The angiotensin type 1 and type 2 receptor families. Siblings or cousins?

Roles of the intracellular regions of angiotensin II receptor AT2 in mediating reduction of intracellular cGMP levels

We have shown previously that the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor AT2 reduces the intracellular levels of cGMP in Xenopus oocytes when activated by ligand binding, and the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of the AT2 acts as a negative regulator of this function. Here we report the effects of mutations in the 2nd and 3rd intracellular loops of AT2 on AT2-mediated cGMP reduction. Mutating the highly conserved DRY motif (D141G-R142G-Y143A) of the 2nd ICL implicated in activating G(alpha) subunit of trimeric G-proteins did not affect AT2-mediated cGMP reduction. Moreover, anti-Gialpha antibody or phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX did not inhibit AT2-mediated cGMP reduction, suggesting that Gialpha activation and subsequent phosphodiesterase activation are not involved in this function. In contrast, mutations T250R-R251N and L255F-K256R located in the C-terminus of the 3rd ICL of AT2 retained ligand-binding properties of the wild-type AT2, and its ability to interact with the ErbB3 in yeast two-hybrid assay, but abolished AT2-mediated cGMP reduction. Similarities in the roles of ICLs of AT2 in AT2-mediated cGMP reduction in oocytes, and AT2-mediated SHP1 activation in COS-7 cells, (need of 3rd ICL for both functions and lack of involvement of DRY motif), suggest that the cascade of events in these two signaling mechanisms could be similar, and that an oocyte-specific SHP1-like protein may be involved in AT2-mediated cGMP reduction in these cells.

Evaluation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), its homologue ACE2 and neprilysin in angiotensin peptide metabolism

In the RAS (renin-angiotensin system), Ang I (angiotensin I) is cleaved by ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) to form Ang II (angiotensin II), which has effects on blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte homoeostasis. We have examined the kinetics of angiotensin peptide cleavage by full-length human ACE, the separate N- and C-domains of ACE, the homologue of ACE, ACE2, and NEP (neprilysin). The activity of the enzyme preparations was determined by active-site titrations using competitive tight-binding inhibitors and fluorogenic substrates. Ang I was effectively cleaved by NEP to Ang (1-7) (kcat/K(m) of 6.2x10(5) M(-1) x s(-1)), but was a poor substrate for ACE2 (kcat/K(m) of 3.3x10(4) M(-1) x s(-1)). Ang (1-9) was a better substrate for NEP than ACE (kcat/K(m) of 3.7x10(5) M(-1) x s(-1) compared with kcat/K(m) of 6.8x10(4) M(-1) x s(-1)). Ang II was cleaved efficiently by ACE2 to Ang (1-7) (kcat/K(m) of 2.2x10(6) M(-1) x s(-1)) and was cleaved by NEP (kcat/K(m) of 2.2x10(5) M(-1) x s(-1)) to several degradation products. In contrast with a previous report, Ang (1-7), like Ang I and Ang (1-9), was cleaved with a similar efficiency by both the N- and C-domains of ACE (kcat/K(m) of 3.6x10(5) M(-1) x s(-1) compared with kcat/K(m) of 3.3x10(5) M(-1) x s(-1)). The two active sites of ACE exhibited negative co-operativity when either Ang I or Ang (1-7) was the substrate. In addition, a range of ACE inhibitors failed to inhibit ACE2. These kinetic data highlight that the flux of peptides through the RAS is complex, with the levels of ACE, ACE2 and NEP dictating whether vasoconstriction or vasodilation will predominate.

Identification of the region of AT2 receptor needed for inhibition of the AT1 receptor-mediated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate generation

Increase in the intracellular inositol triphosphate (IP3) levels in Xenopus oocytes in response to expression and activation of rat angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor AT1 was inhibited by co-expression of rat AT2 receptor. To identify which region of the AT2 was involved in this inhibition, ability of three AT2 mutants to abolish this inhibition was analyzed. Deletion of the C-terminus of the AT2 did not abolish this inhibition. Replacing Ile249 in the third intracellular loop (3rd ICL) of the AT2 with proline, corresponding amino acid in the AT1, in the mutant M6, resulted in slightly reduced affinity to [125I]Ang II (K(d)=0.259 nM), however, did not abolish the inhibition. In contrast, replacing eight more amino acids in the 3rd ICL of the AT2 (at positions 241-244, 250-251 and 255-256) with that of the AT1 in the mutant M8, not only increased the affinity of the AT2 receptor to [125I]Ang II (K(d)=0.038 nM) but also abolished AT2-mediated inhibition. Interestingly, activation of the M8 by Ang II binding also resulted in increase in the intracellular IP(3) levels in oocytes. These results imply that the region of the 3rd ICL of AT2 spanning amino acids 241-256 is sufficient for the AT2-mediated inhibition of AT1-stimulated IP3 generation. Moreover, these nine mutations are also sufficient to render the AT2 with the ability to activate phospholipase C.

Identification of an interaction between the angiotensin II receptor sub-type AT2 and the ErbB3 receptor, a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family

To identify the proteins that interact and mediate angiotensin II receptor AT2-specific signaling, a random peptide library was screened by yeast-based Two-Hybrid protein-protein interaction assay technique. A peptide that shared significant homology with the amino acids located between the residues Gly-Xaa-Gly-Xaa-Xaa-Gly721 and Lys742, the residues predicted to be important for ATP binding of the ErbB3 and ErbB2 receptors, was identified to be interacting with the AT2 receptor. The interaction between the human ErbB3 receptor and the AT2 receptor was further confirmed using the cytoplasmic domain (amino acids 671-782) of the human ErbB3 receptor. Moreover, an AT2 receptor peptide that spans the amino acids 226-363, (spans the third ICL and carboxy terminal domain) could also interact with the AT2 receptor in a yeast Two-Hybrid protein-protein interaction assay. Studies using mutated and chimeric AT2 receptors showed that replacing the third intracellular loop (ICL) of the AT2 receptor with that of the AT1 abolishes the interaction between the ErbB3 and the AT2 in yeast Two-Hybrid protein-protein interaction assay. Thus the interaction between the AT2 receptor and the ErbB3 receptor seems to require the region spanning the third ICL and carboxy terminus of the AT2 receptor. Since the third ICL of the AT2 receptor is essential for exerting its inhibitory effects on cell growth, possible involvement of this region in the interaction with the cytoplasmic domain of the ErbB3 receptor suggests a novel signaling mechanism for the AT2 receptor mediated inhibition of cell growth. Furthermore, since both the AT2 and the ErbB3 receptors are expressed during fetal development, we propose that the existence of direct interaction between these two receptors may play a role in the regulation of growth during the initial stages of development.

Role of the His273 located in the sixth transmembrane domain of the angiotensin II receptor subtype AT2 in ligand-receptor interaction

Angiotensin II receptor subtypes AT1 and AT2 are proteins with seven transmembrane domain (TMD) topology and share 34% homology. It was shown that His256, located in the sixth TMD of the AT1 receptor, is needed for the agonist activation by the Phe8 side chain of angiotensin II, although replacing this residue with arginine or glutamine did not significantly alter the affinity binding of the receptor. We hypothesized that the His273 located in the sixth transmembrane domain of the AT2 receptor may play a similar role in the functions of the AT2 receptor, although this residue was not identified as a conserved residue in the initial homology comparisions. Therefore, we replaced His273 of the AT2 receptor with arginine or glutamine and analyzed the ligand-binding properties of the mutant receptors using Xenopus oocytes as an expression system. Our results suggested that the AT2 receptor mutants His273Arg and His273 Glu have lost their affinity to [125I-Sar1-Ile8]Ang II, a peptidic ligand that binds both the AT1 and AT2 receptors and to 125I-CGP42112A, a peptidic ligand that binds specifically to the AT2 receptor. Thus, His273 located in the sixth TMD of the AT2 receptor seems to play an important role in determining the binding properties of this receptor. Moreover, these results along with our previous observation that the Lys215 located in the 5th TMD of the AT2 receptor is essential for its high affinity binding to [125I-Sar1-Ile8]Ang II indicate that key amino acids located in the 5th and 6th TMDs of the AT2 receptor are needed for high affinity binding of the AT2 to its ligands.

Role of the third intracellular loop of the angiotensin II receptor subtype AT2 in ligand-receptor interaction

Angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor subtypes AT1 and AT2 share 34% overall homology, but the least homology is in their third intracellular loop (3rd ICL). In an attempt to elucidate the role of the 3rd ICL in determining the similarities and differences in the functions of the AT1 and the AT2 receptors, we generated a chimeric receptor in which the 3rd ICL of the AT2 receptor was replaced with that of the AT1 receptor. Ligand-binding properties and signaling properties of this receptor were assayed by expressing this receptor in Xenopus oocytes. Ligand-binding studies using [125I-Sar1-Ile8] Ang II, a peptidic ligand that binds both the AT1 and the AT2 receptor subtypes, and 125I-CGP42112A, a peptidic ligand that is specific for the AT2 receptor, showed that the chimeric receptor has lost affinity to both ligands. However, IP3 levels of the oocytes expressing the chimeric receptor were comparable to the IP3 levels of the oocytes expressing the AT1 receptor, suggesting that the chimeric receptors could couple to phospholipase C pathway in response to Ang II. We have shown previously that the nature of the amino acid present in the position 215 located in the fifth transmembrane domain (TMD) of the AT2 receptor plays an important role in determining its affinity to different ligands. Our results from the ligand-binding studies of the chimeric receptor further support the idea that the structural organization of the region spanning the 5th TMD and the 3rd ICL of the AT2 receptor has an important role in determining the ligand-binding properties of this receptor.

