Deletion analysis of the m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Molecular determinants for activation of but not coupling to the Gi guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein regulate receptor internalization.
In order to investigate whether coupling to and/or activation of guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) is involved in agonist-induced internalization of m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), a deletion mutant [des-(264-394)mAChR] was constructed that lacks a substantial portion of the putative third intracellular loop. The wild-type receptor and des-(264-394)mAChR stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells in essentially comparable amounts, exhibited identical antagonist-binding affinities. Consistent with the reported importance of the third cytoplasmic loop for Gi protein activation, the des-(264-394)mAChR showed a drastically reduced potential to mediate agonist-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. In contrast, the ability of the mutant receptor to couple to Gi proteins was not impaired, as demonstrated by a similar guanine-nucleotide-sensitive and pertussis-toxin-sensitive high-affinity agonist-receptor binding for both mAChRs. In contrast, des-(264-394)mAChR was hardly able to stimulate the GTPase activity of G proteins, suggesting impaired activation of Gi proteins rather than ineffective coupling to Gi proteins. Internalization of wild-type receptor and des-(264-394)mAChR was observed with similar agonist concentrations and showed similar maximal values. However, des-(264-394)mAChR displayed a significantly reduced rate of receptor internalization. A similar attenuation of wild-type mAChR internalization was obtained upon pertussis toxin treatment. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that the molecular determinants of the m4 mAChR involved in Gi-protein coupling and activation are not identical and that activation of, but not coupling to, Gi proteins regulates m4 mAChR internalization.
Institut für Pharmakologie, Universität GH Essen, Germany.
C J
CJ
Van Koppen
A
A
Sell
W
W
Lenz
K H
KH
Jakobs
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014162:Transfection
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D002217:Carbachol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases