal and pathological conditions. Indeed, GPCR oligomerization may be involved in the pathophysiology of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Fernández-Dueñas
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Address correspondence to these authors at the Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; E-mails: ,
| | - Jordi Bonaventura
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Ester Aso
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Rafael Luján
- Synaptic Structure Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Neuropharmacology & Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;,Address correspondence to these authors at the Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; E-mails: ,
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3
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Raghuraman H, Chatterjee S, Das A. Site-Directed Fluorescence Approaches for Dynamic Structural Biology of Membrane Peptides and Proteins. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:96. [PMID: 31608290 PMCID: PMC6774292 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins mediate a number of cellular functions and are associated with several diseases and also play a crucial role in pathogenicity. Due to their importance in cellular structure and function, they are important drug targets for ~60% of drugs available in the market. Despite the technological advancement and recent successful outcomes in determining the high-resolution structural snapshot of membrane proteins, the mechanistic details underlining the complex functionalities of membrane proteins is least understood. This is largely due to lack of structural dynamics information pertaining to different functional states of membrane proteins in a membrane environment. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used technique in the analysis of functionally-relevant structure and dynamics of membrane protein. This review is focused on various site-directed fluorescence (SDFL) approaches and their applications to explore structural information, conformational changes, hydration dynamics, and lipid-protein interactions of important classes of membrane proteins that include the pore-forming peptides/proteins, ion channels/transporters and G-protein coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Kolkata, India
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Zhang H, Yang S, Beier RC, Beloglazova NV, Lei H, Sun X, Ke Y, Zhang S, Wang Z. Simple, high efficiency detection of microcystins and nodularin-R in water by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Anal Chim Acta 2017; 992:119-127. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Ciruela F, Fernández-Dueñas V, Jacobson KA. Lighting up G protein-coupled purinergic receptors with engineered fluorescent ligands. Neuropharmacology 2015; 98:58-67. [PMID: 25890205 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The use of G protein-coupled receptors fluorescent ligands is undergoing continuous expansion. In line with this, fluorescent agonists and antagonists of high affinity for G protein-coupled adenosine and P2Y receptors have been shown to be useful pharmacological probe compounds. Fluorescent ligands for A1R, A2AR, and A3R (adenosine receptors) and P2Y2R, P2Y4R, P2Y6R, and P2Y14R (nucleotide receptors) have been reported. Such ligands have been successfully applied to drug discovery and to GPCR characterization by flow cytometry, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence polarization, fluorescence resonance energy transfer and scanning confocal microscopy. Here we summarize recently reported and readily available representative fluorescent ligands of purinergic receptors. In addition, we pay special attention on the use of this family of fluorescent ligands revealing two main aspects of purinergic receptor biology, namely ligand binding and receptor oligomerization. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Fluorescent Tools in Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ciruela
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ghent, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Víctor Fernández-Dueñas
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Kenneth A Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 20892 Bethesda, USA.
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Ma L, Yang F, Zheng J. Application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in protein studies. J Mol Struct 2014; 1077:87-100. [PMID: 25368432 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.12.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the physical process of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was elucidated more than six decades ago, this peculiar fluorescence phenomenon has turned into a powerful tool for biomedical research due to its compatibility in scale with biological molecules as well as rapid developments in novel fluorophores and optical detection techniques. A wide variety of FRET approaches have been devised, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Especially in the last decade or so, we are witnessing a flourish of FRET applications in biological investigations, many of which exemplify clever experimental design and rigorous analysis. Here we review the current stage of FRET methods development with the main focus on its applications in protein studies in biological systems, by summarizing the basic components of FRET techniques, most established quantification methods, as well as potential pitfalls, illustrated by example applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Ma
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA ; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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7
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Khan A, Li D, Ibrahim S, Smyth E, Woulfe DS. The physical association of the P2Y12 receptor with PAR4 regulates arrestin-mediated Akt activation. Mol Pharmacol 2014; 86:1-11. [PMID: 24723492 DOI: 10.1124/mol.114.091595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that protease activated receptor (PAR) 1 and PAR4 have differential roles in platelet activation. PAR4, a low-affinity thrombin receptor in human platelets, participates in sustained platelet activation in a P2Y12-dependent manner; however, the mechanisms are not defined. Our previous studies demonstrated that thrombin induces the association of PAR4 with P2Y12, together with arrestin recruitment to the complex. Here we show that PAR4 and P2Y12 directly interact to coregulate Akt signaling after PAR4 activation. We observed direct and specific interaction of P2Y12 with PAR4 but not PAR1 by bioluminescent resonance energy transfer when the receptors were coexpressed in human embryonic kidney 293T cells. PAR4-P2Y12 dimerization was promoted by PAR4-AP and inhibited by P2Y12 antagonist. By using sequence comparison of the transmembrane domains of PAR1 and PAR4, we designed a mutant form of PAR4, "PAR4SFT," by replacing LGL194-196 at the base of transmembrane domain 4 with the corresponding aligned PAR1 residues SFT 220-222. PAR4SFT supported only 8.74% of PAR4-P2Y12 interaction, abolishing P2Y12-dependent arrestin recruitment to PAR4 and Akt activation. Nonetheless, PAR4SFT still supported homodimerization with PAR4. PAR4SFT failed to induce a calcium flux when expressed independently; however, coexpression of increasing concentrations of PAR4SFT, together with PAR4 potentiated PAR4-mediated calcium flux, suggested that PAR4 act as homodimers to signal to Gq-coupled calcium responses. In conclusion, PAR4 LGL (194-196) governs agonist-dependent association of PAR4 with P2Y12 and contributes to Gq-coupled calcium responses. PAR4-P2Y12 association supports arrestin-mediated sustained signaling to Akt. Hence, PAR4-P2Y12 dimerization is likely to be important for the PAR4-P2Y12 dependent stabilization of platelet thrombi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasma Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (A.K., D.L., D.S.W.); and Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (S.I., E.S.)
| | - Dongjun Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (A.K., D.L., D.S.W.); and Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (S.I., E.S.)
| | - Salam Ibrahim
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (A.K., D.L., D.S.W.); and Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (S.I., E.S.)
| | - Emer Smyth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (A.K., D.L., D.S.W.); and Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (S.I., E.S.)
| | - Donna S Woulfe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (A.K., D.L., D.S.W.); and Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (S.I., E.S.)
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8
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Ferré S, Casadó V, Devi LA, Filizola M, Jockers R, Lohse MJ, Milligan G, Pin JP, Guitart X. G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization revisited: functional and pharmacological perspectives. Pharmacol Rev 2014; 66:413-34. [PMID: 24515647 DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.008052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 431] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Most evidence indicates that, as for family C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), family A GPCRs form homo- and heteromers. Homodimers seem to be a predominant species, with potential dynamic formation of higher-order oligomers, particularly tetramers. Although monomeric GPCRs can activate G proteins, the pentameric structure constituted by one GPCR homodimer and one heterotrimeric G protein may provide a main functional unit, and oligomeric entities can be viewed as multiples of dimers. It still needs to be resolved if GPCR heteromers are preferentially heterodimers or if they are mostly constituted by heteromers of homodimers. Allosteric mechanisms determine a multiplicity of possible unique pharmacological properties of GPCR homomers and heteromers. Some general mechanisms seem to apply, particularly at the level of ligand-binding properties. In the frame of the dimer-cooperativity model, the two-state dimer model provides the most practical method to analyze ligand-GPCR interactions when considering receptor homomers. In addition to ligand-binding properties, unique properties for each GPCR oligomer emerge in relation to different intrinsic efficacy of ligands for different signaling pathways (functional selectivity). This gives a rationale for the use of GPCR oligomers, and particularly heteromers, as novel targets for drug development. Herein, we review the functional and pharmacological properties of GPCR oligomers and provide some guidelines for the application of discrete direct screening and high-throughput screening approaches to the discovery of receptor-heteromer selective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes on Drug Abuse, Department of Health and Human Services, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.
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Müller SM, Galliardt H, Schneider J, Barisas BG, Seidel T. Quantification of Förster resonance energy transfer by monitoring sensitized emission in living plant cells. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2013; 4:413. [PMID: 24194740 PMCID: PMC3810607 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/29/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) describes excitation energy exchange between two adjacent molecules typically in distances ranging from 2 to 10 nm. The process depends on dipole-dipole coupling of the molecules and its probability of occurrence cannot be proven directly. Mostly, fluorescence is employed for quantification as it represents a concurring process of relaxation of the excited singlet state S1 so that the probability of fluorescence decreases as the probability of FRET increases. This reflects closer proximity of the molecules or an orientation of donor and acceptor transition dipoles that facilitates FRET. Monitoring sensitized emission by 3-Filter-FRET allows for fast image acquisition and is suitable for quantifying FRET in dynamic systems such as living cells. In recent years, several calibration protocols were established to overcome to previous difficulties in measuring FRET-efficiencies. Thus, we can now obtain by 3-filter FRET FRET-efficiencies that are comparable to results from sophisticated fluorescence lifetime measurements. With the discovery of fluorescent proteins and their improvement toward spectral variants and usability in plant cells, the tool box for in vivo FRET-analyses in plant cells was provided and FRET became applicable for the in vivo detection of protein-protein interactions and for monitoring conformational dynamics. The latter opened the door toward a multitude of FRET-sensors such as the widely applied Ca(2+)-sensor Cameleon. Recently, FRET-couples of two fluorescent proteins were supplemented by additional fluorescent proteins toward FRET-cascades in order to monitor more complex arrangements. Novel FRET-couples involving switchable fluorescent proteins promise to increase the utility of FRET through combination with photoactivation-based super-resolution microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Müller
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Helena Galliardt
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Jessica Schneider
- Bioinformatic Resource Facility, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - B. George Barisas
- Chemistry Department, Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Thorsten Seidel
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
- *Correspondence: Thorsten Seidel, Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany e-mail:
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Sanz G, Pajot-Augy E. Deciphering activation of olfactory receptors using heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. Methods Mol Biol 2013; 1003:149-160. [PMID: 23585040 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-377-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Hetero- and homo-oligomerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been addressed in the past years using various approaches such as co-immunoprecipitation, fluorescence resonance energy transfer and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Here, we report the methodological details from a previously published study to investigate the relationships between oligomerization and activation states of olfactory receptors (ORs). This methodology combines heterologous expression of ORs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and BRET assays on membrane fractions, in particular, upon odorant stimulation. We have demonstrated that ORs constitutively homodimerize at the plasma membrane and that high odorant concentrations promote a conformational change of the dimer, which becomes inactive. We proposed a model in which one odorant molecule binding the dimer would induce activation, while two odorant molecules, each binding one protomer of the dimer, would blunt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guenhaël Sanz
- Unité de Neurobiologie de l'Olfaction et Modélisation en Imagerie & Equipe Biologie de l'Olfaction et Biosenseurs, INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Fernández-Dueñas V, Llorente J, Gandía J, Borroto-Escuela DO, Agnati LF, Tasca CI, Fuxe K, Ciruela F. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based technologies in the study of protein-protein interactions at the cell surface. Methods 2012; 57:467-72. [PMID: 22683304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Revised: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding of the molecular mechanisms of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) at the cell surface of living cells is fundamental to comprehend the functional meaning of a large number of cellular processes. Here we discuss how new methodological strategies derived from non-invasive fluorescence-based approaches (i.e. fluorescence resonance energy transfer, FRET) have been successfully developed to characterize plasma membrane PPIs. Importantly, these technologies alone - or in concert with complementary methods (i.e. SNAP-tag/TR-FRET, TIRF/FRET) - can become extremely powerful approaches for visualizing cell surface PPIs, even between more than two proteins and also in native tissues. Interestingly, these methods would also be relevant in drug discovery in order to develop new high-throughput screening approaches or to identify new therapeutic targets. Accordingly, herein we provide a thorough assessment on all biotechnological aspects, including strengths and weaknesses, of these fluorescence-based methodologies when applied in the study of PPIs occurring at the cell surface of living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Fernández-Dueñas
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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Xu TR, Ward RJ, Pediani JD, Milligan G. Intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors of the orexin OX1 and OX2 receptors identify slow kinetics of agonist activation. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:14937-49. [PMID: 22389503 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.334300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors able to detect changes in distance or orientation between the 3rd intracellular loop and C-terminal tail of the human orexin OX(1) and OX(2) G protein-coupled receptors following binding of agonist ligands were produced and expressed stably. These were directed to the plasma membrane and, despite the substantial sequence alterations introduced, in each case were able to elevate [Ca(2+)](i), promote phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinases and become internalized effectively upon addition of the native orexin peptides. Detailed characterization of the OX(1) sensor demonstrated that it was activated with rank order of potency orexin A > orexin B > orexin A 16-33, that it bound antagonist ligands with affinity similar to the wild-type receptor, and that mutation of a single residue, D203A, greatly reduced the binding and function of orexin A but not antagonist ligands. Addition of orexin A to individual cells expressing an OX(1) sensor resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent reduction in FRET signal consistent with mass-action and potency/affinity estimates for the peptide. Compared with the response kinetics of a muscarinic M(3) acetylcholine receptor sensor upon addition of agonist, response of the OX(1) and OX(2) sensors to orexin A was slow, consistent with a multistep binding and activation process. Such sensors provide means to assess the kinetics of receptor activation and how this may be altered by mutation and sequence variation of the receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Rui Xu
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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The detection and quantitation of protein oligomerization. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 747:19-41. [PMID: 22949109 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3229-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There are many different techniques available to biologists and biochemists that can be used to detect and characterize the self-association of proteins. Each technique has strengths and weaknesses and it is often useful to combine several approaches to maximize the former and minimize the latter. Here we review a range of methodologies that identify protein self-association and/or allow the stoichiometry and affinity of the interaction to be determined, placing an emphasis on what type of information can be obtained and outlining the advantages and disadvantages involved. In general, in vitro biophysical techniques, such as size exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, scattering techniques, NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence anisotropy and mass spectrometry, provide information on stoichiometry and/or binding affinities. Other approaches such as cross-linking, fluorescence methods (e.g., fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, FCS; Förster resonance energy transfer, FRET; fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, FRAP; and proximity imaging, PRIM) and complementation approaches (e.g., yeast two hybrid assays and bimolecular fluorescence complementation, BiFC) can be used to detect protein self-association in a cellular context.
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14
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Ng SYL, Lee LTO, Chow BKC. Receptor oligomerization: from early evidence to current understanding in class B GPCRs. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2012; 3:175. [PMID: 23316183 PMCID: PMC3539651 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2012.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dimerization or oligomerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to modulate receptor functions in terms of ontogeny, ligand-oriented regulation, pharmacological diversity, signal transduction, and internalization. Class B GPCRs are receptors to a family of hormones including secretin, growth hormone-releasing hormone, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and parathyroid hormone, among others. The functional implications of receptor dimerization have extensively been studied in class A GPCRs, while less is known regarding its function in class B GPCRs. This article reviews receptor oligomerization in terms of the early evidence and current understanding particularly of class B GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Billy K. C. Chow
- *Correspondence: Billy K. C. Chow, Endocrinology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. e-mail:
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The orexin OX(1) receptor exists predominantly as a homodimer in the basal state: potential regulation of receptor organization by both agonist and antagonist ligands. Biochem J 2011; 439:171-83. [PMID: 21770891 DOI: 10.1042/bj20110230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
It is unclear what proportion of a G-protein-coupled receptor is present in cells as dimers or oligomers. Saturation bioluminescence resonance energy transfer studies demonstrated the orexin OX(1) receptor to be present in such complexes. Forms of this receptor containing a minimal epitope tag, with the C-terminus linked to yellow fluorescent protein or modified at the N-terminus to incorporate a SNAP tag, migrated in SDS/PAGE gels as monomers, indicating a lack of covalent interactions. Solubilization with dodecylmaltoside, followed by Blue native-PAGE, indicated that the receptor constructs migrated predominantly as anticipated for dimeric species with evidence for further, higher-order, complexes, and this was true over a wide range of expression levels. Addition of SDS prior to separation by Blue native-PAGE resulted in much of the previously dimeric, and all of the higher-order, complexes being dissociated and now migrating at the size predicted for monomeric species. Expression of forms of the OX(1) receptor capable of generating enzyme complementation confirmed that solubilization itself did not result in interaction artefacts. Addition of the endogenous agonist orexin A enhanced the proportion of higher-order OX(1) receptor complexes, whereas selective OX(1) antagonists increased the proportion the OX(1) receptor migrating in Blue native-PAGE as a monomer. The antagonist effects were produced in a concentration-dependent manner, consistent with the affinity of the ligands for the receptor. Homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies using Tag-Lite™ reagents on cells expressing the SNAP-tagged OX(1) receptor identified cell-surface OX(1) homomers. Predominantly at low receptor expression levels, orexin A increased such fluorescence resonance energy transfer signals, also consistent with ligand-induced reorganization of the homomeric complex.
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16
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Meckel T, Semrau S, Schaaf MJM, Schmidt T. Robust assessment of protein complex formation in vivo via single-molecule intensity distributions of autofluorescent proteins. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2011; 16:076016. [PMID: 21806277 DOI: 10.1117/1.3600002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The formation of protein complexes or clusters in the plasma membrane is essential for many biological processes, such as signaling. We develop a tool, based on single-molecule microscopy, for following cluster formation in vivo. Detection and tracing of single autofluorescent proteins have become standard biophysical techniques. The determination of the number of proteins in a cluster, however, remains challenging. The reasons are (i) the poor photophysical stability and complex photophysics of fluorescent proteins and (ii) noise and autofluorescent background in live cell recordings. We show that, despite those obstacles, the accurate fraction of signals in which a certain (or set) number of labeled proteins reside, can be determined in an accurate an robust way in vivo. We define experimental conditions under which fluorescent proteins exhibit predictable distributions of intensity and quantify the influence of noise. Finally, we confirm our theoretical predictions by measurements of the intensities of individual enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) molecules in living cells. Quantification of the average number of EYFP-C10HRAS chimeras in diffraction-limited spots finally confirm that the membrane anchor of human Harvey rat sarcoma (HRAS) heterogeneously distributes in the plasma membrane of living Chinese hamster ovary cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Meckel
- Technische Universität Darmstadt, Membrane Dynamics, Department of Biology, Darmstadt, Germany
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17
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Quitterer U, Pohl A, Langer A, Koller S, Abdalla S. A cleavable signal peptide enhances cell surface delivery and heterodimerization of Cerulean-tagged angiotensin II AT1 and bradykinin B2 receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 409:544-9. [PMID: 21600887 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Heterodimerization of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor with the receptor for the vasodepressor bradykinin, B2R, is known to sensitize the AT1-stimulated response of hypertensive individuals in vivo. To analyze features of that prototypic receptor heterodimer in vitro, we established a new method that uses fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and applies for the first time AT1-Cerulean as a FRET donor. The Cerulean variant of the green fluorescent protein as donor fluorophore was fused to the C-terminus of AT1, and the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) as acceptor fluorophore was fused to B2R. In contrast to AT1-EGFP, the AT1-Cerulean fusion protein was retained intracellularly. To facilitate cell surface delivery of AT1-Cerulean, a cleavable signal sequence was fused to the receptor's amino terminus. The plasma membrane-localized AT1-Cerulean resembled the native AT1 receptor regarding ligand binding and receptor activation. A high FRET efficiency of 24.7% between membrane-localized AT1-Cerulean and B2R-EYFP was observed with intact, non-stimulated cells. Confocal FRET microscopy further revealed that the AT1/B2 receptor heterodimer was functionally coupled to receptor desensitization mechanisms because activation of the AT1-Cerulean/B2R-EYFP heterodimer with a single agonist triggered the co-internalization of AT1/B2R. Receptor co-internalization was sensitive to inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor kinases, GRKs, as evidenced by a GRK-specific peptide inhibitor. In agreement with efficient AT1/B2R heterodimerization, confocal FRET imaging of co-enriched receptor proteins immobilized on agarose beads also detected a high FRET efficiency of 24.0%. Taken together confocal FRET imaging revealed efficient heterodimerization of co-enriched and cellular AT1/B2R, and GRK-dependent co-internalization of the AT1/B2R heterodimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Quitterer
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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18
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Navarro G, Moreno E, Aymerich M, Marcellino D, McCormick PJ, Mallol J, Cortés A, Casadó V, Canela EI, Ortiz J, Fuxe K, Lluís C, Ferré S, Franco R. Direct involvement of sigma-1 receptors in the dopamine D1 receptor-mediated effects of cocaine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:18676-81. [PMID: 20956312 PMCID: PMC2972946 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1008911107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that cocaine blocks the dopamine transporter. This mechanism should lead to a general increase in dopaminergic neurotransmission, and yet dopamine D(1) receptors (D(1)Rs) play a more significant role in the behavioral effects of cocaine than the other dopamine receptor subtypes. Cocaine also binds to σ-1 receptors, the physiological role of which is largely unknown. In the present study, D(1)R and σ(1)R were found to heteromerize in transfected cells, where cocaine robustly potentiated D(1)R-mediated adenylyl cyclase activation, induced MAPK activation per se and counteracted MAPK activation induced by D(1)R stimulation in a dopamine transporter-independent and σ(1)R-dependent manner. Some of these effects were also demonstrated in murine striatal slices and were absent in σ(1)R KO mice, providing evidence for the existence of σ(1)R-D(1)R heteromers in the brain. Therefore, these results provide a molecular explanation for which D(1)R plays a more significant role in the behavioral effects of cocaine, through σ(1)R-D(1)R heteromerization, and provide a unique perspective toward understanding the molecular basis of cocaine addiction.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/metabolism
- CHO Cells
- Cell Line
- Cocaine/toxicity
- Cocaine-Related Disorders/etiology
- Cocaine-Related Disorders/metabolism
- Cricetinae
- Cricetulus
- Dimerization
- Humans
- MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Protein Structure, Quaternary/drug effects
- Receptors, Dopamine D1/chemistry
- Receptors, Dopamine D1/drug effects
- Receptors, Dopamine D1/genetics
- Receptors, Dopamine D1/metabolism
- Receptors, sigma/chemistry
- Receptors, sigma/drug effects
- Receptors, sigma/genetics
- Receptors, sigma/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/drug effects
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Transfection
- Sigma-1 Receptor
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estefanía Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marisol Aymerich
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Daniel Marcellino
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter J. McCormick
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josefa Mallol
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Cortés
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vicent Casadó
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric I. Canela
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Ortiz
- Neuroscience Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; and
| | - Kjell Fuxe
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen Lluís
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Ferré
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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19
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Ciruela F, Vilardaga JP, Fernández-Dueñas V. Lighting up multiprotein complexes: lessons from GPCR oligomerization. Trends Biotechnol 2010; 28:407-15. [PMID: 20542584 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2010.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2010] [Revised: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal characterization of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is essential in determining the molecular mechanisms of intracellular signaling processes. In this review, we discuss how new methodological strategies derived from non-invasive fluorescence- and luminescence-based approaches (FRET, BRET, BiFC and BiLC), when applied to the study of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oligomerization, can be used to detect specific PPIs in live cells. These technologies alone or in concert with complementary methods (SRET, BRET or BiFC, and SNAP-tag or TR-FRET) can be extremely powerful approaches for PPI visualization, even between more than two proteins. Here we provide a comprehensive update on all the biotechnological aspects, including the strengths and weaknesses, of new fluorescence- and luminescence-based methodologies, with a specific focus on their application for studying PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ciruela
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, IDIBELL-Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
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20
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Huang PC, Chiu TY, Wang LC, Teng HC, Kao FJ, Yang DM. Visualization of the Orai1 homodimer and the functional coupling of Orai1-STIM1 by live-cell fluorescence lifetime imaging. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2010; 16:313-326. [PMID: 20377928 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927610000188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The Orai1-STIM1 constructed store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCs) have been found to exert several essential Ca2+ entry/signaling cascades, e.g., the generation of immune response in T lymphocytes. Although biochemical and novel imaging evidence appear to indicate that Orai1 and STIM1 interact with each other to achieve store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), the detailed mechanism of functional SOCE in situ has yet to be fully understood. In this study, green fluorescence protein (EGFP as donor) targeted to either the N- or C-terminal of Orai1 (wild type or delta1-90+delta267-301 double deletion type) and mOrange (as acceptor) tagged STIM1 were used to comprise a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair within living PC12 cells. The fluorescence lifetime map and histogram/distribution of each single cell, determined by one-photon excitation fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), was used to visualize FRET and show the Orai1 homodimer and Orai1-STIM1 binding. Both the color-coded lifetime map and the distribution of EGFP-tagged Orai1 significantly changed after the administration of thapsigargin, the SOCE stimulating agent. The FRET efficiency from each experimental set was also calculated and compared using double exponential analysis. In summary, we show the detailed interactions Orai1-Orai1 and Orai1-STIM1 within intact living cells by using the FLIM-FRET technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Chun Huang
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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21
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Alvarez-Curto E, Ward RJ, Pediani JD, Milligan G. Ligand regulation of the quaternary organization of cell surface M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors analyzed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging and homogeneous time-resolved FRET. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:23318-30. [PMID: 20489201 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.122184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Flp-In(TM) T-REx(TM) 293 cells expressing a wild type human M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor construct constitutively and able to express a receptor activated solely by synthetic ligand (RASSL) form of this receptor on demand maintained response to the muscarinic agonist carbachol but developed response to clozapine N-oxide only upon induction of the RASSL. The two constructs co-localized at the plasma membrane and generated strong ratiometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signals consistent with direct physical interactions. Increasing levels of induction of the FRET donor RASSL did not alter wild type receptor FRET-acceptor levels substantially. However, ratiometric FRET was modulated in a bell-shaped fashion with maximal levels of the donor resulting in decreased FRET. Carbachol, but not the antagonist atropine, significantly reduced the FRET signal. Cell surface homogeneous time-resolved FRET, based on SNAP-tag technology and employing wild type and RASSL forms of the human M(3) receptor expressed stably in Flp-In(TM) TREx(TM) 293 cells, also identified cell surface dimeric/oligomeric complexes. Now, however, signals were enhanced by appropriate selective agonists. At the wild type receptor, large increases in FRET signal to carbachol and acetylcholine were concentration-dependent with EC(50) values consistent with the relative affinities of the two ligands. These studies confirm the capacity of the human M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor to exist as dimeric/oligomeric complexes at the surface of cells and demonstrate that the organization of such complexes can be modified by ligand binding. However, conclusions as to the effect of ligands on such complexes may depend on the approach used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Alvarez-Curto
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Neuroscience and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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22
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Biotech Paper watch: Signaling. Biotechnol J 2010. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201000051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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23
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Ferré S, Navarro G, Casadó V, Cortés A, Mallol J, Canela EI, Lluís C, Franco R. G protein-coupled receptor heteromers as new targets for drug development. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2010; 91:41-52. [PMID: 20691958 DOI: 10.1016/s1877-1173(10)91002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We now have a significant amount of experimental evidence that indicates that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oligomerization, including homo- and heteromerization, is a general phenomenon. Receptor heteromers possess unique biochemical characteristics that are demonstrably different from those of its individual units. These properties include allosteric modulation(s) between units, changes in ligand recognition, G protein-coupling and trafficking. The discovery of GPCR oligomers have been related to the parallel discovery and application of a variety of resonance energy transfer (RET) techniques, such as bioluminescence, fluorescence and sequential RET (BRET, FRET and SRET, respectively), time-resolved FRET (T-FRET) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) microscopy. However, RET techniques are difficult to implement in native tissues. For receptor heteromers, indirect approaches, such as the determination of a unique biochemical characteristic ("biochemical fingerprint"), permit their identification in native tissues and their use as targets for drug development. Dopamine and opioid receptor heteromers are the focus of intense research which is related to the possible multiple applications of their putative ligands in pathological conditions, which include basal ganglia disorders, schizophrenia and drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Ferré
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, IRP, NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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24
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Cabello N, Gandía J, Bertarelli DCG, Watanabe M, Lluís C, Franco R, Ferré S, Luján R, Ciruela F. Metabotropic glutamate type 5, dopamine D2 and adenosine A2a receptors form higher-order oligomers in living cells. J Neurochem 2009; 109:1497-507. [PMID: 19344374 PMCID: PMC3925975 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06078.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors are known to form homo- and heteromers at the plasma membrane, but the stoichiometry of these receptor oligomers are relatively unknown. Here, by using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we visualized for the first time the occurrence of heterodimers of metabotropic glutamate mGlu(5) receptors (mGlu(5)R) and dopamine D(2) receptors (D(2)R) in living cells. Furthermore, the combination of bimolecular fluorescence complementation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer techniques, as well as the sequential resonance energy transfer technique, allowed us to detect the occurrence receptor oligomers containing more than two protomers, mGlu(5)R, D(2)R and adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R). Interestingly, by using high-resolution immunoelectron microscopy we could confirm that the three receptors co-distribute within the extrasynaptic plasma membrane of the same dendritic spines of asymmetrical, putative glutamatergic, striatal synapses. Also, co-immunoprecipitation experiments in native tissue demonstrated the existence of an association of mGlu(5)R, D(2)R and A(2A)R in rat striatum homogenates. Overall, these results provide new insights into the molecular composition of G protein-coupled receptor oligomers in general and the mGlu(5)R/D(2)R/A(2A)R oligomer in particular, a receptor oligomer that might constitute an important target for the treatment of some neuropsychiatric disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Bacterial Proteins
- Cell Line, Transformed/metabolism
- Cell Line, Transformed/ultrastructure
- Corpus Striatum/cytology
- Dimerization
- Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer/methods
- Humans
- Immunoprecipitation
- Luminescent Proteins/genetics
- Luminescent Proteins/metabolism
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/methods
- Models, Molecular
- Rats
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/chemistry
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/genetics
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/metabolism
- Receptor, Adenosine A2A/ultrastructure
- Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
- Receptors, Dopamine D2/chemistry
- Receptors, Dopamine D2/genetics
- Receptors, Dopamine D2/metabolism
- Receptors, Dopamine D2/ultrastructure
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/chemistry
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/genetics
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/metabolism
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/ultrastructure
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Cabello
- IDIBAPS, CIBERNED and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Gandía
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela C. G. Bertarelli
- IDIBAPS, CIBERNED and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Masahiko Watanabe
- Department of Anatomy, Hokkaido University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Carme Lluís
- IDIBAPS, CIBERNED and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Franco
- IDIBAPS, CIBERNED and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Ferré
- Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Rafael Luján
- Departamento de Ciencias Medicas, Facultad de Medicina-CRIB, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Milligan G. G protein-coupled receptor hetero-dimerization: contribution to pharmacology and function. Br J Pharmacol 2009; 158:5-14. [PMID: 19309353 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00169.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can form hetero-dimers or hetero-oligomers continues to gain experimental support. However, with the exception of the GABA(B) receptor and the sweet and umami taste receptors few reported examples meet all of the criteria suggested in a recent International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology sponsored review (Pin et al., 2007) that should be required to define distinct and physiologically relevant receptor species. Despite this, there are many examples in which pairs of co-expressed GPCRs reciprocally modulate their function, trafficking and/or ligand pharmacology. Such data are at least consistent with physical interactions between the receptor pairs. In recent times, it has been suggested that specific GPCR hetero-dimer or hetero-oligomer pairs may represent key molecular targets of certain clinically effective, small molecule drugs and there is growing interest in efforts to identify ligands that may modulate hetero-dimer function selectively. The current review summarizes key recent developments in these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Neuroscience and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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26
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Gandia J, Galino J, Amaral OB, Soriano A, Lluís C, Franco R, Ciruela F. Detection of higher-order G protein-coupled receptor oligomers by a combined BRET-BiFC technique. FEBS Lett 2008; 582:2979-84. [PMID: 18675812 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2008] [Revised: 07/01/2008] [Accepted: 07/11/2008] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite some caveats, G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization is a phenomenon that is becoming largely accepted. Within these oligomers, however, stoichiometry remains to be elucidated. Here, by using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we visualized adenosine A(2A) receptor homodimers in living cells, showing no apparent difference in the subcellular distribution when compared to the YFP-labelled adenosine A(2A) receptor protomer. Interestingly, the combination of bimolecular fluorescence complementation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer techniques allowed us to detect the occurrence of adenosine A(2A) receptors oligomers containing more than two protomers. These results provide new insights into the molecular composition of G protein-coupled receptor oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gandia
- Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Pavelló de Govern, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Plasma membrane diffusion of G protein-coupled receptor oligomers. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2008; 1783:2262-8. [PMID: 18691614 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2008] [Revised: 07/03/2008] [Accepted: 07/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors are known to form homo-and heteromers at the plasma membrane, but the molecular properties of these oligomers are relatively unknown. Here, we show a method that allows the diffusion of G protein-coupled receptors oligomers in the plasma membrane to be monitored in single cells by combining Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. With this approach we have measured, for the first time, the membrane diffusional characteristics of adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptor homo-and heterodimers in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Interestingly, both homodimers display similar diffusion co-efficients (D) when expressed in living cells (D=5.0 and 4.8x10(-9) cm(2)/s, respectively) but the heterodimer formed by these receptors exhibit a significantly faster plasma membrane diffusion co-efficent (D=5.6x10(-9) cm(2)/s) when compared to the adenosine A(1) receptor tagged with the full-length yellow fluorescent protein (D=4.0x10(-9) cm(2)/s). Overall, these results demonstrate differences in plasma membrane diffusion between adenosine receptor homo-and heterodimers, providing new insights into the molecular plasticity of G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization.
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Ferré S, Goldberg SR, Lluis C, Franco R. Looking for the role of cannabinoid receptor heteromers in striatal function. Neuropharmacology 2008; 56 Suppl 1:226-34. [PMID: 18691604 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.06.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2008] [Revised: 06/16/2008] [Accepted: 06/29/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of two concepts, "local module" and "receptor heteromer", facilitates the understanding of the role of interactions between different neurotransmitters in the brain. In artificial cell systems, cannabinoid CB(1) receptors form receptor heteromers with dopamine D2, adenosine A2A and mu opioid receptors. There is indirect but compelling evidence for the existence of the same CB1 receptor heteromers in striatal local modules centered in the dendritic spines of striatal GABAergic efferent neurons, particularly at a postsynaptic location. Their analysis provides new clues for the role of endocannabinoids in striatal function, which cannot only be considered as retrograde signals that inhibit neurotransmitter release. Recent studies using a new method to detect heteromerization of more than two proteins, which consists of sequential BRET-FRET (SRET) analysis, has demonstrated that CB1, D2 and A2A receptors can form heterotrimers in transfected cells. It is likely that functional CB1-A2A-D2 receptor heteromers can be found where they are highly co-expressed, in the dendritic spines of GABAergic enkephalinergic neurons. The functional properties of these multiple receptor heteromers and their role in striatal function need to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Ferré
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Biomedical Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Ciruela F. Fluorescence-based methods in the study of protein-protein interactions in living cells. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2008; 19:338-43. [PMID: 18602005 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2008.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2008] [Revised: 06/04/2008] [Accepted: 06/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Multiprotein complexes partake in nearly all cell functions, thus the characterization and visualization of protein-protein interactions in living cells constitute an important step in the study of a large array of cellular mechanisms. Recently, noninvasive fluorescence-based methods using resonance energy transfer (RET), namely bioluminescence-RET (BRET) and fluorescence-RET (FRET), and those centered on protein fragment complementation, such as bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), have been successfully used in the study of protein interactions. These new technologies are nowadays the most powerful approaches for visualizing the interactions occurring within protein complexes in living cells, thus enabling the investigation of protein behavior in their normal milieu. Here we address the individual strengths and weaknesses of these methods when applied to the study of protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Ciruela
- Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina (Campus de Bellvitge), IDIBELL-Universitat de Barcelona, 08907 L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
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