Gq activity- and β-arrestin-1 scaffolding-mediated ADGRG2/CFTR coupling are required for male fertility

Luminal fluid reabsorption plays a fundamental role in male fertility. We demonstrated that the ubiquitous GPCR signaling proteins Gq and β-arrestin-1 are essential for fluid reabsorption because they mediate coupling between an orphan receptor ADGRG2 (GPR64) and the ion channel CFTR. A reduction in protein level or deficiency of ADGRG2, Gq or β-arrestin-1 in a mouse model led to an imbalance in pH homeostasis in the efferent ductules due to decreased constitutive CFTR currents. Efferent ductule dysfunction was rescued by the specific activation of another GPCR, AGTR2. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that β-arrestin-1 acts as a scaffold for ADGRG2/CFTR complex formation in apical membranes, whereas specific residues of ADGRG2 confer coupling specificity for different G protein subtypes, this specificity is critical for male fertility. Therefore, manipulation of the signaling components of the ADGRG2-Gq/β-arrestin-1/CFTR complex by small molecules may be an effective therapeutic strategy for male infertility.

Computational Methods for the Prediction of GPCRs Coupling Selectivity

GPCRs comprise a wide and diverse class of eukaryotic transmembrane proteins with well-established pharmacological significance. As a consequence of recent genome projects, there is a wealth of information at the sequence level that lacks any functional annotation. These receptors, often quoted as orphan GPCRs, could potentially lead to novel drug targets. However, typical experiments that aim at elucidating their function are hampered by the lack of knowledge on their selective coupling partners at the interior of the cell, the G-proteins. Up-to-date, computational efforts to predict properties of GPCRs have been focused mainly on the ligand-binding specificity, while the aspect of coupling has been less studied. Here, we present the main motivations, drawbacks, and results from the application of bioinformatics techniques to predict the coupling specificity of GPCRs to G-proteins, and discuss the application of the most successful methods in both experimental works that focus on a single receptor and large-scale genome annotation studies.

Coupling Specificity of NOP Opioid Receptors to Pertussis-Toxin-Sensitive Gα Proteins in Adult Rat Stellate Ganglion Neurons Using Small Interference RNA

The opioid receptor-like 1 (NOP or ORL1) receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor the endogenous ligand of which is the heptadecapeptide, nociceptin (Noc). NOP receptors are known to modulate pain processing at spinal, supraspinal, and peripheral levels. Previous work has demonstrated that NOP receptors inhibit N-type Ca2+ channel currents in rat sympathetic stellate ganglion (SG) neurons via pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive Gαi/o subunits. However, the identification of the specific Gα subunit that mediates the Ca2+ current modulation is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to examine coupling specificity of Noc-activated NOP receptors to N-type Ca2+ channels in SG neurons. Small interference RNA (siRNA) transfection was employed to block the expression of PTX-sensitive Gα subunits. RT-PCR results showed that siRNA specifically decreased the expression of the intended Gα subunit. Evaluation of cell surface protein expression and Ca2+ channel modulation were assessed by immunofluorescence staining and electrophysiological recordings, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of mRNA of the intended siRNA target Gα protein was examined by RT-PCR experiments. Fluorescence imaging showed that Gαi1, Gαi3, and Gαo were expressed in SG neurons. The transfection of Gαi1-specific siRNA resulted in a significant decrease in Noc-mediated Ca2+ current inhibition, while silencing of either Gαi3 or Gαo was without effect. Taken together, these results suggest that in SG neurons Gαi1 subunits selectively couple NOP receptors to N-type Ca2+ channels.

Molecular dissection of G protein preference using Gsα chimeras reveals novel ligand signaling of GPCRs

Although only 16 genes have been identified in mammals, several Gα subunits can be simultaneously activated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate their complicated functions. Current GPCR assays are limited in the evaluation of selective Gα activation, thus not allowing a comprehensive pathway screening. Because adenylyl cyclases are directly activated by Gsα and the carboxyl termini of the various Gα proteins determine their receptor coupling specificity, we proposed a set of chimeric Gsα where the COOH-terminal five amino acids are replaced by those of other Gα proteins and used these to dissect the potential Gα linked to a given GPCR. Unlike Gqα, G12α, and Giα outputs, compounding the signals from several Gα members, the chimeric Gsα proteins provide a superior molecular approach that reflects the previously uncharacterized pathways of GPCRs under the same cAMP platform. This is, to our knowledge, the first time allowing verification of the whole spectrum of Gα coupling preference of adenosine A1 receptor, reported to couple to multiple G proteins and modulate many physiological processes. Furthermore, we were able to distinguish the uncharacterized pathways between the two neuromedin U receptors (NMURs), which distribute differently but are stimulated by a common agonist. In contrast to the Gq signals mainly conducted by NMUR1, NMUR2 routed preferentially to the Gi pathways. Dissecting the potential Gα coupling to these GPCRs will promote an understanding of their physiological roles and benefit the pharmaceutical development of agonists/antagonists by exploiting the selective affinity toward a certain Gα subclass.