Immunolocalization of subtype 2 angiotensin II (AT2) receptor protein in rat heart

Angiotensin II exerts its effects on cardiovascular function and water and sodium homeostasis by interacting with plasma membrane receptors on target organs. The existence of subtype 2 angiotensin II (AT2) receptors in the rat heart has been demonstrated by ligand binding and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In the present study, the expression and localization of AT2 receptor protein in the rat heart was investigated using an antipeptide polyclonal antibody against the native rat AT2 receptor by light microscopic immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. In frozen tissue sections, positive immunostaining was observed in the myocardium and coronary vessels throughout the ventricle and atrium of neonatal and young rat hearts. Coronary vessels of the neonatal heart were more intensely stained compared with the surrounding myocardium. Positive immunoreactivity in the coronary vessels of young rats was localized to vascular endothelium but not in the smooth muscle cells. Preadsorption controls were all negative. Western blot analysis showed that the AT2 receptor protein (approximately 44 kDa) was detectable from the AT2 receptor-transfected COS-7 cells and neonatal rat cardiac myocytes but not from fibroblasts or young rat aortic smooth muscle cells. The neonatal rat heart expressed significantly more AT2 receptors than young rat heart. These data provide the first direct evidence for the expression and localization of AT2 receptor protein in the rat heart.

Role of Lys215 located in the fifth transmembrane domain of the AT2 receptor in ligand-receptor interaction

Studies on ligand-receptor interaction of Angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor type 1 have shown that for peptidic ligands to bind this receptor they must interact via their C-terminal carboxylate group to the positively charged side chain of the Lysine residue 199 located in the fifth transmembrane domain of this receptor. In the Ang II receptor type AT2, this Lysine residue is conserved at position 215 in the fifth transmembrane domain. To determine the specific mechanism of ligand binding to the Angiotensin II receptor type AT2, mutated AT2 receptors were generated in which the Lys215 was replaced with glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine and arginine. The ability of these mutated receptors to bind peptidic ligands 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]Ang II (non-specific for AT2 receptor type), 125I-CGP42112A (AT2 receptor specific) and the non-peptidic ligand PD123319 (AT2 receptor specific) was evaluated by expressing these receptors in Xenopus oocytes and performing binding assays. The Lys215Glu and Lys215Gln mutants of AT2 receptor lost their affinity to 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]Ang II, but retained their affinity to 125I-CGP42112A and PD123319. In contrast, Lys215Arg mutant retained its affinity to 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]Ang II, but exhibited lower affinity to 125I-CGP42112A. The Lys215Ala mutant lost its affinity to both 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]Ang II and 125I-CGP42112A. These results suggest that the binding mechanism of 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]Ang II to AT2 receptor is similar to that of AT1 receptor since an amino acid with positively charged side chain (Lys or Arg) located in the fifth transmembrane domain is required for this ligand to bind AT2 receptor. In contrast, although CGP42112A is a peptidic ligand, it does not require an interaction between its C-terminal carboxylate group and the positively charged side-chain of an amino acid in the fifth transmembrane domain for its binding to AT2 receptor.

Immunohistochemical localization of type-II (AT2) angiotensin receptors with a polyclonal antibody against a peptide from the C-terminal tail

A polyclonal antibody has been prepared against a synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal tail of the cloned rat AT2 angiotensin receptor, corresponding to amino acid residue 341-351. The antibody was of high titer and displayed monospecific activity toward the synthetic peptide in the ELISA assay. Western blot analysis indicated that the antiserum recognised only a single protein band with a mean apparent molecular mass of 75.4 kDa in the rat adrenals. Immunohistochemical studies with affinity purified antibody localised immunoreactive AT2 angiotensin receptor in medulla cells of the adrenals. Immunoreactivity was also observed in pyramidal tract, but no specific immunoreactivity can be detected in regions of rat brain that are known to express AT2 angiotensin receptors, including inferior olive, locus coeruleus and cerebellum.