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Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) comprise the second largest yet least studied class of the GPCR superfamily. aGPCRs are involved in many developmental processes, immune and synaptic functions, but the mode of their signal transduction is unclear. Here, we show that a short peptide sequence (termed the Stachel sequence) within the ectodomain of two aGPCRs, GPR126 and GPR133, functions as a tethered agonist. Upon structural changes within the receptor ectodomain, this intramolecular agonist is exposed to the 7-transmembrane helix domain, which triggers G-protein activation. Our studies show high specificity of a given Stachel sequence for its receptor. Finally, the function of Gpr126 is abrogated in zebrafish with a mutated Stachel sequence, and signaling is restored in hypomorphic gpr126 zebrafish mutants upon exogenous Stachel peptide application. These findings illuminate a previously unknown mode of aGPCR activation, and can initiate the development of specific ligands for this currently untargeted GPCR family.

SUMMARY Myelin ensheathes axons to allow rapid propagation of action potentials and proper nervous system function. In the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SCs) radially sort axons into a 1:1 relationship before wrapping an axonal segment to form myelin. SC myelination requires the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor GPR126, which undergoes autoproteolytic cleavage into an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a 7-transmembrane-containing C-terminal fragment (CTF). Here, we show that GPR126 has domain-specific functions in SC development whereby the NTF is necessary and sufficient for axon sorting while the CTF promotes wrapping through cAMP elevation. These biphasic roles of GPR126 are governed by interactions with Laminin-211, which we define as a novel ligand for GPR126 that modulates receptor signaling via a tethered agonist. Our work suggests a model in which Laminin-211 mediates GPR126-induced cAMP levels to control early and late stages of SC development.

The myelin sheath surrounding axons ensures that nerve impulses travel quickly and efficiently, allowing for the proper function of the vertebrate nervous system. We previously showed that the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) Gpr126 is essential for peripheral nervous system myelination, although the molecular mechanisms by which Gpr126 functions were incompletely understood. aGPCRs are a significantly understudied protein class, and it was unknown whether Gpr126 couples to G-proteins. Here, we analyze Dhh Cre ; Gpr126 fl/fl conditional mutants, and show that Gpr126 functions in Schwann cells (SCs) for radial sorting of axons and myelination. Furthermore, we demonstrate that elevation of cAMP levels or protein kinase A activation suppresses myelin defects in Gpr126 mouse mutants and that cAMP levels are reduced in conditional Gpr126 mutant peripheral nerve. Finally, we show that GPR126 directly increases cAMP by coupling to heterotrimeric G-proteins. Together, these data support a model in which Gpr126 functions in SCs for proper development and myelination and provide evidence that these functions are mediated via G-protein-signaling pathways.

Adhesion GPCRs (aGPCRs) form the second largest, yet most enigmatic class of the GPCR superfamily. Although the physiologic importance of aGPCRs was demonstrated in several studies, the majority of these receptors is still orphan with respect to their agonists and signal transduction. Recent studies reported that aGPCRs are activated through a tethered peptide agonist, coined the Stachel sequence. The Stachel sequence is the most C-terminal part of the highly conserved GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing domain. Here, we used cell culture-based assays to investigate 2 natural splice variants within the Stachel sequence of the orphan G s coupling aGPCR GPR114/ADGRG5. There is 1 variant constitutively active in cAMP assays (∼25-fold over empty vector) and sensitive to mechano-activation. The other variant has low basal activity in cAMP assays (6-fold over empty vector) and is insensitive to mechano-activation. In-depth mutagenesis studies of these functional differences revealed that the N-terminal half of the Stachel sequence confers the agonistic activity, whereas the C-terminal part orientates the agonistic core sequence to the transmembrane domain. Sequence comparison and functional testing suggest that the proposed mechanism of Stachel-mediated activation is relevant not only to GPR114 but to aGPCRs in general.-Wilde, C., Fischer, L., Lede, V., Kirchberger, J., Rothemund, S., Schöneberg, T., Liebscher, I. The constitutive activity of the adhesion GPCR GPR114/ADGRG5 is mediated by its tethered agonist. FASEB J. 30, 666-673 (2016). www.fasebj.org

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The X-chromosomal GPR34 gene encodes an orphan G i protein-coupled receptor that is highly conserved among vertebrates. To evaluate the physiological relevance of GPR34, we generated a GPR34-deficient mouse line. GPR34-deficient mice were vital, reproduced normally, and showed no gross abnormalities in anatomical, histological, laboratory chemistry, or behavioral investigations under standard housing. Because GPR34 is highly expressed in mononuclear cells of the immune system, mice were specifically tested for altered functions of these cell types. Following immunization with methylated BSA, the number of granulocytes and macrophages in spleens was significantly lower in GPR34-deficient mice as in wild-type mice. GPR34-deficient mice showed significantly increased paw swelling in the delayed type hypersensitivity test and higher pathogen burden in extrapulmonary tissues after pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus neoformans compared with wild-type mice. The findings in delayed type hypersensitivity and infection tests were accompanied by significantly different basal and stimulated TNF-␣, GM-CSF, and IFN-␥ levels in GPR34-deficient animals. Our data point toward a functional role of GPR34 in the cellular response to immunological challenges. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR)2 form the largest gene family among transmembrane receptors, including more than 900 genes in humans and other mammals (1). A great number of stimuli, such as light, hormones, neurotransmitters, peptides, and nucleotides, activate the distinct receptors. Nonodorant receptors form about one-third of the GPCR repertoire. Although more than 200 non-odorant GPCR have been assigned to specific agonists and functions, about 155 socalled "orphan" GPCR (2) await identification of their physiological relevance. The importance of GPCR in controlling almost every physiological function makes this receptor family the most frequently used target for therapeutic drugs. Therefore, unveiling the function of orphan GPCR is a central issue in academic and industrial research.Among the five structurally different GPCR families (1, 3), the rhodopsin-like receptors form the largest in humans and other vertebrates. The rhodopsin-like family is divided further into subfamilies and groups. The P2Y 12 -like receptor group includes the ADP receptors P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 , the UDP-glucose receptor P2Y 14 , and the orphan receptors GPR87, GPR82, and GPR34 (4). Apart from the ADP receptor P2Y 12 , which has a central role in platelet aggregation and is the therapeutic target of clopidogrel (5, 6), very little is known about the function of the other members of this group.GPR34, an orphan receptor of the P2Y 12 -like receptor group, was first discovered by mining GenBank TM for novel GPCR sequences and homology cloning and has been assigned to the human X chromosome (7,8). Phylogenetic studies revealed that GPR34 has been highly conserved over the past 450 million years of vertebrate evolution, and no GPR34-deficient vertebrate has been identified yet (9). To date, there i...

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