title: The relaxin family peptide receptor 3 activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 through a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism.
abstract: Human gene 3 relaxin (H3 relaxin) is a member of the relaxin/insulin family of peptides. Neuropeptides mediate behavioral responses to stress and regulates appetite; however, the cell signaling mechanisms that control these events remain to be identified. The relaxin family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3, formerly GPCR135 or SALPR) was characterized as the receptor for H3 relaxin, functionally coupled to the inhibition of cAMP. We have identified that RXFP3 stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 (CHO-RXFP3) and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 (HEK-RXFP3) cells activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 when stimulated with H3 relaxin and an H3 relaxin B-chain (dimer) peptide. Using inhibitors of cellular signaling proteins, we subsequently determined the mechanism of ERK1/2 activation by RXFP3. ERK1/2 phosphorylation requires the activation of G(i/o) proteins and seems to require receptor internalization and/or compartmentalization into lipid-rich environments. ERK1/2 activation also predominantly occurred via the activation of a protein kinase C-dependent pathway, although activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Src tyrosine kinase were also involved to a lesser extent. The mechanisms underlying ERK1/2 phosphorylation were similar in both CHO-RXFP3 and HEK-RXFP3 cells, although some differences were evident. Phospholipase Cbeta and the transactivation of endogenous epidermal growth factor receptors both played a role in RXFP3-mediated ERK1/2 activation in HEK293 cells; however, they were not involved in RXFP3-mediated ERK1/2 activation in the CHO-K1 cell background. The pathways identified in CHO- and HEK-transfected cells were also used in the murine SN56 neuronal cell line, suggesting that these pathways are also important for RXFP3-mediated signaling in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, PO Box 13E, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: van der Westhuizen
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Werry
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D019281:Dimerization; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D012065:Relaxin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D048490:raf Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go