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Agonist treatment of cells expressing the chemokine receptor, CXCR2, induces receptor phosphorylation and internalization through a dynamin-dependent mechanism. In the present study, we demonstrate that a carboxyl terminus-truncated mutant of CXCR2 (331T), which no longer undergoes agonist-induced phosphorylation, continues to undergo ligand-induced internalization in HEK293 cells. This mutant receptor exhibits reduced association with β-arrestin 1 but continues to exhibit association with adaptin 2 α and β subunits. Replacing Leu320-321 and/or Ile323-Leu324 with Ala (LL320,321AA, IL323,324AA, and LLIL320,321,323,324AAAA) in wild-type CXCR2 or 331T causes little change in ligand binding and signaling through Ca 2+ mobilization but greatly impairs the agonist-induced receptor sequestration and ligand-mediated chemotaxis. The LL320,321AA, IL323,324AA, and LLIL320,321,323,324AAAA mutants of CXCR2 exhibit normal binding to β-arrestin 1 but exhibit decreased binding to adaptin 2α and β. These data demonstrate a role for the LLKIL motif in the carboxyl terminus of CXCR2 in receptor internalization and cell chemotaxis and imply a role for adaptin 2 in the endocytosis of CXCR2.The chemokine receptor, CXCR2, 1 is a member of a superfamily of G protein-coupled seventransmembrane receptors (GPCRs) that transduce intracellular signals via heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). Upon stimulation by agonists, such as interleukin 8 (IL-8) or melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (MGSA)/growth-regulatory protein (GRO), CXCR2 activates a series of G protein-mediated events, including phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis, to generate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, as well as mobilization of intracellular free Ca 2+ to initiate a series of cellular responses (1). In addition, CXCR2 mediates cell chemotaxis, a distinct function of chemokine receptors (2). Like many other types of GPCRs, CXCR2 undergoes a dynamic trafficking between the cell surface and the intracellular compartments (3). Such trafficking may be involved in both transmission and termination of the receptor signals and may play an important role in mediating cell chemotaxis. For CXCR2, the most remarkable trafficking process is agonistinduced receptor internalization. 1 Abbreviations: CXCR2, receptor for CXC chemokines formerly defined as interleukin 8 receptor B; IL-8, interleukin 8; MGSA/GRO, melanoma growth-stimulatory activity/growth-regulatory protein; GPCRs, G protein-coupled receptors; G proteins, guanine nucleotidebinding proteins; β2-AR, β2-adrenergic receptor; AP-2, adaptin 2; HEK293 cells, human embryonic kidney 293 cells; RBL-2H3 cells, rabbit basophilic leukemia cells; DSP, dithiobis(succinimido propionate); GRKs, G protein-coupled receptor kinases; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; BSA, bovine serum albumin; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; FBS, fetal bovine serum; PBS, phosphatebuffered saline; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the carboxyl terminus by G protein-couple...

Cell-type-specific G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling regulates distinct neuronal responses to various stimuli and is essential for axon guidance and targeting during development. However, its function in axonal regeneration in the mature CNS remains elusive. We found that subtypes of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in mice maintained high mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) levels after axotomy and that the light-sensitive GPCR melanopsin mediated this sustained expression. Melanopsin overexpression in the RGCs stimulated axonal regeneration after optic nerve crush by up-regulating mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). The extent of the regeneration was comparable to that observed after phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) knockdown. Both the axon regeneration and mTOR activity that were enhanced by melanopsin required light stimulation and Gq/11 signaling. Specifically, activating Gq in RGCs elevated mTOR activation and promoted axonal regeneration. Melanopsin overexpression in RGCs enhanced the amplitude and duration of their light response, and silencing them with Kir2.1 significantly suppressed the increased mTOR signaling and axon regeneration that were induced by melanopsin. Thus, our results provide a strategy to promote axon regeneration after CNS injury by modulating neuronal activity through GPCR signaling.axon regeneration | neuronal activity | melanopsin | GPCR | mTOR S evered axons in the adult mammalian CNS do not spontaneously regenerate to restore lost functions. The failure of axons to regenerate is mainly attributed to the diminished growth capacity of neurons as well as an inhibitory environment (1-6). Optic nerves have been extensively studied for mechanisms regulating axon regeneration in CNS. When presented with permissive substrates such as a sciatic nerve graft, only axons of small populations of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) regrow into the graft (7). When the intrinsic growth program is boosted, distinct subtypes of RGCs regenerate their axons (8). These findings indicate that the differential responses of RGCs to axotomy and growth stimulation are related to their intrinsic properties. One of the critical determinants of the intrinsic regenerative abilities of adult RGCs is neuronal mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity (9). In retinal axons, the loss of the potential to regrow is accompanied by down-regulation of mTOR activity in RGCs with maturation, and further reduction after axotomy. However, a small percentage of RGCs maintain high mTOR activation levels after optic nerve crush (9, 10). One can ask whether specific subsets of RGCs differ in their ability to maintain mTOR activation. Deciphering the physiological mechanism behind the mTOR maintenance could help elucidate the differential responses of neurons to injury signals and develop strategies to promote axon regeneration.Type 1 melanopsin expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (M1 ipRGCs) and αRGCs are resistant to axotomy-induced cell death (8, 11). M1 ipRGCs mainl...

Phospholipase C-␥1 (PLC-␥1) is rapidly activated in response to growth factor stimulation and plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation through the generation of the second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, leading to the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and increased levels of intracellular calcium, respectively. Given the existing overlap between signaling pathways that are activated in response to oxidant injury and those involved in responding to proliferative stimuli, we investigated the role of PLC-␥1 during the cellular response to oxidative stress.