title: Chimeric melatonin mt1 and melatonin-related receptors. Identification of domains and residues participating in ligand binding and receptor activation of the melatonin mt1 receptor.
abstract: Melatonin receptors bind and become activated by melatonin. The melatonin-related receptor, despite sharing considerable amino acid sequence identity with melatonin receptors, does not bind melatonin and is currently an orphan G protein-coupled receptor. To investigate the structure and function of both receptors, we engineered a series of 14 chimeric receptor constructs, allowing us to determine the relative contribution of each transmembrane domain to ligand binding and receptor function. Results identified that when sequences encoding transmembrane domains 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 of the melatonin mt(1) receptor were replaced by the corresponding domains of the melatonin-related receptor, the resultant chimeric receptors all displayed specific 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding. Replacement of sequences incorporating transmembrane domains 4 or 6, however, resulted in chimeric receptors that displayed no detectable 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding. The subsequent testing of a "reverse" chimeric receptor in which sequences encoding transmembrane domains 4 and 6 of the melatonin-related receptor were replaced by the corresponding melatonin mt(1) receptor sequences identified specific 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding and melatonin-mediated modulation of cyclic AMP levels. To further investigate these findings, site-directed mutagenesis was performed on residues within transmembrane domain 6 of the melatonin mt(1) receptor. This identified Gly(258) (Gly(6.55)) as a critical residue required for high affinity ligand binding and receptor function.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neuroendocrinology Group, Division of Appetite and Energy Balance, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, United Kingdom. sco@rri.sari.ac.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mowat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delagrange
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D019556:COS Cells; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011485:Protein Binding; D015202:Protein Engineering; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D008550:Melatonin