title: Structure and function of the melanocortin2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP).
abstract: The melanocortin2 (MC2), or ACTH receptor, requires MC2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP) for function, and individuals lacking MRAP are ACTH-resistant and glucocorticoid-deficient. MRAP facilitates trafficking of the MC2 receptor to the plasma membrane and is absolutely required for ACTH binding and stimulation of cAMP. MRAP, which contains a single transmembrane domain, has a unique structure, an antiparallel homodimer. It can be isolated from the plasma membrane in a complex with the MC2 receptor. A short sequence just aminoterminal to the transmembrane domain of MRAP is essential for dual topology, while the transmembrane region is not; both are necessary for function. Deletion or alanine-substitution of other aminoterminal regions yields MRAP mutants that promote surface expression of the MC2 receptor but not receptor signaling. These results identify two distinct actions of MRAP: to permit trafficking of the MC2 receptor, and to allow surface receptor binding and signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States. patricia_hinkle@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hinkle
authors.forename: Julien A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sebag
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary
chemical_list: C458099:MRAP protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone