G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are seven-transmembrane proteins that mediate most cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters, representing the largest group of therapeutic targets. Recent studies show that some GPCRs signal through both G protein and arrestin pathways in a ligand-specific manner. Ligands that direct signaling through a specific pathway are known as biased ligands. The arginine-vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R), a prototypical peptide-activated GPCR, is an ideal model system to investigate the structural basis of biased signaling. Although the native hormone arginine-vasopressin leads to activation of both the stimulatory G protein (Gs) for the adenylyl cyclase and arrestin pathways, synthetic ligands exhibit highly biased signaling through either Gs alone or arrestin alone. We used purified V2R stabilized in neutral amphipols and developed fluorescence-based assays to investigate the structural basis of biased signaling for the V2R. Our studies demonstrate that the Gs-biased agonist stabilizes a conformation that is distinct from that stabilized by the arrestin-biased agonists. This study provides unique insights into the structural mechanisms of GPCR activation by biased ligands that may be relevant to the design of pathway-biased drugs.

The eight metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are key modulators of synaptic transmission and are considered promising targets for the treatment of various brain disorders. Whereas glutamate acts at a large extracellular domain, allosteric modulators have been identified that bind to the seven transmembrane domain (7TM) of these dimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We show here that the dimeric organization of mGluRs is required for the modulation of active and inactive states of the 7TM by agonists, but is not necessary for G-protein activation. Monomeric mGlu2, either as an isolated 7TM or in full-length, purified and reconstituted into nanodiscs, couples to G proteins upon direct activation by a positive allosteric modulator. However, only a reconstituted full-length dimeric mGlu2 activates G protein upon glutamate binding, suggesting that dimerization is required for glutamate induced activation. These data show that, even for such well characterized GPCR dimers like mGluR2, a single 7TM is sufficient for G-protein coupling. Despite this observation, the necessity of dimeric architecture for signaling induced by the endogenous ligand glutamate confirms that the central core of signaling complex is dimeric.M etabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) play key roles in the modulation of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the brain. These eight G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent major targets for pharmaceutical companies in search of new treatments for a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders (1-3). These receptors are part of the class C GPCR family that also includes the GABA B , calcium sensing, and sweet and umami taste receptors, which are all major targets for drug development (4).The structural complexity of class C GPCRs, compared with rhodopsin-like class A GPCRs, offers multiple possibilities in designing molecules that modulate their activity. Not only are mGluRs strict constitutive dimers (5, 6), but each protomer is composed of several domains (7,8). Agonists bind in a bilobate venus fly-trap domain (VFT) (9), which is linked through a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) to the heptahelical transmembrane domain (7TM) that is responsible for G-protein activation (7). The 7TM is the target of a number of synthetic compounds acting either as negative or positive allosteric modulators (NAMs and PAMs, respectively). Given their ability to finely tune endogenous signaling, such compounds present exciting opportunities for drug development (10).The functional mechanism of such a complex machine remains to be characterized, although some critical steps have been well documented. Previous studies have shown that receptor activation results from the closure of the VFT upon agonist binding (9,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). This conformational change in the extracellular domain is coupled to a conformational change in the intracellular side of at least one 7TM that is responsible for G-protein coupling (16)(17)(18)(19). The mechanism for allosteric communication between the VFT and 7TM ...

Accumulating data indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system controls apoptosis by regulating the level and the function of key regulatory proteins. In the present study, we identified Trim17, a member of the TRIM/RBCC protein family, as one of the critical E3 ubiquitin-ligases involved in the control of neuronal apoptosis upstream of mitochondria. We show that expression of Trim17 is increased both at the mRNA and protein level in several in vitro models of transcription-dependent neuronal apoptosis. Expression of Trim17 is controlled by the PI3K/Akt/GSK3 pathway in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN). Moreover, the Trim17 protein is expressed in vivo, in apoptotic neurons that naturally die during postnatal cerebellar development. Overexpression of active Trim17 in primary CGN was sufficient to induce the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in survival conditions. This proapoptotic effect was abolished in Bax−/− neurons and depended on the E3 activity of Trim17 conferred by its RING domain. Furthermore, knock-down of endogenous Trim17 and overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of Trim17 blocked trophic factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis both in CGN and in sympathetic neurons. Collectively, our data are the first to assign a cellular function to Trim17 by showing that its E3 activity is both necessary and sufficient for the initiation of neuronal apoptosis.

Accumulating evidence indicates that G protein-coupled receptors can assemble as dimers/oligomers but the role of this phenomenon in G protein coupling and signaling is not yet clear. We have used the purified leukotriene B 4 receptor BLT2 as a model to investigate the capacity of receptor monomers and dimers to activate the adenylyl cyclase inhibitory G i2 protein.For this, we overexpressed the recombinant receptor as inclusion bodies in the Escherichia coli prokaryotic system, using a human ␣ 5 integrin as a fusion partner. This strategy allowed the BLT2 as well as several other G protein-coupled receptors from different families to be produced and purified in large amounts. The BLT2 receptor was then successfully refolded to its native state, as measured by high-affinity LTB 4 binding in the presence of the purified G protein G␣ i2 . The receptor dimer, in which the two protomers displayed a well defined parallel orientation as assessed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer, was then separated from the monomer. Using two methods of receptorcatalyzed guanosine 5-3-O-(thio)triphosphate binding assay, we clearly demonstrated that monomeric BLT2 stimulates the purified G␣ i2 ␤ 1 ␥ 2 protein more efficiently than the dimer. These data suggest that assembly of two BLT2 protomers into a dimer results in the reduced ability to signal.G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), 5 the largest family of integral membrane proteins (1-3), participate in regulation of most physiological functions and are the targets of 30 -50% of currently marketed drugs. In light of their biological and therapeutic importance, gaining detailed knowledge of their structural organization remains one of the most crucial tasks, but also, a great challenge facing modern biomedical research.Dimerization/oligomerization is a common phenomenon in the GPCR superfamily (4), but its role in the structure, function, and signaling of these receptors still has to be clarified. It is unambiguously evidenced that class C GPCRs exist and function as stable dimers (5). However, whether or not class A GPCR dimerization is necessary for G protein activation is still a crucial biological question (6). Indeed, for rhodopsin-like receptors, a role for monomers and dimers in signal transduction is still a matter of intense debate and investigation (7,8). Although evidence of GPCR dimerization is accumulating even in native tissues (9), perfect functionality in terms of G protein activation has been reported so far for four different monomeric GPCRs. Indeed, monomers of rhodopsin, ␤2-adrenergic receptor, neurotensin NTS1 receptor, and opioid receptor, efficiently activate their cognate G proteins, i.e. the transducin G t (10, 11), the stimulatory G protein G s of adenylyl cyclase (12), the stimulatory G protein G q of phospholipase C (PLC) (13), and the inhibitory G protein G i of adenylyl cyclase (14), respectively.Here, we investigated and compared the efficiency of isolated dimers and monomers of a prototypical GPCR to activate the purified G i2 protein. As a mod...

A series of fluorescent benzazepine ligands for the arginine-vasopressin V₂ receptor (AVP V₂R) was synthesized using "Click" chemistry. Their in vitro pharmacological profile at AVP V₂R, V(1a)R, V(1b)R, and oxytocin receptor was measured by binding assay and functional studies. Compound 9p, labeled with Lissamine Rhodamine B using novel solid-phase organic tagging (SPOrT) resin, exhibited a high affinity for V₂R (4.0 nM), an excellent selectivity toward V₂R and antagonist properties. By changing the nature of the dye, DY647 and Lumi4-Tb probes 44 and 47 still display a high affinity for V₂R (5.6 and 5.8 nM, respectively). These antagonists constitute the first high-affinity selective nonpeptidic fluorescent ligands for V₂R. They enabled the development of V₂R time-resolved FRET-based assay readily amenable to high-throughput screening. Taking advantage of their selectivity, these compounds were also successfully involved in the study of V(1a)R-V₂R dimerization on cell surface.

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Two novel solid-phase organic tagging (SPOrT) resins were synthesized to facilitate the labeling of peptides and small organic compounds with a fluorescent probe. Both resins were obtained from the commercially available backbone amide linker (BAL) resin. Following the solid-phase synthesis of model compounds, a tripeptide and benzazepine, the fluorescent probe derived from Lissamine Rhodamine B was incorporated through CuI-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Final cleavage in acidic media enabled access to both types of molecules in good yield with high purity. The SPOrT resin was successfully applied to the preparation of the first non-peptidic fluorescent compound with a nanomolar affinity for the human vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) subtype. This molecule will find application in binding assays that use polarization or fluorescence resonance energy-transfer (FRET) techniques. The SPOrT resins are also well suited for other tags and the parallel synthesis of a fluorescently tagged library for protein screening.

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