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Underwood O, Fritzwanker S, Glenn J, Blum NK, Batista-Gondin A, Drube J, Hoffmann C, Briddon SJ, Schulz S, Canals M. Key phosphorylation sites for robust β-arrestin2 binding at the MOR revisited. Commun Biol 2024; 7:933. [PMID: 39095612 PMCID: PMC11297201 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06571-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Desensitisation of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is proposed to underlie the initiation of opioid analgesic tolerance and previous work has shown that agonist-induced phosphorylation of the MOR C-tail contributes to this desensitisation. Moreover, phosphorylation is important for β-arrestin recruitment to the receptor, and ligands of different efficacies induce distinct phosphorylation barcodes. The C-tail 370TREHPSTANT379 motif harbours Ser/Thr residues important for these regulatory functions. 375Ser is the primary phosphorylation site of a ligand-dependent, hierarchical, and sequential process, whereby flanking 370Thr, 376Thr and 379Thr get subsequently and rapidly phosphorylated. Here we used GRK KO cells, phosphosite specific antibodies and site-directed mutagenesis to evaluate the contribution of the different GRK subfamilies to ligand-induced phosphorylation barcodes and β-arrestin2 recruitment. We show that both GRK2/3 and GRK5/6 subfamilies promote phosphorylation of 370Thr and 375Ser. Importantly, only GRK2/3 induce phosphorylation of 376Thr and 379Thr, and we identify these residues as key sites to promote robust β-arrestin recruitment to the MOR. These data provide insight into the mechanisms of MOR regulation and suggest that the cellular complement of GRK subfamilies plays an important role in determining the tissue responses of opioid agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Underwood
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Sebastian Fritzwanker
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Jaqueline Glenn
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Nina Kathleen Blum
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Arisbel Batista-Gondin
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julia Drube
- Institut fur Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hoffmann
- Institut fur Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephen J Briddon
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
- 7TM Antibodies GmbH, Hans-Knöll-Straße 6, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK.
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2
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Xia J, Li X, Zhu H, Zhou X, Chen J, Li Q, Li S, Chu H, Dong M. The μ-opioid receptor-mediated G i/o protein and β-arrestin2 signaling pathways both contribute to morphine-induced side effects. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 966:176333. [PMID: 38278466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The μ-opioid receptor-biased agonist theory holds that Gio protein signaling mediates the analgesic effect of opioids and the related side effects via the β-arrestin2 signaling pathway. A series of μ-opioid-biased agonists have been developed in accordance with this theory, and the FDA has approved TRV130 (as a representative of biased agonists) for marketing. However, several reports have raised the issue of opioid side effects associated with the use of agonists. In this study, five permeable peptides were designed to emulate 11 S/T phosphorylation sites at the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) carboxyl-terminal. In vitro experiments were performed to detect the activation level of G proteins from the cAMP inhibition assay and the β-arrestin2 recruitment by the BRET assay. Designed peptides might effectively interfere with the activation of the Gio and β-arrestin2 pathways when combined with morphine. The resulting morphine-induced tolerance, respiratory inhibition, and constipation in mice showed that the β-arrestin2 pathway was responsible for morphine tolerance while the Gio signaling pathway was involved with respiratory depression and constipation and that these side effects were significantly related to phosphorylation sites S363 and T370. This study may provide new directions for the development of safer and more effective opioid analgesics, and the designed peptides may be an effective tool for exploring the mechanism by which μ-opioid receptors function, with the potential of reducing the side effects that are associated with clinical opioid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Hongyu Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Ji Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Qihong Li
- Department of Stomatology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shupeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Haichen Chu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China
| | - Mingxin Dong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China.
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3
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Pittenger C, Jiang C, DiLeone R, Duman R. The endogenous opioid system in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates ketamine's antidepressant-like actions. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3190391. [PMID: 37886526 PMCID: PMC10602058 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3190391/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have implicated the endogenous opioid system in the antidepressant actions of ketamine, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We used a combination of pharmacological, behavioral, and molecular approaches in rats to test the contribution of the prefrontal endogenous opioid system to the antidepressant-like effects of a single dose of ketamine. Both the behavioral actions of ketamine and their molecular correlates in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were blocked by acute systemic administration of naltrexone, a competitive opioid receptor antagonist. Naltrexone delivered directly into the mPFC similarly disrupted the behavioral effects of ketamine. Ketamine treatment rapidly increased levels of β-endorphin and the expression of the μ-opioid receptor gene (Oprm1) in the mPFC, and the expression of the gene that encodes proopiomelanocortin, the precursor of β-endorphin, in the hypothalamus, in vivo. Finally, neutralization of β-endorphin in the mPFC using a specific antibody prior to ketamine treatment abolished both behavioral and molecular effects. Together, these findings indicate that presence of β-endorphin and activation of opioid receptors in the mPFC are required for the antidepressant-like actions of ketamine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ronald Duman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine
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4
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Hou G, Jiang S, Chen G, Deng X, Li F, Xu H, Chen B, Zhu Y. Opioid Receptors Modulate Firing and Synaptic Transmission in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Thalamus. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2682-2695. [PMID: 36898836 PMCID: PMC10089236 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1766-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is involved in drug addiction-related behaviors, and morphine is a widely used opioid for the relief of severe pain. Morphine acts via opioid receptors, but the function of opioid receptors in the PVT has not been fully elucidated. Here, we used in vitro electrophysiology to study neuronal activity and synaptic transmission in the PVT of male and female mice. Activation of opioid receptors suppresses the firing and inhibitory synaptic transmission of PVT neurons in brain slices. On the other hand, the involvement of opioid modulation is reduced after chronic morphine exposure, probably because of desensitization and internalization of opioid receptors in the PVT. Overall, the opioid system is essential for the modulation of PVT activities.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Opioid receptors modulate the activities and synaptic transmission in the PVT by suppressing the firing rate and inhibitory synaptic inputs. These modulations were largely diminished after chronic morphine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Hou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shaolei Jiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Gaowei Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaofei Deng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Fengling Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hua Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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5
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Manning JJ, Rawcliffe G, Finlay DB, Glass M. Cannabinoid 1 (CB 1 ) receptor arrestin subtype-selectivity and phosphorylation dependence. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:369-382. [PMID: 36250246 PMCID: PMC10100024 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Arrestin or G protein bias may be desirable for novel cannabinoid therapeutics. Arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 translocation to CB1 receptor have been suggested to mediate different functions that may be exploited with biased ligands. Here, the requirement of a recently described phosphorylation motif 'pxxp' (where 'p' denotes phosphorylatable serine or threonine and 'x' denotes any other amino acid) within the CB1 receptor C-terminus for interaction with different arrestin subtypes was examined. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Site-directed mutagenesis was conducted to generate nine different phosphorylation-impaired CB1 receptor C-terminal mutants. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) was employed to measure arrestin-2/3 translocation and G protein dissociation of a high efficacy agonist for each mutant. Immunocytochemistry was used to quantify receptor expression. KEY RESULTS The effects of each mutation were shared for arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 translocation to CB1 receptor pxxp motifs are partially required for arrestin-2/3 translocation, but translocation was not completely inhibited until all phosphorylation sites were mutated. The rate of arrestin translocation was reduced with simultaneous mutation of S425 and S429. Desensitisation of G protein dissociation was inhibited in different mutants proportional to the extent of their respective loss of arrestin translocation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data do not support the existence of an 'essential' pxxp motif for arrestin translocation to CB1 receptor. These data also identify that arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 have equivalent phosphorylation requirements within the CB1 receptor C-terminus, suggesting arrestin subtype-selective biased ligands may not be viable and that different regions of the C-terminus contribute differently to arrestin translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie J Manning
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Gabriel Rawcliffe
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David B Finlay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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6
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Kaufmann J, Blum NK, Nagel F, Schuler A, Drube J, Degenhart C, Engel J, Eickhoff JE, Dasgupta P, Fritzwanker S, Guastadisegni M, Schulte C, Miess-Tanneberg E, Maric HM, Spetea M, Kliewer A, Baumann M, Klebl B, Reinscheid RK, Hoffmann C, Schulz S. A bead-based GPCR phosphorylation immunoassay for high-throughput ligand profiling and GRK inhibitor screening. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1206. [PMID: 36352263 PMCID: PMC9646841 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04135-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of agonist-driven phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can provide valuable insights into the receptor activation state and ligand pharmacology. However, to date, assessment of GPCR phosphorylation using high-throughput applications has been challenging. We have developed and validated a bead-based immunoassay for the quantitative assessment of agonist-induced GPCR phosphorylation that can be performed entirely in multiwell cell culture plates. The assay involves immunoprecipitation of affinity-tagged receptors using magnetic beads followed by protein detection using phosphorylation state-specific and phosphorylation state-independent anti-GPCR antibodies. As proof of concept, five prototypical GPCRs (MOP, C5a1, D1, SST2, CB2) were treated with different agonizts and antagonists, and concentration-response curves were generated. We then extended our approach to establish selective cellular GPCR kinase (GRK) inhibitor assays, which led to the rapid identification of a selective GRK5/6 inhibitor (LDC8988) and a highly potent pan-GRK inhibitor (LDC9728). In conclusion, this versatile GPCR phosphorylation assay can be used extensively for ligand profiling and inhibitor screening. A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) phosphorylation assay for cell culture plates can be used for ligand profiling and inhibitor screening, as evidenced by the identification of two GRK inhibitor compounds.
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7
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Adhikary S, Koita O, Lebowitz JJ, Birdsong WT, Williams JT. Agonist-Specific Regulation of G Protein-Coupled Receptors after Chronic Opioid Treatment. Mol Pharmacol 2022; 101:300-308. [PMID: 35193934 PMCID: PMC9092468 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.121.000453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic treatment of animals with morphine results in a long lasting cellular tolerance in the locus coeruleus and alters the kinase dependent desensitization of opioid and nonopioid G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This study examined the development of tolerance and altered regulation of kinase activity after chronic treatment of animals with clinically relevant opioids that differ in efficacy at the µ-opioid receptors (MOR). In slices from oxycodone treated animals, no tolerance to opioids was observed when measuring the MOR induced increase in potassium conductance, but the G protein receptor kinase 2/3 blocker, compound 101, no longer inhibited desensitization of somatostatin (SST) receptors. Chronic fentanyl treatment induced a rightward shift in the concentration response to [Met5]enkephalin, but there was no change in the kinase regulation of desensitization of the SST receptor. When total phosphorylation deficient MORs that block desensitization, internalization, and tolerance were virally expressed, chronic treatment with fentanyl resulted in the altered kinase regulation of SST receptors. The results suggest that sustained opioid receptor signaling initiates the process that results in altered kinase regulation of not only opioid receptors, but also other GPCRs. This study highlights two very distinct downstream adaptive processes that are specifically regulated by an agonist dependent mechanism. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Persistent signaling of MORs results in altered kinase regulation of nonopioid GPCRs after chronic treatment with morphine and oxycodone. Profound tolerance develops after chronic treatment with fentanyl without affecting kinase regulation. The homeostatic change in the kinase regulation of nonopioid GPCRs could account for the systems level in vivo development of tolerance that is seen with opioid agonists, such as morphine and oxycodone, that develop more rapidly than the tolerance induced by efficacious agonists, such as fentanyl and etorphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Adhikary
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.A., O.K., J.J.L., J.T.W.) and Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.)
| | - Omar Koita
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.A., O.K., J.J.L., J.T.W.) and Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.)
| | - Joseph J Lebowitz
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.A., O.K., J.J.L., J.T.W.) and Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.)
| | - William T Birdsong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.A., O.K., J.J.L., J.T.W.) and Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.)
| | - John T Williams
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (S.A., O.K., J.J.L., J.T.W.) and Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.)
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8
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Fritzwanker S, Schulz S, Kliewer A. SR-17018 Stimulates Atypical µ-Opioid Receptor Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation. Molecules 2021; 26:4509. [PMID: 34361663 PMCID: PMC8348759 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid-associated overdoses and deaths due to respiratory depression are a major public health problem in the US and other Western countries. In the past decade, much research effort has been directed towards the development of G-protein-biased µ-opioid receptor (MOP) agonists as a possible means to circumvent this problem. The bias hypothesis proposes that G-protein signaling mediates analgesia, whereas ß-arrestin signaling mediates respiratory depression. SR-17018 was initially reported as a highly biased µ-opioid with an extremely wide therapeutic window. It was later shown that SR-17018 can also reverse morphine tolerance and prevent withdrawal via a hitherto unknown mechanism of action. Here, we examined the temporal dynamics of SR-17018-induced MOP phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Exposure of MOP to saturating concentrations of SR-17018 for extended periods of time stimulated a MOP phosphorylation pattern that was indistinguishable from that induced by the full agonist DAMGO. Unlike DAMGO-induced MOP phosphorylation, which is reversible within minutes after agonist washout, SR-17018-induced MOP phosphorylation persisted for hours under otherwise identical conditions. Such delayed MOP dephosphorylation kinetics were also found for the partial agonist buprenorphine. However, buprenorphine, SR-17018-induced MOP phosphorylation was fully reversible when naloxone was included in the washout solution. SR-17018 exhibits a qualitative and temporal MOP phosphorylation profile that is strikingly different from any other known biased, partial, or full MOP agonist. We conclude that detailed analysis of receptor phosphorylation may provide novel insights into previously unappreciated pharmacological properties of newly synthesized MOP ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Straße 1, D-07747 Jena, Germany;
| | - Andrea Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Straße 1, D-07747 Jena, Germany;
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9
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Cuitavi J, Hipólito L, Canals M. The Life Cycle of the Mu-Opioid Receptor. Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 46:315-328. [PMID: 33127216 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Opioid receptors (ORs) are undisputed targets for the treatment of pain. Unfortunately, targeting these receptors therapeutically poses significant challenges including addiction, dependence, tolerance, and the appearance of side effects, such as respiratory depression and constipation. Moreover, misuse of prescription and illicit narcotics has resulted in the current opioid crisis. The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is the cellular mediator of the effects of most commonly used opioids, and is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) where new pharmacological, signalling and cell biology concepts have been coined. This review summarises the knowledge of the life cycle of this therapeutic target, including its biogenesis, trafficking to and from the plasma membrane, and how the regulation of these processes impacts its function and is related to pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cuitavi
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Lucía Hipólito
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, the Midlands, UK.
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10
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Lemos Duarte M, Trimbake NA, Gupta A, Tumanut C, Fan X, Woods C, Ram A, Gomes I, Bobeck EN, Schechtman D, Devi LA. High-throughput screening and validation of antibodies against synaptic proteins to explore opioid signaling dynamics. Commun Biol 2021; 4:238. [PMID: 33619305 PMCID: PMC7900253 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies represent powerful tools to examine signal transduction pathways. Here, we present a strategy integrating multiple state-of-the-art methods to produce, validate, and utilize antibodies. Focusing on understudied synaptic proteins, we generated 137 recombinant antibodies. We used yeast display antibody libraries from the B cells of immunized rabbits, followed by FACS sorting under stringent conditions to identify high affinity antibodies. The antibodies were validated by high-throughput functional screening, and genome editing. Next, we explored the temporal dynamics of signaling in single cells. A subset of antibodies targeting opioid receptors were used to examine the effect of treatment with opiates that have played central roles in the worsening of the 'opioid epidemic.' We show that morphine and fentanyl exhibit differential temporal dynamics of receptor phosphorylation. In summary, high-throughput approaches can lead to the identification of antibody-based tools required for an in-depth understanding of the temporal dynamics of opioid signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lemos Duarte
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1603, New York City, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Nikita A Trimbake
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1603, New York City, NY, 10029, USA
- Regeneron Pharmaceutical, 777 Old Saw Mill River Rd, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, USA
| | - Achla Gupta
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1603, New York City, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - Xiaomin Fan
- AvantGen Inc., 6162 Nancy Ridge Dr #150, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Catherine Woods
- AvantGen Inc., 6162 Nancy Ridge Dr #150, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Akila Ram
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Ivone Gomes
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1603, New York City, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Erin N Bobeck
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Deborah Schechtman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of São Paulo, 748 Av Prof Lineu Prestes, room 1208 Cidade Universitaria, São Paulo, SP, 05508000, Brazil
| | - Lakshmi A Devi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1603, New York City, NY, 10029, USA.
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11
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Gurevich EV, Gurevich VV. GRKs as Modulators of Neurotransmitter Receptors. Cells 2020; 10:cells10010052. [PMID: 33396400 PMCID: PMC7823573 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many receptors for neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and neuropeptides, belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). A general model posits that GPCRs undergo two-step homologous desensitization: the active receptor is phosphorylated by kinases of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family, whereupon arrestin proteins specifically bind active phosphorylated receptors, shutting down G protein-mediated signaling, facilitating receptor internalization, and initiating distinct signaling pathways via arrestin-based scaffolding. Here, we review the mechanisms of GRK-dependent regulation of neurotransmitter receptors, focusing on the diverse modes of GRK-mediated phosphorylation of receptor subtypes. The immediate signaling consequences of GRK-mediated receptor phosphorylation, such as arrestin recruitment, desensitization, and internalization/resensitization, are equally diverse, depending not only on the receptor subtype but also on phosphorylation by GRKs of select receptor residues. We discuss the signaling outcome as well as the biological and behavioral consequences of the GRK-dependent phosphorylation of neurotransmitter receptors where known.
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12
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GRKs as Key Modulators of Opioid Receptor Function. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112400. [PMID: 33147802 PMCID: PMC7692057 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the link between agonist-induced phosphorylation of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and the associated physiological effects is critical for the development of novel analgesic drugs and is particularly important for understanding the mechanisms responsible for opioid-induced tolerance and addiction. The family of G protein receptor kinases (GRKs) play a pivotal role in such processes, mediating phosphorylation of residues at the C-tail of opioid receptors. Numerous strategies, such as phosphosite specific antibodies and mass spectrometry have allowed the detection of phosphorylated residues and the use of mutant knock-in mice have shed light on the role of GRK regulation in opioid receptor physiology. Here we review our current understanding on the role of GRKs in the actions of opioid receptors, with a particular focus on the MOR, the target of most commonly used opioid analgesics such as morphine or fentanyl.
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13
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Møller TC, Pedersen MF, van Senten JR, Seiersen SD, Mathiesen JM, Bouvier M, Bräuner-Osborne H. Dissecting the roles of GRK2 and GRK3 in μ-opioid receptor internalization and β-arrestin2 recruitment using CRISPR/Cas9-edited HEK293 cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17395. [PMID: 33060647 PMCID: PMC7567791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73674-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recruit β-arrestins and internalize upon agonist stimulation. For the μ-opioid receptor (μ-OR), this process has been linked to development of opioid tolerance. GPCR kinases (GRKs), particularly GRK2 and GRK3, have been shown to be important for μ-OR recruitment of β-arrestin and internalization. However, the contribution of GRK2 and GRK3 to β-arrestin recruitment and receptor internalization, remain to be determined in their complete absence. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing we established HEK293 cells with knockout of GRK2, GRK3 or both to dissect their individual contributions in β-arrestin2 recruitment and μ-OR internalization upon stimulation with four different agonists. We showed that GRK2/3 removal reduced agonist-induced μ-OR internalization and β-arrestin2 recruitment substantially and we found GRK2 to be more important for these processes than GRK3. Furthermore, we observed a sustained and GRK2/3 independent component of β-arrestin2 recruitment to the plasma membrane upon μ-OR activation. Rescue expression experiments restored GRK2/3 functions. Inhibition of GRK2/3 using the small molecule inhibitor CMPD101 showed a high similarity between the genetic and pharmacological approaches, cross-validating the specificity of both. However, off-target effects were observed at high CMPD101 concentrations. These GRK2/3 KO cell lines should prove useful for a wide range of studies on GPCR function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thor C Møller
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Mie F Pedersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeffrey R van Senten
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie D Seiersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jesper M Mathiesen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hans Bräuner-Osborne
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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14
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Gillis A, Sreenivasan V, Christie MJ. Intrinsic Efficacy of Opioid Ligands and Its Importance for Apparent Bias, Operational Analysis, and Therapeutic Window. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:410-424. [PMID: 32665252 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence from several novel opioid agonists and knockout animals suggests that improved opioid therapeutic window, notably for analgesia versus respiratory depression, is a result of ligand bias downstream of activation of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR) toward G protein signaling and away from other pathways, such as arrestin recruitment. Here, we argue that published claims of opioid bias based on application of the operational model of agonism are frequently confounded by failure to consider the assumptions of the model. These include failure to account for intrinsic efficacy and ceiling effects in different pathways, distortions introduced by analysis of amplified (G protein) versus linear (arrestin) signaling mechanisms, and nonequilibrium effects in a dynamic signaling cascade. We show on both theoretical and experimental grounds that reduced intrinsic efficacy that is unbiased across different downstream pathways, when analyzed without due considerations, does produce apparent but erroneous MOR ligand bias toward G protein signaling, and the weaker the G protein partial agonism is the greater the apparent bias. Experimentally, such apparently G protein-biased opioids have been shown to exhibit low intrinsic efficacy for G protein signaling when ceiling effects are properly accounted for. Nevertheless, such agonists do display an improved therapeutic window for analgesia versus respiratory depression. Reduced intrinsic efficacy for G proteins rather than any supposed G protein bias provides a more plausible, sufficient explanation for the improved safety. Moreover, genetic models of G protein-biased opioid receptors and replication of previous knockout experiments suggest that reduced or abolished arrestin recruitment does not improve therapeutic window for MOR-induced analgesia versus respiratory depression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Efforts to improve safety of µ-opioid analgesics have focused on agonists that show signaling bias for the G protein pathway versus other signaling pathways. This review provides theoretical and experimental evidence showing that failure to consider the assumptions of the operational model can lead to large distortions and overestimation of actual bias. We show that low intrinsic efficacy is a major determinant of these distortions, and pursuit of appropriately reduced intrinsic efficacy should guide development of safer opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gillis
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
| | - Varun Sreenivasan
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
| | - Macdonald J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A.G., M.J.C.) and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia (V.S.)
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15
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Lemos Duarte M, Devi LA. Post-translational Modifications of Opioid Receptors. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:417-432. [PMID: 32459993 PMCID: PMC7323054 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are key events in signal transduction since they affect protein function by regulating their abundance and/or activity. PTMs involve the covalent attachment of functional groups to specific amino acids. Since they tend to be generally reversible, PTMs serve as regulators of signal transduction pathways. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are major signaling proteins that undergo multiple types of PTMs. In this Review, we focus on the opioid receptors, members of GPCR family A, and highlight recent advances in the field that have underscored the importance of PTMs in the functional regulation of these receptors. Since opioid receptor activity plays a central role in the development of tolerance and addiction to morphine and other drugs of abuse, understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating receptor activity is of fundamental importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Lemos Duarte
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lakshmi A Devi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Leff ER, Arttamangkul S, Williams JT. Chronic Treatment with Morphine Disrupts Acute Kinase-Dependent Desensitization of GPCRs. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:497-507. [PMID: 32362586 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on studies using mutations of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR), phosphorylation of multiple sites on the C-terminus has been recognized as a critical step underlying acute desensitization and the development of cellular tolerance. The aim of this study is to explore which kinases mediate desensitization of MOR in brain slices from drug-naïve and morphine-treated animals. Whole-cell recordings from locus coeruleus neurons were made, and the agonist-induced increase in potassium conductance was measured. In slices from naïve animals, pharmacological inhibition of G-protein receptor kinase (GRK2/3) with compound 101 blocked acute desensitization. Following chronic treatment with morphine, compound 101 was less effective at blocking acute desensitization. Compound 101 blocked receptor internalization in tissue from both naïve and morphine-treated animals, suggesting that GRK2/3 remained active. Kinase inhibitors aimed at blocking protein kinase C and c-Jun N-terminal kinase had no effect on desensitization in tissue taken from naïve animals. However, in slices taken from morphine-treated animals, the combination of these blockers along with compound 101 was required to block acute desensitization. Acute desensitization of the potassium conductance induced by the somatostatin receptor was also blocked by compound 101 in slices from naïve but not morphine-treated animals. As was observed with MOR, it was necessary to use the combination of kinase inhibitors to block desensitization of the somatostatin receptor in slices from morphine-treated animals. The results show that chronic treatment with morphine results in a surprising and heterologous adaptation in kinase-dependent desensitization. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The results show that chronic treatment with morphine induced heterologous adaptations in kinase regulation of G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) desensitization. Although the canonical mechanism for acute desensitization through phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinase is supported in tissue taken from naïve animals, following chronic treatment with morphine, the acute kinase-dependent desensitization of GPCRs is disrupted such that additional kinases, including protein kinase C and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, contribute to desensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Leff
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - John T Williams
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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17
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Fernandez TJ, De Maria M, Lobingier BT. A cellular perspective of bias at G protein-coupled receptors. Protein Sci 2020; 29:1345-1354. [PMID: 32297394 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) modulate cell function over short- and long-term timescales. GPCR signaling depends on biochemical parameters that define the what, when, and where of receptor function: what proteins mediate and regulate receptor signaling, where within the cell these interactions occur, and how long these interactions persist. These parameters can vary significantly depending on the activating ligand. Collectivity, differential agonist activity at a GPCR is called bias or functional selectivity. Here we review agonist bias at GPCRs with a focus on ligands that show dramatically different cellular responses from their unbiased counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Fernandez
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Monica De Maria
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Braden T Lobingier
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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18
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Jullié D, Gondin AB, von Zastrow M, Canals M. Opioid Pharmacology under the Microscope. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:425-432. [PMID: 32198210 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The powerful analgesic effects of opioid drugs have captivated the interest of physicians and scientists for millennia, and the ability of opioid drugs to produce serious undesired effects has been recognized for a similar period of time (Kieffer and Evans, 2009). Many of these develop progressively with prolonged or repeated drug use and then persist, motivating particular interest in understanding how opioid drugs initiate adaptive or maladaptive modifications in neural function or regulation. Exciting advances have been made over the past several years in elucidating drug-induced changes at molecular, cellular, and physiologic scales of analysis. The present review will highlight some recent cellular studies that we believe bridge across scales and will focus on optical imaging approaches that put opioid drug action "under the microscope." SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Opioid receptors are major pharmacological targets, but their signaling at the cellular level results from a complex interplay between pharmacology, regulation, subcellular localization, and membrane trafficking. This minireview discusses recent advances in understanding the cellular biology of opioid receptors, emphasizing particular topics discussed at the 50th anniversary of the International Narcotics Research Conference. Our goal is to highlight distinct signaling and regulatory properties emerging from the cellular biology of opioid receptors and discuss potential relevance to therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jullié
- Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California (D.J., M.v.Z.); Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (A.B.G.); Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (M.C.); and Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom (M.C.)
| | - Arisbel B Gondin
- Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California (D.J., M.v.Z.); Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (A.B.G.); Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (M.C.); and Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom (M.C.)
| | - Mark von Zastrow
- Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California (D.J., M.v.Z.); Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (A.B.G.); Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (M.C.); and Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom (M.C.)
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California (D.J., M.v.Z.); Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (A.B.G.); Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom (M.C.); and Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, The Midlands, United Kingdom (M.C.)
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19
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Birdsong WT, Williams JT. Recent Progress in Opioid Research from an Electrophysiological Perspective. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:401-409. [PMID: 32198208 PMCID: PMC7562972 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrophysiological approaches provide powerful tools to further our understanding of how different opioids affect signaling through opioid receptors; how opioid receptors modulate circuitry involved in processes such as pain, respiration, addiction, and feeding; and how receptor signaling and circuits are altered by physiologic challenges, such as injury, stress, and chronic opioid treatment. The use of genetic manipulations to alter or remove μ-opioid receptors (MORs) with anatomic and cell type specificity and the ability to activate or inhibit specific circuits through opto- or chemogenetic approaches are being used in combination with electrophysiological, pharmacological, and systems-level physiology experiments to expand our understanding of the beneficial and maladaptive roles of opioids and opioid receptor signaling. New approaches for studying endogenous opioid peptide signaling and release and the dynamics of these systems in response to chronic opioid use, pain, and stress will add another layer to our understanding of the intricacies of opioid modulation of brain circuits. This understanding may lead to new targets or approaches for drug development or treatment regimens that may affect both acute and long-term effects of manipulating the activity of circuits involved in opioid-mediated physiology and behaviors. This review will discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the role of phosphorylation in regulating MOR signaling, as well as our understanding of circuits and signaling pathways mediating physiologic behaviors such as respiratory control, and discuss how electrophysiological tools combined with new technologies have and will continue to advance the field of opioid research.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Birdsong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.) and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (J.T.W.)
| | - John T Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (W.T.B.) and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (J.T.W.)
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20
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Jullié D, Stoeber M, Sibarita JB, Zieger HL, Bartol TM, Arttamangkul S, Sejnowski TJ, Hosy E, von Zastrow M. A Discrete Presynaptic Vesicle Cycle for Neuromodulator Receptors. Neuron 2020; 105:663-677.e8. [PMID: 31837915 PMCID: PMC7035187 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
A major function of GPCRs is to inhibit presynaptic neurotransmitter release, requiring ligand-activated receptors to couple locally to effectors at terminals. The current understanding of how this is achieved is through receptor immobilization on the terminal surface. Here, we show that opioid peptide receptors, GPCRs that mediate highly sensitive presynaptic inhibition, are instead dynamic in axons. Opioid receptors diffuse rapidly throughout the axon surface and internalize after ligand-induced activation specifically at presynaptic terminals. We delineate a parallel regulated endocytic cycle for GPCRs operating at the presynapse, separately from the synaptic vesicle cycle, which clears activated receptors from the surface of terminals and locally reinserts them to maintain the diffusible surface pool. We propose an alternate strategy for achieving local control of presynaptic effectors that, opposite to using receptor immobilization and enforced proximity, is based on lateral mobility of receptors and leverages the inherent allostery of GPCR-effector coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jullié
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Miriam Stoeber
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Baptiste Sibarita
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Hanna L. Zieger
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas M. Bartol
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Seksiri Arttamangkul
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Terrence J. Sejnowski
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Eric Hosy
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, UMR 5297, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 33077 Bordeaux, France,Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, 33077 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mark von Zastrow
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94158, USA,Lead contact,Correspondence:
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21
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Kunselman JM, Zajac AS, Weinberg ZY, Puthenveedu MA. Homologous Regulation of Mu Opioid Receptor Recycling by G βγ , Protein Kinase C, and Receptor Phosphorylation. Mol Pharmacol 2019; 96:702-710. [PMID: 31575621 PMCID: PMC6820217 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.117267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane trafficking and receptor signaling are two fundamental cellular processes that interact constantly. Although how trafficking regulates signaling is well studied, how signaling pathways regulate trafficking is less well understood. Here, we use the mu opioid receptor (MOR), the primary target for opioid analgesics, to define a signaling pathway that dynamically regulates postendocytic receptor recycling. By directly visualizing individual MOR recycling events, we show that agonist increases MOR recycling. Inhibition of G βγ, phospholipase C, or protein kinase C mimicked agonist removal, whereas activation of G βγ increased recycling even after agonist removal. Phosphorylation of serine 363 on the C-terminal tail of MOR was required and sufficient for agonist-mediated regulation of MOR recycling. Our results identify a feedback loop that regulates MOR recycling via G βγ , protein kinase C, and receptor phosphorylation. This could serve as a general model for how signaling regulates postendocytic trafficking of G protein-coupled receptors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) localization in the endosome is being increasingly recognized as an important and distinct component of GPCR signaling and physiology. This study identifies a G protein-dependent and protein kinase C-dependent signaling pathway that dynamically regulates the endosomal localization of the mu opioid receptor, the primary target of opioid analgesics and abused drugs. This pathway could provide a mechanism to manipulate spatial encoding of opioid signaling and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Kunselman
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program (J.M.K., M.A.P.) and Department of Pharmacology (J.M.K., Z.Y.W., M.A.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (A.S.Z., M.A.P.)
| | - Amanda S Zajac
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program (J.M.K., M.A.P.) and Department of Pharmacology (J.M.K., Z.Y.W., M.A.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (A.S.Z., M.A.P.)
| | - Zara Y Weinberg
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program (J.M.K., M.A.P.) and Department of Pharmacology (J.M.K., Z.Y.W., M.A.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (A.S.Z., M.A.P.)
| | - Manojkumar A Puthenveedu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program (J.M.K., M.A.P.) and Department of Pharmacology (J.M.K., Z.Y.W., M.A.P.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (A.S.Z., M.A.P.)
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22
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Dekan Z, Sianati S, Yousuf A, Sutcliffe KJ, Gillis A, Mallet C, Singh P, Jin AH, Wang AM, Mohammadi SA, Stewart M, Ratnayake R, Fontaine F, Lacey E, Piggott AM, Du YP, Canals M, Sessions RB, Kelly E, Capon RJ, Alewood PF, Christie MJ. A tetrapeptide class of biased analgesics from an Australian fungus targets the µ-opioid receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22353-22358. [PMID: 31611414 PMCID: PMC6825270 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908662116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An Australian estuarine isolate of Penicillium sp. MST-MF667 yielded 3 tetrapeptides named the bilaids with an unusual alternating LDLD chirality. Given their resemblance to known short peptide opioid agonists, we elucidated that they were weak (Ki low micromolar) μ-opioid agonists, which led to the design of bilorphin, a potent and selective μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) agonist (Ki 1.1 nM). In sharp contrast to all-natural product opioid peptides that efficaciously recruit β-arrestin, bilorphin is G protein biased, weakly phosphorylating the MOPr and marginally recruiting β-arrestin, with no receptor internalization. Importantly, bilorphin exhibits a similar G protein bias to oliceridine, a small nonpeptide with improved overdose safety. Molecular dynamics simulations of bilorphin and the strongly arrestin-biased endomorphin-2 with the MOPr indicate distinct receptor interactions and receptor conformations that could underlie their large differences in bias. Whereas bilorphin is systemically inactive, a glycosylated analog, bilactorphin, is orally active with similar in vivo potency to morphine. Bilorphin is both a unique molecular tool that enhances understanding of MOPr biased signaling and a promising lead in the development of next generation analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltan Dekan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Setareh Sianati
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Arsalan Yousuf
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katy J Sutcliffe
- Schools of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Gillis
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Christophe Mallet
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Paramjit Singh
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Aihua H Jin
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anna M Wang
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sarasa A Mohammadi
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael Stewart
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ranjala Ratnayake
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Frank Fontaine
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ernest Lacey
- Microbial Screening Technologies Pty. Ltd., Smithfield, NSW, 2164, Australia
| | - Andrew M Piggott
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yan P Du
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 3052 Parkville, Australia
| | - Richard B Sessions
- Schools of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Eamonn Kelly
- Schools of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia;
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia;
| | - MacDonald J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
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23
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Arttamangkul S, Leff ER, Koita O, Birdsong WT, Williams JT. Separation of Acute Desensitization and Long-Term Tolerance of µ-Opioid Receptors Is Determined by the Degree of C-Terminal Phosphorylation. Mol Pharmacol 2019; 96:505-514. [PMID: 31383769 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.117358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation of sites on the C terminus of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) results in the induction of acute desensitization that is thought to be a precursor for the development of long-term tolerance. Alanine mutations of all 11 phosphorylation sites on the C terminus of MORs almost completely abolished desensitization and one measure of tolerance in locus coeruleus neurons when these phosphorylation-deficient MORs were virally expressed in MOR knockout rats. In the present work, we identified specific residues that underlie acute desensitization, receptor internalization, and tolerance and examined four MOR variants with different alanine or glutamate mutations in the C terminus. Alanine mutations in the sequence between amino acids 375 and 379 (STANT-3A) and the sequence between amino acids 363 and 394 having four additional alanine substitutions (STANT + 7A) reduced desensitization and two measures of long-term tolerance. After chronic morphine treatment, alanine mutations in the sequence between 354 and 357 (TSST-4A) blocked one measure of long-term tolerance (increased acute desensitization and slowed recovery from desensitization) but did not change a second (decreased sensitivity to morphine). With the expression of receptors having glutamate substitutions in the TSST sequence (TSST-4E), an increase in acute desensitization was present after chronic morphine treatment, but the sensitivity to morphine was not changed. The results show that all 11 phosphorylation sites contribute, in varying degrees, to acute desensitization and long-term tolerance. That acute desensitization and tolerance are not necessarily linked illustrates the complexity of events that are triggered by chronic treatment with morphine. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this work, we showed that the degree of phosphorylation on the C terminus of the μ-opioid receptor alters acute desensitization and internalization, and in measures of long-term tolerance to morphine. The primary conclusion is that the degree of phosphorylation on the 11 possible sites of the C terminus has different roles for expression of the multiple adaptive mechanisms that follow acute and long-term agonist activation. Although the idea that acute desensitization and tolerance are intimately linked is generally supported, these results indicate that disruption of one phosphorylation cassette of the C terminus TSST (354-357) distinguishes the two processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily R Leff
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Omar Koita
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - John T Williams
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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24
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Temporal dependence of shifts in mu opioid receptor mobility at the cell surface after agonist binding observed by single-particle tracking. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7297. [PMID: 31086197 PMCID: PMC6514008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43657-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Agonist binding to the mu opioid receptor (MOR) results in conformational changes that allow recruitment of G-proteins, activation of downstream effectors and eventual desensitization and internalization, all of which could affect receptor mobility. The present study employed single particle tracking (SPT) of quantum dot labeled FLAG-tagged MORs to examine shifts in MOR mobility after agonist binding. FLAG-MORs on the plasma membrane were in both mobile and immobile states under basal conditions. Activation of FLAG-MORs with DAMGO caused an acute increase in the fraction of mobile MORs, and free portions of mobile tracks were partially dependent on interactions with G-proteins. In contrast, 10-minute exposure to DAMGO or morphine increased the fraction of immobile FLAG-MORs. While the decrease in mobility with prolonged DAMGO exposure corresponded to an increase in colocalization with clathrin, the increase in colocalization was present in both mobile and immobile FLAG-MORs. Thus, no single mobility state of the receptor accounted for colocalization with clathrin. These findings demonstrate that SPT can be used to track agonist-dependent changes in MOR mobility over time, but that the mobility states observed likely arise from a diverse set of interactions and will be most informative when examined in concert with particular downstream effectors.
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25
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Kliewer A, Schmiedel F, Sianati S, Bailey A, Bateman JT, Levitt ES, Williams JT, Christie MJ, Schulz S. Phosphorylation-deficient G-protein-biased μ-opioid receptors improve analgesia and diminish tolerance but worsen opioid side effects. Nat Commun 2019; 10:367. [PMID: 30664663 PMCID: PMC6341117 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid analgesics are powerful pain relievers; however, over time, pain control diminishes as analgesic tolerance develops. The molecular mechanisms initiating tolerance have remained unresolved to date. We have previously shown that desensitization of the μ-opioid receptor and interaction with β-arrestins is controlled by carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation. Here we created knockin mice with a series of serine- and threonine-to-alanine mutations that render the receptor increasingly unable to recruit β-arrestins. Desensitization is inhibited in locus coeruleus neurons of mutant mice. Opioid-induced analgesia is strongly enhanced and analgesic tolerance is greatly diminished. Surprisingly, respiratory depression, constipation, and opioid withdrawal signs are unchanged or exacerbated, indicating that β-arrestin recruitment does not contribute to the severity of opioid side effects and, hence, predicting that G-protein-biased µ-agonists are still likely to elicit severe adverse effects. In conclusion, our findings identify carboxyl-terminal multisite phosphorylation as key step that drives acute μ-opioid receptor desensitization and long-term tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kliewer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - F Schmiedel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - S Sianati
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - A Bailey
- Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's University of London, London, SW17 ORE, UK
| | - J T Bateman
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - E S Levitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - J T Williams
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181S.W. Sam Jackson Pk. Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - M J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - S Schulz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07747, Jena, Germany.
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26
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Miess E, Gondin AB, Yousuf A, Steinborn R, Mösslein N, Yang Y, Göldner M, Ruland JG, Bünemann M, Krasel C, Christie MJ, Halls ML, Schulz S, Canals M. Multisite phosphorylation is required for sustained interaction with GRKs and arrestins during rapid μ-opioid receptor desensitization. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/539/eaas9609. [PMID: 30018083 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aas9609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
G protein receptor kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins are key regulators of μ-opioid receptor (MOR) signaling and trafficking. We have previously shown that high-efficacy opioids such as DAMGO stimulate a GRK2/3-mediated multisite phosphorylation of conserved C-terminal tail serine and threonine residues, which facilitates internalization of the receptor. In contrast, morphine-induced phosphorylation of MOR is limited to Ser375 and is not sufficient to drive substantial receptor internalization. We report how specific multisite phosphorylation controlled the dynamics of GRK and β-arrestin interactions with MOR and show how such phosphorylation mediated receptor desensitization. We showed that GRK2/3 was recruited more quickly than was β-arrestin to a DAMGO-activated MOR. β-Arrestin recruitment required GRK2 activity and MOR phosphorylation, but GRK recruitment also depended on the phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal tail, specifically four serine and threonine residues within the 370TREHPSTANT379 motif. Our results also suggested that other residues outside this motif participated in the initial and transient recruitment of GRK and β-arrestins. We identified two components of high-efficacy agonist desensitization of MOR: a sustained component, which required GRK2-mediated phosphorylation and a potential soluble factor, and a rapid component, which was likely mediated by GRK2 but independent of receptor phosphorylation. Elucidating these complex receptor-effector interactions represents an important step toward a mechanistic understanding of MOR desensitization that leads to the development of tolerance and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Miess
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Arisbel B Gondin
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Arsalan Yousuf
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Ralph Steinborn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Nadja Mösslein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Yunshi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Göldner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia G Ruland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Bünemann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Krasel
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - MacDonald J Christie
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Michelle L Halls
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3052, Australia.
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27
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Arttamangkul S, Heinz DA, Bunzow JR, Song X, Williams JT. Cellular tolerance at the µ-opioid receptor is phosphorylation dependent. eLife 2018; 7:34989. [PMID: 29589831 PMCID: PMC5873894 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is known as a key step in desensitization and internalization but the role in the development of long-term tolerance at the cellular level is not known. Viral expression of wild type (exWT) and mutant MORs, where all phosphorylation sites on the C-terminus (Total Phosphorylation Deficient (TPD)) were mutated to alanine, were examined in locus coeruleus neurons in a MOR knockout rat. Both receptors activated potassium conductance similar to endogenous receptors in wild type animals. The exWT receptors, like endogenous receptors, acutely desensitized, internalized and, after chronic morphine treatment, displayed signs of tolerance. However, TPD receptors did not desensitize or internalize with agonist treatment. In addition the TPD receptors did not develop cellular tolerance following chronic morphine treatment. Thus C-terminal phosphorylation is necessary for the expression of acute desensitization, trafficking and one sign of long-term tolerance to morphine at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seksiri Arttamangkul
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, United States
| | - Daniel A Heinz
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, United States
| | - James R Bunzow
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, United States
| | - Xianqiang Song
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, United States
| | - John T Williams
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, United States
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28
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Levitt ES, Williams JT. Desensitization and Tolerance of Mu Opioid Receptors on Pontine Kölliker-Fuse Neurons. Mol Pharmacol 2018; 93:8-13. [PMID: 29097440 PMCID: PMC5708089 DOI: 10.1124/mol.117.109603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute desensitization of mu opioid receptors is thought to be an initial step in the development of tolerance to opioids. Given the resistance of the respiratory system to develop tolerance, desensitization of neurons in the Kölliker-Fuse (KF), a key area in the respiratory circuit, was examined. The activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium current was measured using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from KF and locus coeruleus (LC) neurons contained in acute rat brain slices. A saturating concentration of the opioid agonist [Met5]-enkephalin (ME) caused significantly less desensitization in KF neurons compared with LC neurons. In contrast to LC, desensitization in KF neurons was not enhanced by activation of protein kinase C or in slices from morphine-treated rats. Cellular tolerance to ME and morphine was also lacking in KF neurons from morphine-treated rats. The lack of cellular tolerance in KF neurons correlates with the relative lack of tolerance to the respiratory depressant effect of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica S Levitt
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (E.S.L.) and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (J.T.W.)
| | - John T Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (E.S.L.) and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon (J.T.W.)
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29
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Differential Desensitization Observed at Multiple Effectors of Somatic μ-Opioid Receptors Underlies Sustained Agonist-Mediated Inhibition of Proopiomelanocortin Neuron Activity. J Neurosci 2017; 37:8667-8677. [PMID: 28821664 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1030-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of somatic μ-opioid receptors (MORs) in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons leads to the activation of G-protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels and hyperpolarization, but in response to continued signaling MORs undergo acute desensitization resulting in robust reduction in the peak GIRK current after minutes of agonist exposure. We hypothesized that the attenuation of the GIRK current would lead to a recovery of neuronal excitability whereby desensitization of the receptor would lead to a new steady state of POMC neuron activity reflecting the sustained GIRK current observed after the initial decline from peak with continued agonist exposure. However, electrophysiologic recordings and GCaMP6f Ca2+ imaging in POMC neurons in mouse brain slices indicate that maximal inhibition of cellular activity by these measures can be maintained after the GIRK current declines. Blockade of the GIRK current by Ba2+ or Tertiapin-Q did not disrupt the sustained inhibition of Ca2+ transients in the continued presence of agonist, indicating the activation of an effector other than GIRK channels. Use of an irreversible MOR antagonist and Furchgott analysis revealed a low receptor reserve for the activation of GIRK channels but a >90% receptor reserve for the inhibition of Ca2+ events. Altogether, the data show that somatodendritic MORs in POMC neurons inhibit neuronal activity through at least two effectors with distinct levels of receptor reserve and that differentially reflect receptor desensitization. Thus, in POMC cells, the decline in the GIRK current during prolonged MOR agonist exposure does not reflect an increase in cellular activity as expected.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Desensitization of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is thought to underlie the development of cellular tolerance to opiate therapy. The present studies focused on MOR desensitization in hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons as these neurons produce the endogenous opioid β-endorphin and are heavily regulated by opioids. Prolonged activation of somatic MORs in POMC neurons robustly inhibited action potential firing and Ca2+ activity despite desensitization of the MOR and reduced activation of a potassium current over the same time course. The data show that somatic MORs in POMC neurons couple to multiple effectors that have differential sensitivity to desensitization of the receptor. Thus, in these cells, the cellular consequence of MOR desensitization cannot be defined by the activity of a single effector system.
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30
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-eighth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2015 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior, and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia, stress and social status, tolerance and dependence, learning and memory, eating and drinking, drug abuse and alcohol, sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology, mental illness and mood, seizures and neurologic disorders, electrical-related activity and neurophysiology, general activity and locomotion, gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions, cardiovascular responses, respiration and thermoregulation, and immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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31
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Moulédous L, Froment C, Burlet-Schiltz O, Schulz S, Mollereau C. Phosphoproteomic analysis of the mouse brain mu-opioid (MOP) receptor. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:2401-8. [PMID: 26226422 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many in vitro data have shown that the efficacy of several opioid drugs is correlated with differential mu-opioid (MOP) receptor phosphorylation. Label-free semiquantitative on-line nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) analyses were performed to compare the endogenous MOP receptor phosphorylation patterns of mice administered with morphine, etonitazene and fentanyl. The analysis identified S363, T370 and S375 as phosphorylated residues in the carboxy-terminus. Only T370 and S375 were regulated by agonists, with a higher propensity to promote double phosphorylation for high efficacy agonists. Our study provides confirmation that differential agonist-driven multi-site phosphorylation of MOP receptor occurs in vivo and validate the use of MS to study endogenous GPCR phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Moulédous
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale CNRS/Université de Toulouse, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Carine Froment
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale CNRS/Université de Toulouse, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Odile Burlet-Schiltz
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale CNRS/Université de Toulouse, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Drackendorfer Strasse 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Catherine Mollereau
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale CNRS/Université de Toulouse, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France.
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32
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Canals M. The Complex Roles of μ-Opioid Receptor Phosphorylation: A Key Determinant in Receptor Signaling and Regulation. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 88:814-5. [PMID: 26152197 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.100180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This Commentary focuses on two articles in the October 2015 issue of Molecular Pharmacology that investigate the role of μ-opioid receptor phosphorylation in receptor agonist binding and desensitization. The work of Birdsong et al. and Yousuf et al. clearly highlights the complexity that researchers face when trying to assess the signaling and regulatory consequences of G protein-coupled receptor phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Canals
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme and ARC Center of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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33
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Birdsong WT, Arttamangkul S, Bunzow JR, Williams JT. Agonist Binding and Desensitization of the μ-Opioid Receptor Is Modulated by Phosphorylation of the C-Terminal Tail Domain. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 88:816-24. [PMID: 25934731 DOI: 10.1124/mol.114.097527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained activation of G protein-coupled receptors can lead to a rapid decline in signaling through acute receptor desensitization. In the case of the μ-opioid receptor (MOPr), this desensitization may play a role in the development of analgesic tolerance. It is understood that phosphorylation of MOPr promotes association with β-arrestin proteins, which then facilitates desensitization and receptor internalization. Agonists that induce acute desensitization have been shown to induce a noncanonical high-affinity agonist binding state in MOPr, conferring a persistent memory of prior receptor activation. In the current study, live-cell confocal imaging was used to investigate the role of receptor phosphorylation in agonist binding to MOPr. A phosphorylation cluster in the C-terminal tail of MOPr was identified as a mediator of agonist-induced affinity changes in MOPr. This site is unique from the primary phosphorylation cluster responsible for β-arrestin binding and internalization. Electrophysiologic measurements of receptor function suggest that both phosphorylation clusters may play a parallel role during acute receptor desensitization. Desensitization was unaffected by alanine mutation of either phosphorylation cluster, but was largely eliminated when both clusters were mutated. Overall, this work suggests that there are multiple effects of MOPr phosphorylation that appear to regulate MOPr function: one affecting β-arrestin binding and a second affecting agonist binding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James R Bunzow
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - John T Williams
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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