ABSTRACT
Recently, we have identified three distinct types of bullfrog GnRH receptor (designated bfGnRHR-1, bfGnRHR-2, and bfGnRHR-3). In the present study, we have isolated three GnRHR clones in Rana dybowskii (dyGnRHR-1, dyGnRHR-2, and dyGnRHR-3). Despite high homology of dyGnRHRs with the corresponding bfGnRHRs, dyGnRHRs revealed different signaling pathways and ligand sensitivity compared with the bfGnRHR counterparts. Activation of dyGnRHRs with GnRH stimulated cAMP-mediated gene expression. However, dyGnRHR-3 but not dyGnRHR-1 and -2 induced c-fos promoter-driven gene expression. Consistently, dyGnRHR-1 and dyGnRHR-2 were not able to increase GnRH-induced inositol phosphate accumulation, whereas all bfGnRHRs and dyGnRHR-3 were, indicating that dyGnRHR-1 and dyGnRHR-2 are coupled to solely G(s), whereas all bfGnRHRs and dyGnRHR-3 are coupled to both G(s) and G(q/11). Moreover, dyGnRHR-1 and dyGnRHR-2 showed about 10-fold less sensitivity to each ligand than that of the bfGnRHR counterparts. Using type 1 chimeric and point-mutated receptors, we further elucidated that specific amino acids, Ala/Thr(201) in extracellular loop 2 and Leu/Phe(290) in transmembrane domain 6 of the type 1 receptor, are responsible for ligand sensitivity and signal transduction pathway. Particularly, substitution of Leu(290) to Phe in dyGnRHR-1 increased GnRH-induced inositol phosphate production as well as c-fos promoter-driven gene expression whereas substitution of Phe(290) to Leu in bfGnRHR-1 decreased those activities. Collectively, these results demonstrate the presence of three types of GnRHR in amphibians, and suggest species- and type-specific ligand recognition and different signaling pathways in frog GnRHRs.
Subject(s)
Point Mutation/physiology , Receptors, LHRH/chemistry , Receptors, LHRH/genetics , Signal Transduction/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Gene Expression , HeLa Cells , Humans , Ligands , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutagenesis/physiology , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Ranidae , Receptors, LHRH/metabolism , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
We previously demonstrated the presence of three distinct types of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) in a bullfrog (denoted bfGnRHR-1, bfGnRHR-2, and bfGnRHR-3). The bfGnRHRs exhibited differential tissue distribution and ligand selectivity. In the present study, we demonstrated the desensitization and internalization kinetics of these receptors in both transiently-transfected HEK293 cells and retrovirus-mediated stable cells. The time-course accumulation of the inositol phosphate in response to GnRH revealed that bfGnRHR-1 and -2 were rapidly desensitized, whereas bfGnRHR-3 was slowly desensitized. A comparison of the internalization kinetics revealed the most rapid rate and highest extent of internalization of bfGnRHR-2 among the three receptors. Interestingly, the mechanisms that underlie the receptor internalization appear to differ from each other. Internalization of bfGnRHR-1 was dependent on both dynamin and beta-arrestin, whereas those of bfGnRHR-2 and -3 were dependent on dynamin, but not on arrestin. These results, therefore, suggest that differential regulatory mechanisms for desensitization and internalization of the GnRHR are involved in diverse cellular and physiological responses to GnRH stimulation.
