title: Epitope-tagged receptor knock-in mice reveal that differential desensitization of alpha2-adrenergic responses is because of ligand-selective internalization.
abstract: Although ligand-selective regulation of G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signaling and trafficking are well documented, little is known about whether ligand-selective effects occur on endogenous receptors or whether such effects modify the signaling response in physiologically relevant cells. Using a gene targeting approach, we generated a knock-in mouse line, in which N-terminal hemagglutinin epitope-tagged alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor (AR) expression was driven by the endogenous mouse alpha(2A)AR gene locus. Exploiting this mouse line, we evaluated alpha(2A)AR trafficking and alpha(2A)AR-mediated inhibition of Ca(2+) currents in native sympathetic neurons in response to clonidine and guanfacine, two drugs used for treatment of hypertension, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and enhancement of analgesia through actions on the alpha(2A)AR subtype. We discovered a more rapid desensitization of Ca(2+) current suppression by clonidine than guanfacine, which paralleled a more marked receptor phosphorylation and endocytosis of alpha(2A)AR evoked by clonidine than by guanfacine. Clonidine-induced alpha(2A)AR desensitization, but not receptor phosphorylation, was attenuated by blockade of endocytosis with concanavalin A, indicating a critical role for internalization of alpha(2A)AR in desensitization to this ligand. Our data on endogenous receptor-mediated signaling and trafficking in native cells reveal not only differential regulation of G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis by different ligands, but also a differential contribution of receptor endocytosis to signaling desensitization. Taken together, our data suggest that these HA-alpha(2A)AR knock-in mice will serve as an important model in developing ligands to favor endocytosis or nonendocytosis of receptors, depending on the target cell and pathophysiology being addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Roujian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Youwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yunjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Danny G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Winder
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Angelotti
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Lee E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Limbird
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004705:Endocytosis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C547768:ADRA2A protein, human; C547769:Adra2a protein, mouse; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D016316:Guanfacine; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D003000:Clonidine; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine