Molecular basis for the interaction of histamine with the histamine H2 receptor.

We undertook these studies to characterize the molecular basis of the interaction of histamine with the H2 receptor. Key areas of homology in the structures of the histamine H2 and beta 2 adrenergic receptor suggested specific transmembrane amino acids that might be important for binding of histamine. A third transmembrane aspartic acid of the histamine receptor (Asp98), thought to serve as a counter anion that interacts with the cationic amine moiety of histamine, was mutated to Asn98, and the mutated receptor was expressed in Hepa cells. Removal of the negatively charged amino acid abolished both binding of the H2 receptor antagonist [methyl-3H]tiotidine and histamine stimulated increases in cellular cAMP content. Mutation of a fifth transmembrane aspartic acid (Asp186) to Ala186 or Asn186 by itself or in conjunction with mutation of another fifth transmembrane amino acid (Thr190 to Ala190) resulted in a loss of [methyl-3H] tiotidine binding, although the generation of cAMP in response to histamine was maintained. The histamine receptor with only a Thr190 to Ala190 or Cys190 mutation retained the ability to bind [methyl-3H]tiotidine, but both the affinity and efficacy of binding were reduced. These data lead us to propose a model for histamine binding in which Asp98 is essential for histamine binding and action, Asp186 defines H2 selectivity, and Thr190 is important in establishing the kinetics of histamine binding, but is not essential for H2 selectivity.     

Mutagenesis and molecular modeling reveal the importance of the 5-HT3 receptor F-loop

The 5-HT(3) receptor is a member of the Cys-loop family of ligand-gated ion channels. The extracellular domains of these proteins contain six amino acid loops (A-F) that converge to form the ligand binding site. In this study we have mutated 21 residues in or close to the 5-HT(3) receptor F-loop (Ile(192) to Gly(212)) to Ala or to a residue with similar chemical properties. Mutant receptors were expressed in HEK293 cells, and binding affinity was measured using [(3)H]granisetron. Two regions displayed decreases in binding affinity when mutated to Ala (Ile(192)-Arg(196) and Asp(204)-Ser(206)), but only one region was sensitive when mutated to chemically similar residues (Ile(192)-Val(201)). Homology modeling using acetylcholine-binding protein crystal structures with a variety of different bound ligands suggests there may be distinct movements of Trp(195) and Asp(204) upon ligand binding, indicating that these residues and their immediate neighbors have the ability to interact differently with different ligands. The models suggest predominantly lateral movement around Asp(204) and rotational movement around Trp(195), indicating the former is in a more flexible region. Overall our results are consistent with a flexible 5-HT(3) receptor F-loop with two regions that have specific but distinct roles in ligand binding.     

Molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis of human GALR1 galanin receptor defines determinants of receptor subtype specificity

Human galanin is a 30 amino acid neuropeptide that elicits a range of biological activities by interaction with G protein-coupled receptors. We have generated a model of the human GALR1 galanin receptor subtype (hGALR1) based on the alpha carbon maps of frog rhodopsin and investigated the significance of potential contact residues suggested by the model using site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of Phe186 within the second extracellular loop to Ala resulted in a 6-fold decrease in affinity for galanin, representing a change in free energy consistent with hydrophobic interaction. Our model suggests interaction between Phe186 of hGALR1 and Ala7 or Leu11 of galanin. Receptor subtype specificity was investigated by replacement of residues in hGALR1 with the corresponding residues in hGALR2 and use of the hGALR2-specific ligands hGalanin(2-30) and [D-Trp2]hGalanin(1-30). The His267Ile mutant receptor exhibited a pharmacological profile corresponding to that of hGALR1, suggesting that His267 is not involved in a receptor-ligand interaction. The mutation Phe115Ala resulted in a decreased binding affinity for hGalanin and for hGALR2-specific analogues, indicating Phe115 to be of structural importance to the ligand binding pocket of hGALR1 but not involved in direct ligand interaction. Analysis of Glu271Trp suggested that Glu271 of hGALR1 interacts with the N-terminus of galanin and that the Trp residue in the corresponding position in hGALR2 is involved in receptor subtype specificity of binding. Our model supports previous reports of Phe282 of hGALR1 interacting with Trp2 of galanin and His264 of hGALR1 interacting with Tyr9 of galanin.     

