title: Conserved amino acids participate in the structure networks deputed to intramolecular communication in the lutropin receptor.
abstract: The luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) particularly susceptible to spontaneous pathogenic gain-of-function mutations. Protein structure network (PSN) analysis on wild-type LHR and two constitutively active mutants, combined with in vitro mutational analysis, served to identify key amino acids that are part of the regulatory network responsible for propagating communication between the extracellular and intracellular poles of the receptor. Highly conserved amino acids in the rhodopsin family GPCRs participate in the protein structural stability as network hubs in both the inactive and active states. Moreover, they behave as the most recurrent nodes in the communication paths between the extracellular and intracellular sides in both functional states with emphasis on the active one. In this respect, non-conservative loss-of-function mutations of these amino acids is expected to impair the most relevant way of communication between activating mutation sites or hormone-binding domain and G protein recognition regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Krassimira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Angelova
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felline
authors.forename: Moon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puett
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fanelli
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011974:Receptors, LH; D000242:Cyclic AMP