title: Differential coupling of the vasopressin V1b receptor through compartmentalization within the plasma membrane.
abstract: We show here that the rat vasopressin V(1b) receptor simultaneously activates both the G(q/11)-inositol phosphate (IP) and G(s)-cAMP pathways when transiently expressed in Chinese hamster ovary, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293, and COS-7 cells and stimulated with arginine-vasopressin. Higher concentrations of the hormone, however, were needed to trigger the cAMP pathway. The nonmammalian analog arginine-vasotocin and the selective V(1b) agonist d[Cha(4)]vasopressin also activated the cAMP and IP pathways, although d[Cha(4)]-vasopressin elicited the two responses with equivalent potencies. We determined that the V(1b) receptor is present as a homodimer at the plasma membrane. Treatment of V(1b)-transfected HEK-293 cells with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, a drug known to dissociate cholesterol-rich domains of the plasma membrane, shifted the EC(50) of the vasopressin-induced cAMP accumulation to lower concentrations and, remarkably, increased the hormone efficacy related to the activation of this second messenger system. In parallel, the vasopressin-mediated activation of the IP pathway was slightly reduced without modification of its EC(50). These results suggest that, as with many other G protein-coupled receptors, when transfected in heterologous cell systems, the V(1b) receptor forms dimers that signal differentially through the G(q/11) and G(s) proteins depending on the nature of the ligand as well as on its localization within specialized compartments of the plasma membrane. The present study thus illustrates how signal transduction associated with the activation of a G protein-coupled receptor can be versatile and highly dependent on both the cell context and the chemical nature of the extracellular signaling messenger.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orcel
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albizu
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perkovska
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durroux
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendre
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ansanay
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mouillac
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabié
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D019556:COS Cells; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D019281:Dimerization; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / Q000502:physiology; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs