title: Selective reconstitution of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor with G alpha q.
abstract: Identification of the molecular mechanisms that determine specificity of coupling interactions between gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPrs) and their cognate heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins is a fundamental step in understanding the signal transduction cascade initiated by receptor-ligand interaction. To explore these mechanisms in greater detail, we have developed an in situ reconstitution assay in chaotrope-extracted membranes from mouse fibroblasts expressing the GRPr, and we have used it to measure GRPr-catalyzed binding of GTP gamma S to purified G protein alpha subunits. Binding studies with 125I-labeled [D-Tyr6]bombesin(6-13) methyl ester (125I-Tyr-ME), a GRPr specific antagonist, show a single binding site with a Kd = 1.4 nM +/- 0.4 (mean +/- SD, n = 3) and capacity of 15-22 pmol of receptor per mg of protein in the extracted membrane preparations, representing a 2- to 3-fold enrichment of binding sites compared with the membranes before extraction. Quantitative ligand displacement analysis using various unlabeled GRPr agonists shows a rank order of potency characteristic of the GRPr: bombesin > or = GRP > > neuromedin B. Reconstitution of urea extracted membranes with a purified G alpha q showed that receptor-catalyzed binding of GTP gamma S was dependent on agonist (GRP) and G beta gamma subunits. The EC50 for GRP was 3.5 nM, which correlates well with the reported Kd of 3.1 nM for GRP binding to GRPr expressed in mouse fibroblasts [Benya, R. V., et al. (1994) Mol. Pharmacol. 46, 235-245]. The apparent Kd for bovine brain G beta gamma in this assay was 60 nM, and the Km for squid retinal G alpha q was 90 nM. The GRPr-catalyzed binding of GTP gamma S is selective for G alpha q, since we did not detect receptor-catalyzed exchange using either G alpha i/o or G alpha t. These data demonstrate that GRPr can functionally couple to G alpha q but not to the pertussis toxin-sensitive G alpha i/o or retinal specific G alpha t. This in situ receptor reconstitution method will allow molecular characterization of G protein coupling to other heptahelical receptors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Battey
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Northup
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins