title: Distinct motifs in the chemokine receptor CCR7 regulate signal transduction, receptor trafficking and chemotaxis.
abstract: The chemokine receptor CCR7, together with its ligands CCL19 and CCL21, is responsible for the correct homing and trafficking of dendritic cells and lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid tissues. Moreover, cancer cells can utilize CCR7 to metastasize to draining lymph nodes. However, information on CCR7 signaling leading to cell migration or receptor trafficking is sparse. Using novel CCR7 deletion mutants with successive truncations of the intracellular C-terminus and a mutant with impaired G-protein coupling, we identified distinct motifs responsible for various aspects of CCR7 signal transduction. Deleting a Ser/Thr motif at the tip of the intracellular tail of CCR7 resulted in an impaired chemokine-mediated activation of Erk1/2 kinases. Interestingly, deleting an additional adjacent motif restored the ability of CCL19-mediated Erk1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting the presence of a regulatory motif. Both the Ser/Thr and the regulatory motif are dispensable for signaling events leading to cell migration and receptor trafficking. A CCR7 mutant lacking virtually the complete C-terminus readily bound CCL19 and was internalized, but was unable to activate the G protein and to transmit signals required for cell migration, mobilization of [Ca2+](i) and Erk1/2 activation. Finally, G-protein coupling was critical for [Ca2+](i) mobilization, Erk1/2 phosphorylation and chemotaxis, but not for CCR7 trafficking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Division of Immunology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Petra S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaeuble
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groettrup
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Legler
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054415:Chemokine CCL19 / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054415:Chemokine CCL19; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins