title: Opposite contribution of two ligand-selective determinants in the N-terminal hormone-binding exodomain of human gonadotropin receptors.
abstract: The nine leucine-rich repeat-containing exodomains of the human FSH receptor (hFSH-R) and the human LH/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (hLH-R) harbor molecular determinants that allow the mutually exclusive binding of human FSH (hFSH) and human LH (hLH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) when these hormones are present in physiological concentrations. Previously, we have shown that the beta-strands of hLH-R leucine-rich repeats 3 and 6 can confer full hCG/hLH responsiveness and binding when simultaneously introduced into a hFSH-R background without affecting the receptor's responsiveness to hFSH. In the present study, we have determined the nature of contribution of each of these two beta-strands in conferring hCG/hLH responsiveness to this mutant hFSH-R. Human LH-R beta-strand 3 appeared to function as a positive hCG/hLH determinant by increasing the hCG/hLH responsiveness of the hFSH-R. In contrast, mutagenesis of hFSH-R beta-strand 6, rather than the introduction of its corresponding hLH-R beta-strand, appeared to allow the interaction of hCG/hLH with the hFSH-R. Hence, hFSH-R beta-strand 6 functions as a negative determinant and, as such, restrains binding of hCG/hLH to the hFSH-R. Detailed mutagenic analysis revealed that the ability of the hFSH-R to interact with hCG/hLH depends primarily on the identity of two amino acids (Asn104, a positive LH-R determinant, and Lys179 a negative FSH-R determinant) that are situated on the C-terminal ends of beta-strands 3 and 6, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Vischer
authors.forename: Joke C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Granneman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogerd
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine; D008024:Ligands; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008024:Ligands; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011974:Receptors, LH; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D007930:Leucine