Specific and direct modulation of the interaction between adhesion GPCR GPR56/ADGRG1 and tissue transglutaminase 2 using synthetic ligands.

Blocking the interaction between cell-surface receptors and their ligands is a proven therapeutic strategy. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are key cell-surface receptors that regulate numerous pathophysiological processes, and their large extracellular regions (ECRs) mediate ligand binding and function. The aGPCR GPR56/ADGRG1 regulates central nervous system myelination and melanoma progression by interacting with its ligand, tissue transglutaminase 2 (TG2), but the molecular basis for this interaction is largely undefined. Here, we show that the C-terminal portion of TG2 directly interacted with the GPR56 ECR with high-nanomolar affinity, and used site-directed mutagenesis to identify a patch of conserved residues on the pentraxin/laminin-neurexin-sex-hormone-binding-globulin-like (PLL) domain of GPR56 as the TG2 binding site. Importantly, we also show that the GPR56-TG2 interaction was blocked by previously-reported synthetic proteins, termed monobodies, that bind the GPR56 ECR in a domain- and species-specific manner. This work provides unique tools to modulate aGPCR-ligand binding and establishes a foundation for the development of aGPCR-targeted therapeutics.

Stachel-independent modulation of GPR56/ADGRG1 signaling by synthetic ligands directed to its extracellular region.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) play critical roles in diverse biological processes, including neurodevelopment and cancer progression. aGPCRs are characterized by large and diverse extracellular regions (ECRs) that are autoproteolytically cleaved from their membrane-embedded signaling domains. Although ECRs regulate receptor function, it is not clear whether ECRs play a direct regulatory role in G-protein signaling or simply serve as a protective cap for the activating "Stachel" sequence. Here, we present a mechanistic analysis of ECR-mediated regulation of GPR56/ADGRG1, an aGPCR with two domains [pentraxin and laminin/neurexin/sex hormonebinding globulin-like (PLL) and G protein-coupled receptor autoproteolysis-inducing (GAIN)] in its ECR. We generated a panel of high-affinity monobodies directed to each of these domains, from which we identified activators and inhibitors of GPR56-mediated signaling. Surprisingly, these synthetic ligands modulated signaling of a GPR56 mutant defective in autoproteolysis and hence, in Stachel peptide exposure. These results provide compelling support for a ligand-induced and ECR-mediated mechanism that regulates aGPCR signaling in a transient and reversible manner, which occurs in addition to the Stachel-mediated activation.

Structural Basis for Regulation of GPR56/ADGRG1 by Its Alternatively Spliced Extracellular Domains.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) play critical roles in diverse neurobiological processes including brain development, synaptogenesis, and myelination. aGPCRs have large alternatively spliced extracellular regions (ECRs) that likely mediate intercellular signaling; however, the precise roles of ECRs remain unclear. The aGPCR GPR56/ADGRG1 regulates both oligodendrocyte and cortical development. Accordingly, human GPR56 mutations cause myelination defects and brain malformations. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the GPR56 ECR, the first structure of any complete aGPCR ECR, in complex with an inverse-agonist monobody, revealing a GPCR-Autoproteolysis-Inducing domain and a previously unidentified domain that we term Pentraxin/Laminin/neurexin/sex-hormone-binding-globulin-Like (PLL). Strikingly, PLL domain deletion caused increased signaling and characterizes a GPR56 splice variant. Finally, we show that an evolutionarily conserved residue in the PLL domain is critical for oligodendrocyte development in vivo. Thus, our results suggest that the GPR56 ECR has unique and multifaceted regulatory functions, providing novel insights into aGPCR roles in neurobiology.

Structural Basis of Latrophilin-FLRT-UNC5 Interaction in Cell Adhesion.

Fibronectin leucine-rich repeat transmembrane proteins (FLRTs) are cell-adhesion molecules with emerging functions in cortical development and synapse formation. Their extracellular regions interact with latrophilins (LPHNs) to mediate synapse development, and with Uncoordinated-5 (UNC5)/netrin receptors to control the migration of neurons in the developing cortex. Here, we present the crystal structures of FLRT3 in isolation and in complex with LPHN3. The LPHN3/FLRT3 structure reveals that LPHN3 binds to FLRT3 at a site distinct from UNC5. Structure-based mutations specifically disrupt LPHN3/FLRT3 binding, but do not disturb their interactions with other proteins or their cell-membrane localization. Thus, they can be used as molecular tools to dissect the functions of FLRTs and LPHNs in vivo. Our results suggest that UNC5 and LPHN3 can simultaneously bind to FLRT3, forming a trimeric complex, and that FLRT3 may form transsynaptic complexes with both LPHN3 and UNC5. These findings provide molecular insights for understanding the role of cell-adhesion proteins in synapse function.