Structural elements of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor conferring subtype selectivity for benzodiazepine site ligands

gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors comprise a subfamily of ligand-gated ion channels whose activity can be modulated by ligands acting at the benzodiazepine binding site on the receptor. The benzodiazepine binding site was characterized using a site-directed mutagenesis strategy in which amino acids of the alpha5 subunit were substituted by their corresponding alpha1 residues. Given the high affinity and selectivity of alpha1-containing compared with alpha5-containing GABAA receptors for zolpidem, mutated alpha5 subunits were co-expressed with beta2 and gamma2 subunits, and the affinity of recombinant receptors for zolpidem was measured. One alpha5 mutant (bearing P162T, E200G, and T204S) exhibited properties similar to that of the alpha1 subunit, notably high affinity zolpidem binding and potentiation by zolpidem of GABA-induced chloride current. Two of these mutations, alpha5P162T and alpha5E200G, might alter binding pocket conformation, whereas alpha5T204S probably permits formation of a hydrogen bond with a proton acceptor in zolpidem. These three amino acid substitutions also influenced receptor affinity for CL218872. Our data thus suggest that corresponding amino acids of the alpha1 subunit, particularly alpha1-Ser204, are the crucial residues influencing ligand selectivity at the binding pocket of alpha1-containing receptors, and a model of this binding pocket is presented.     

Identification of residues important for ligand binding of thromboxane A2 receptor in the second extracellular loop using the NMR experiment-guided mutagenesis approach

The second extracellular loop (eLP2) of the thromboxane A(2) receptor (TP) had been proposed to be involved in ligand binding. Through two-dimensional (1)H NMR experiments, the overall three-dimensional structure of a constrained synthetic peptide mimicking the eLP2 had been determined by our group (Ruan, K.-H., So, S.-P., Wu, J., Li, D., Huang, A., and Kung, J. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 275-280). To further identify the residues involved in ligand binding, a TP receptor antagonist, SQ29,548 was used to interact with the synthetic peptide. High resolution two-dimensional (1)H NMR experiments, NOESY, and TOCSY were performed for the peptide, SQ29,548, and peptide with SQ29,548, respectively. Through completed (1)H NMR assignment and by comparing the different spectra, extra peaks were observed on the NOESY spectrum of the peptide with SQ29,548, which implied the contacts between residues of eLP2 at Val(176), Leu(185), Thr(186), and Leu(187) with SQ29,548 at position H2, H7, and H8. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to confirm the possible ligand-binding sites on native human TP receptor. Each of the four residues was mutated to the residues either in the same group, with different structure or different charged. The mutated receptors were then tested for their ligand binding activity. The receptor with V176L mutant retained binding activity to SQ29,548. All other mutations resulted in decreased or lost binding activity to SQ29,548. These mutagenesis results supported the prediction from NMR experiments in which Val(176), Leu(185), Thr(186), and Leu(187) are the possible residues involved in ligand binding. This information facilitates the understanding of the molecular mechanism of thromboxane A(2) binding to the important receptor and its signal transduction.     

Mutation of the high cysteine region of the human insulin receptor alpha-subunit increases insulin receptor binding affinity and transmembrane signaling

Our previous studies indicated that amino acid residues 240-250 in the cysteine-rich region of the human insulin receptor alpha-subunit constitute a site in which insulin binds (Yip, C. C., Hsu, H., Patel, R. G., Hawley, D. M., Maddux, B. A., and Goldfine, I. D. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 157, 321-329). We have now constructed a human insulin receptor mutant in which 3 residues in this sequence were altered (Thr-Cys-Pro-Pro-Pro-Tyr-Tyr-His-Phe-Gln-Asp to Thr-Cys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Asp-Phe-Gln-Asp) and have expressed this mutant in rat hepatoma (HTC) cells. When compared with cells transfected with normal insulin receptors, cells transfected with mutant receptors had an increase in insulin-binding affinity and a decrease in the dissociation of bound 125I-insulin. Studies using solubilized receptors also demonstrated that mutant receptors had a higher binding affinity than normal receptors. In contrast, cells transfected with either mutant or normal receptors bound monoclonal antibodies against the receptor alpha-subunit with equal affinity. When receptor tyrosine kinase activity and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake were measured, cells transfected with mutant insulin receptors were more sensitive to insulin than cells transfected with normal receptors. These findings lend further support therefore to the hypothesis that amino acid sequence 240-250 of the human insulin receptor alpha-subunit constitutes one site that interacts with insulin, and they indicate that mutations in this site can influence insulin receptor binding and transmembrane signaling.     

Occurrence of atypical histamine H2 receptors in the wall of the frog subclavian vein

Selective H2-histamine agonist dimaprit was shown to produce relaxation of the isolated frog subclavian vein, with it persisting under the effect of selective H2-histamine antagonist cimetidine. Possible nonspecific mechanisms of relaxation produced by histamine are discussed. The data presented do not exclude that there are atypical H2-histamine receptors in subclavian vein of frogs, the activation of which initiates the attenuation of the active tension.     

Possible role for ligand binding of histidine 81 in the second transmembrane domain of the rat prostaglandin F2alpha receptor

For the five principal prostanoids PGD2, PGE2, PGF2alpha, prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 eight receptors have been identified that belong to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors. They display an overall homology of merely 30%. However, single amino acids in the transmembrane domains such as an Arg in the seventh transmembrane domain are highly conserved. This Arg has been identified as part of the ligand binding pocket. It interacts with the carboxyl group of the prostanoid. The aim of the current study was to analyze the potential role in ligand binding of His-81 in the second transmembrane domain of the rat PGF2alpha receptor, which is conserved among all PGF2alpha receptors from different species. Molecular modeling suggested that this residue is located in close proximity to the ligand binding pocket Arg 291 in the 7th transmembrane domain. The His81 (H) was exchanged by site-directed mutagenesis to Gln (Q), Asp (D), Arg (R), Ala (A) and Gly (G). The receptor molecules were N-terminally extended by a Flag epitope for immunological detection. All mutant proteins were expressed at levels between 50% and 80% of the wild type construct. The H81Q and H81D receptor bound PGF2alpha with 2-fold and 25-fold lower affinity, respectively, than the wild type receptor. Membranes of cells expressing the H81R, H81A or H81G mutants did not bind significant amounts of PGF2alpha. Wild type receptor and H81Q showed a shallow pH optimum for PGF2alpha binding around pH 5.5 with almost no reduction of binding at higher pH. In contrast the H81D mutant bound PGF2alpha with a sharp optimum at pH 4.5, a pH at which the Asp side chain is partially undissociated and may serve as a hydrogen bond donor as do His and Gln at higher pH values. The data indicate that the His-81 in the second transmembrane domain of the PGF2alpha receptor in concert with Arg-291 in the seventh transmembrane domain may be involved in ligand binding, most likely not by ionic interaction with the prostaglandin's carboxyl group but rather as a hydrogen bond donor.     

Expression levels strongly affect ligand-induced sequestration of B2 bradykinin receptors in transfected cells

Transfection of cells with expression vectors is one of the most important tools used to assess the effects of receptor mutations on ligand-induced receptor sequestration. Most transfection methods give rise to transiently or stably transfected clones with a wide range of receptor expression levels that may also depend on the mutations made. It is, therefore, important to determine how the regulation of the receptors depends on their numbers per cell. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells expressing high levels of B(2) kinin receptors, we observed poor sequestration indicated by <20% reduction in cell surface receptor number after 10 min of stimulation with 1 microM bradykinin (BK) compared with >70% in low-expressing cells. Whereas the rate of [(3)H]BK internalization (internalized [(3)H]BK in percentage of total bound [(3)H]BK) in low-expressing cells was independent of the ligand-concentration used, in high-expressing cells a strong rate decrease was observed with higher (>1 nM) concentrations. Lower ligand concentrations, however, led to internalization rates identical to those obtained in low-expressing cells. Transiently transfected HEK and COS-7 cells showed results similar to those of stably high-expressing cells. Our results demonstrate the difficulty in determining the internalization pattern of (mutated) B(2) kinin receptors, and possibly of G protein-coupled receptors in general, using a sequestration assay in high-expressing cells or transiently transfected cells with high numbers of receptors per transfected cell. However, the receptor (mutant)-specific internalization rate can be measured, provided that the ligand concentrations used are below a threshold at which the internalization rate is still independent of the ligand concentration.     

Structure analysis of bone morphogenetic protein-2 type I receptor complexes reveals a mechanism of receptor inactivation in juvenile polyposis syndrome

Bone morphogenetic proteins regulate many developmental processes during embryogenesis as well as tissue homeostasis in the adult. Signaling of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) is accomplished by binding to two types of serine/threonine kinase transmembrane receptors termed type I and type II. Because a large number of ligands signal through a limited number of receptors, ligand-receptor interaction in the BMP superfamily is highly promiscuous, with a ligand binding to various receptors and a receptor binding many different BMP ligands. In this study we investigate the interaction of BMP-2 with its two high affinity type I receptors, BMP receptors IA (BMPR-IA) and BMPR-IB. Interestingly, 50% of the residues in the BMP-2 binding epitope of the BMPR-IA receptor are exchanged in BMPR-IB without a decrease in binding affinity or specificity for BMP-2. Our structural and functional analyses show that promiscuous binding of BMP-2 to both type I receptors is achieved by inherent backbone and side-chain flexibility as well as by variable hydration of the ligand-receptor interface enabling the BMP-2 surface to adapt to different receptor geometries. Despite the high degree of amino acid variability found in BMPR-IA and BMPR-IB binding equally to BMP-2, three single point missense mutations in the ectodomain of BMPR-IA cannot be tolerated. In juvenile polyposis syndrome these mutations have been shown to inactivate BMPR-IA. On the basis of our biochemical and biophysical analyses, we can show that the mutations, which are located outside the ligand binding epitope, alter the local or global fold of the receptor, thereby inactivating BMPR-IA and causing a loss of the BMP-2 tumor suppressor function in colon epithelial cells.     

Conserved amino acid residues that are important for ligand binding in the type I gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor are required for high potency of GnRH II at the type II GnRH receptor

GnRH I regulates reproduction. A second form, designated GnRH II, selectively binds type II GnRH receptors. Amino acids of the type I GnRH receptor required for binding of GnRH I (Asp2.61(98), Asn2.65(102), and Lys3.32(121)) are conserved in the type II GnRH receptor, but their roles in receptor function are unknown. We have delineated their functions using mutagenesis, signaling and binding assays, immunoblotting, and computational modeling. Mutating Asp2.61(97) to Glu or Ala, Asn2.65(101) to Ala, or Lys3.32(120) to Gln decreased potency of GnRH II-stimulated inositol phosphate production. Consistent with proposed roles in ligand recognition, mutations eliminated measurable binding of GnRH II, whereas expression of mutant receptors was not decreased. In detailed analysis of how these residues affect ligand-dependent signaling, [Trp2]-GnRH I showed lesser decreases in potency than GnRH I at the Asp2.61(97)Glu mutant. In contrast, [Trp2]-GnRH II showed the same loss of potency as GnRH II at this mutant. This suggests that Asp2.61(97) contributes to recognition of His2 of GnRH I, but not of GnRH II. GnRH II showed a large decrease in potency at the Asn2.65(101)Ala mutant compared with analogs lacking the CO group of Gly10NH2. This suggests that Asn2.65(101) recognizes Gly10NH2 of GnRH II. GnRH agonists showed large decreases in potency at the Lys3.32(120)Gln mutant, but antagonist activity was unaffected. This suggests that Lys3.32(120) recognizes agonists, but not antagonists, as in the type I receptor. These data indicate that roles of conserved residues are similar, but not identical, in the type I and II GnRH receptors.     

Coactivation of an endogenous progesterone receptor by TIF2 in COS-7 cells

Transfection experiments, a powerful tool to study the function of steroid hormone receptors and their coregulators, are often performed in COS-7 cells, because of high transfection efficiencies and expression levels. Here we report on the presence in COS-7 cells of an endogenous steroid hormone receptor, which is highly responsive to progesterone and the synthetic steroids R1881 and ORG2058, but not to 5 alpha-DHT. A 10-fold excess of the progesterone antagonist RU486 abolishes the stimulation by progesterone, while cotransfection with the coactivator TIF2 increases its activity 6- to 7-fold. A comparison of the ligand specificity with transfected androgen or progesterone receptors indicates that the endogenous receptor is a progesterone receptor. Its presence is confirmed by steroid-binding experiments, RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. Consequently, progesterone receptor function may be studied conveniently in COS-7 cells without cotransfection of receptor, but the endogenous receptor may interfere in studies of ligand specificity and coactivation of cotransfected receptors.     

The hydrophobic residues phenylalanine 184 and leucine 187 in the type-1 parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor functionally interact with the amino-terminal portion of PTH-(1-34).

Recent mutagenesis and cross-linking studies suggest that three regions of the PTH-1 receptor play important roles in ligand interaction: (i) the extreme NH(2)-terminal region, (ii) the juxtamembrane base of the amino-terminal extracellular domain, and (iii) the third extracellular loop. In this report, we analyzed the second of these segments in the rat PTH-1 receptor (residues 182-190) and its role in functional interaction with short PTH fragment analogs. Twenty-eight singly substituted PTH-1 receptors were transiently transfected into COS-7 cells and shown to be fully expressed by surface antibody binding analysis. Alanine-scanning analysis identified Phe(184), Arg(186), Leu(187), and Ile(190) as important determinants of maximum binding of (125)I-labeled bovine PTH-(1-34) and (125)I-labeled bovine PTH-(3-34) and determinants of responsiveness to the NH(2)-terminal analog, PTH-(1-14) in cAMP stimulation assays. Alanine mutations at these four sites augmented the ability of the COOH-terminal peptide [Glu(22), Trp(23)]PTHrP-(15-36) to inhibit the cAMP response induced by PTH-(1-34). At Phe(184) and Leu(187), hydrophobic substitutions (e.g. Ile, Met, or Leu) preserved PTH-(1-34)-mediated cAMP signaling potency, whereas hydrophilic substitutions (e.g. Asp, Glu, Lys, or Arg) weakened this response by 20-fold or more, as compared with the unsubstituted receptor's response. The results suggest that hydrophobicity at positions occupied by Phe(184) and Leu(187) in the PTH-1 receptor plays an important role in determining functional interaction with the 3-14 portion of PTH.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of a single residue changes the binding properties of the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor from a human to a rat pharmacology.

Mesulergine displays approximately 50-fold higher affinity for the rat 5-HT2 receptor than for the human receptor. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of cDNA clones encoding the human and rat 5-HT2 receptors reveals only 3 amino acid differences in their transmembrane domains. Only one of these differences (Ser----Ala at position 242 of TM5) is near to regions implicated in ligand binding by G protein-coupled receptors. We investigated the effect of mutating Ser242 of the human 5-HT2 receptor to an Ala residue as is found in the rat clone. Both [3H]mesulergine binding and mesulergine competition of [3H]ketanserin binding showed high affinity for rat membranes and the mutant human clone but low affinity for the native human clone, in agreement with previous studies of human postmortem tissue. These studies suggest that a single naturally occurring amino acid change between the human and the rat 5-HT2 receptors makes a major contribution to their pharmacological differences.     

Human VPAC1 receptor selectivity filter. Identification of a critical domain for restricting secretin binding

The human VPAC1 receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) belongs to the class II family of G protein coupled receptors with seven transmembrane segments. It recognizes several VIP-related peptides and displays a very low affinity for secretin despite >70% homology between VIP and secretin. Conversely, the human secretin receptor has high affinity for secretin but low affinity for VIP. We took advantage of this reversed selectivity to identify a domain of the VPAC1 receptor responsible for selectivity toward secretin by constructing human VPAC1-secretin receptor chimeras. A first set of chimeras consisted of exchanging the entire N-terminal ectodomain or large parts of this domain. They were constructed by overlap PCR, transfected in COS-7 cells, and their ligand selectivity, expressed as the ratio of EC(50) for secretin/EC(50) for VIP (referred to as S/V), in stimulating cAMP production was measured. Two very informative chimeras respectively referred to as S144V and S123V were obtained by replacing the entire ectodomain or only the first 123 amino acids of the VPAC1 receptor by the corresponding sequences of the secretin receptor. Whereas S144V no longer discriminated between VIP and secretin (S/V = 1.2), S123V discriminated between the two peptides (S/V = 300) in the same manner as the wild-type VPAC1 receptor. The motif responsible for discrimination was determined by introducing small blocks or individual amino acids of secretin receptor in the 123-144 sequence of the S123V chimera. The data obtained from 14 new chimeras sustained that two nonadjacent pairs of amino acids, Gln(135) Thr(136) and Gly(140) Ser(141) in the C-terminal end of the N-terminal VPAC1 receptor ectodomain constitute a selective filter that strongly restricts access of secretin to the VPAC1 receptor.     

Inhibition of sequestration of human B2 bradykinin receptor by phenylarsine oxide or sucrose allows determination of a receptor affinity shift and ligand dissociation in intact cells

Depending on their interaction with intracellular proteins, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) often display different affinities for agonists at 37 degrees C. Determining the affinity at that temperature is often difficult in intact cells as most GPCRs are internalized after activation. When sequestration of the B2 bradykinin receptor (B2R) was inhibited by either 0.5 M sucrose or phenylarsine oxide (PAO), a shift in the affinity was detected when the incubation temperature was raised from 4 degrees C to 37 degrees C or lowered from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C. In contrast, binding of the antagonist [3H]NPC 17731 was temperature-independent. B2R mutants displayed different affinity shifts allowing conclusions on the role of the involved amino acids. By inhibiting receptor sequestration it was possible to determine also dissociation of [3H]BK and of [3H]NPC 17731 from intact cells at 37 degrees C. Surprisingly, both dissociation rates were markedly enhanced by the addition of unlabeled ligand, most likely via prevention of reassociation of dissociated [3H]ligand. This suggests that dissociated [3H]ligand cannot move freely away from the receptor. In summary, our data demonstrate that inhibition of receptor internalization either by PAO or sucrose provides an excellent method to study receptor function and the effects of mutations in intact cells.     

Mapping structural determinants within third intracellular loop that direct signaling specificity of type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor

The type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRH-R1) influences biological responses important for adaptation to stressful stimuli, through activation of multiple downstream effectors. The structural motifs within CRH-R1 that mediate G protein activation and signaling selectivity are unknown. The aim of this study was to gain insights about important structural determinants within the third intracellular loop (IC3) of the human CRH-R1α important for cAMP and ERK1/2 pathways activation and selectivity. We investigated the role of the juxtamembrane regions of IC3 by mutating amino acid cassettes or specific residues to alanine. Although simultaneous tandem alanine mutations of both juxtamembrane regions Arg(292)-Met(295) and Lys(311)-Lys(314) reduced ligand binding and impaired signaling, all other mutant receptors retained high affinity binding, indistinguishable from wild-type receptor. Agonist-activated receptors with tandem mutations at the proximal or distal terminal segments enhanced activation of adenylyl cyclase by 50-75% and diminished activation of inositol trisphosphate and ERK1/2 by 60-80%. Single Ala mutations identified Arg(292), Lys(297), Arg(310), Lys(311), and Lys(314) as important residues for the enhanced activation of adenylyl cyclase, partly due to reduced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity by pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. In contrast, mutation of Arg(299) reduced receptor signaling activity and cAMP response. Basic as well as aliphatic amino acids within both juxtamembrane regions were identified as important for ERK1/2 phosphorylation through activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins as well as G(q) proteins. These data uncovered unexpected roles for key amino acids within the highly conserved hydrophobic N- and C-terminal microdomains of IC3 in the coordination of CRH-R1 signaling activity.     

Structural and functional roles of small group-conserved amino acids present on helix-H7 in the β(2)-adrenergic receptor

Sequence analysis of the class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) reveals that most of the highly conserved sites are located in the transmembrane helices. A second level of conservation exists involving those residues that are conserved as a group characterized by small and/or weakly polar side chains (Ala, Gly, Ser, Cys, Thr). These positions can have group conservation levels of up to 99% across the class A GPCRs and have been implicated in mediating helix-helix interactions in membrane proteins. We have previously shown that mutation of group-conserved residues present on transmembrane helices H2-H4 in the β(2)-adrenergic receptor (β(2)-AR) can influence both receptor expression and function. We now target the group-conserved sites, Gly315(7.42) and Ser319(7.46), on H7 for structure-function analysis. Replacing Ser319(7.46) with smaller amino acids (Ala or Gly) did not influence the ability of the mutant receptors to bind to the antagonist dihydroalprenolol (DHA) but resulted in ~15-20% agonist-independent activity. Replacement of Ser319(7.46) with the larger amino acid leucine lowered the expression of the S319L mutant and its ability to bind DHA. Both the G315A and G315S mutants also exhibited agonist-independent signaling, while the G315L mutant did not show specific binding to DHA. These data indicate that Gly315(7.42) and Ser319(7.46) are stabilizing β(2)-AR in an inactive conformation. We discuss our results in the context of van der Waals interactions of Gly315(7.42) with Trp286(6.48) and hydrogen bonding interactions of Ser319(7.46) with amino acids on H1-H2-H7 and with structural water.     

H1-histaminergic activation stimulates inositol-1-phosphate accumulation in chromaffin cells

Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells maintained in vitro were prelabeled with [3H]inositol and the accumulation of [3H]inositol-1-phosphate, was determined following stimulation with a variety of pharmacological agents. Carbachol, bradykinin, and histamine produced significantly greater accumulation of [3H] inositol-1-phosphate over basal levels, with histamine producing the greatest effect. H1-histamine receptor antagonists, mepyramine, pyrilamine, tripelennamine and clemastine were all able to reduce or completely block the histamine response. The two specific H2-histamine receptor antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine, had no effect on this response. Histamine dose-response characteristics in the presence of mepyramine and clemastine suggest the H1 antagonism to be competitive in nature.