家鸡G蛋白偶联受体78基因的克隆与组织表达图谱分析

G蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)是一大类膜受体超家族,参与了机体几乎所有的生理过程,是一类重要信号分子受体。GPR78作为GPCR超家族的成员之一,属于孤儿型受体。目前,在脊椎动物中,针对该基因结构与功能的研究极少。本研究以家鸡为动物模型,通过RT-PCR方法克隆了GPR78基因的编码区序列,并探究了该基因在家鸡各组织中的表达情况。结果显示:家鸡GPR78基因编码区全长为1020 bp,含3个外显子,可编码1个长为339个氨基酸的7次跨膜受体;该基因在家鸡脑各功能区及垂体中高表达,而在其他外周组织中均不表达。本研究为后续探究GPR78基因在家鸡中的生理功能奠定基础。     

家鸡G蛋白偶联受体139基因的结构、序列及表达特征分析

G蛋白偶联受体139(GPR139)是一种孤儿受体。在脊椎动物中,针对其结构、表达和功能的研究相对缺乏。本文以家鸡大脑c DNA为模板,采用PCR方法,扩增并克隆得到家鸡GPR139(c GPR139)基因。结果显示:家鸡GPR139基因c DNA由2个外显子组成;ORF区域长1056 bp,编码351个氨基酸的前体蛋白,在其第三跨膜区末端包含D-R-Y基序,属于G蛋白偶联受体家族视紫红质亚家族。将家鸡GPR139前体蛋白与人、大鼠、小鼠GPR139前体蛋白的氨基酸序列进行比对,分别具有91.78%、89.17%、89.17%的相似度。采用RT-PCR方法,本研究也检测了家鸡GPR139的组织表达情况。结果显示:家鸡GPR139基因在大脑、中脑、小脑、后脑、下丘脑及垂体中表达量较高,而在卵巢、精巢、肺、肾脏、肌肉组织中,GPR139基因仅有微弱表达。这些结果首次揭示了GPR139基因在非哺乳动物(家鸡)中的结构特征和组织表达特点,为探究其在家鸡中的生理功能奠定一些基础。     

家鸡GPR15基因的克隆、功能探究及组织表达分析

孤儿受体G蛋白偶联受体15(GPR15)在哺乳动物肠道稳态以及炎症反应中发挥重要生理效应,但在非哺乳动物中,针对GPR15的研究几属空白。本文以家鸡Gallus gallus domesticus为模型,首次克隆了GPR15基因,并对其功能与组织表达进行了探究。结果显示:家鸡GPR15编码区cDNA长度为1 107 bp,由1个外显子组成,可编码368个氨基酸的受体蛋白。序列分析表明家鸡GPR15是具有7次跨膜结构的G蛋白偶联受体,且家鸡GPR15与人Homo sapiens、北美绿蜥蜴Anolis carolinensis、小鼠Mus musculus的GPR15具有约56%的氨基酸序列一致性;虽然系统进化树分析表明GPR15与爱帕琳肽受体(APLNR)有较近的进化关系,但在表达家鸡GPR15的HEK293细胞中,APLNR的内源性配体Apelin和Apela不能激活家鸡GPR15;此外,实时定量PCR分析发现GPR15在家鸡脾脏中高表达,在盲肠、肺中有中等水平表达,而在其他组织中微弱表达。上述结果为探究GPR15在禽类中的生理功能奠定了基础。     

家鸡G蛋白偶联受体161的基因克隆、分子进化和组织表达

G蛋白偶联受体161(GPR161)是G蛋白偶联受体家族孤儿受体家族成员,在哺乳动物晶状体发育调节和神经胚形成中具有重要作用。近年来研究发现该蛋白罕见地拥有类似支架蛋白的结构特征,暗示其信号转导机制不同于其他G蛋白偶联受体。本研究以家鸡Gallus gallus为动物模型,探究GPR161基因序列信息、分子遗传进化关系以及其组织表达图谱。家鸡GPR161基因编码区序列全长1 566 bp,编码具521个氨基酸的前体蛋白。序列分析显示,家鸡GPR161基因编码区与人Homo sapiens、小鼠Mus musculus、斑马鱼Danio rerio的氨基酸相似度分别为83.0%、82.6%、65.8%。分子进化遗传分析结果显示,GPR161基因在家鸡与斑马鱼的进化关系比家鸡与人或小鼠都更为疏远。利用荧光定量PCR探究家鸡GPR161基因在各组织的表达分布,结果显示,家鸡GPR161基因mRNA在精巢或卵巢、大脑、心脏、肌肉中有较高表达。本研究是鸟类中关于GPR161基因的首次报道,研究结果为进一步探究GPR161基因在鸟类中的生理效应提供参考。     

家鸡似G蛋白偶联受体119基因的克隆与组织表达分析

G蛋白偶联受体119(GPR119)是A型视紫红质G蛋白偶联受体家族成员。在哺乳动物中,该基因高表达于胰腺β细胞和PP细胞以及小肠组织的内分泌L细胞,参与胰岛素释放调节。本文以家鸡Gallus gallus小肠cDNA为模板,首次克隆到似GPR119新基因,将其命名为cGPR119b基因。结果显示:cGPR119b基因的cDNA全长954 bp,编码具317个氨基酸的前体蛋白。将家鸡GPR119b前体蛋白氨基酸序列与绿头鸭Anas platyrhynchos、绿海龟Chelonia mydas、西部锦龟Chrysemys picta bellii和火鸡Meleagris gallopavo的序列进行比对,分别具有79.9%、61.0%、62.3%、95.5%的相似度。利用反转录PCR和RACE技术,家鸡GPR119b的5'-UTR亦获分离,该片段678 bp。本研究亦采用实时荧光定量PCR探究cGPR119b基因的组织表达,发现其在大脑、肝脏、肾脏、卵巢、精巢、垂体、胰腺、皮肤、脂肪、肺、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠、直肠等组织中有表达,其中,在肝脏、肾脏、盲肠和精巢的表达量较高,在胰腺、皮肤、脂肪和肺组织中仅有微量表达。本研究为进一步探究cGPR119b基因在家鸡中的生理功能奠定了基础。     

植物G蛋白偶联受体及其在信号转导中的作用

G蛋白偶联受体(G protein-coupled receptors,GPCRs)是具有7个跨膜螺旋的蛋白质受体,是人体内最大的蛋白质超家族.GPCRs能调控细胞周期,参与多种植物信号通路以及影响一系列的代谢和分化活动.简要介绍了GPCR和G蛋白介导的信号转导机制,GPCRs的结构和植物GPCR及其在植物跨膜信号转导中的作用,并对GPCR的信号转导机制及植物抗病反应分子机制的研究提出展望.     

陆川猪GPR1基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

本试验旨在对陆川猪G蛋白偶联受体1(G protein-coupled receptor 1,GPR1)基因进行克隆及相关生物信息学分析。本研究根据NCBI上公布的野猪GPR1基因序列设计引物,应用RT-PCR技术扩增得到包含全长编码区在内的基因片段,应用生物信息学软件对陆川猪GPR1基因的理化性质,修饰结构,二级结构和三级结构进行分析。结果显示:GPR1基因编码区全长1 068 bp,编码355个氨基酸;与NCBI上公布的野猪(NM_001190244.1)、牛(NM_001206545.1)、人(NM_005279.3)、猕猴(AF100204.1)、小鼠(NM_146250.2)、大鼠(NM_012961.1)GPR1基因氨基酸序列的同源性分别为98.9%、90.4%、86.5%、86.2%、78.2%、77.4%。陆川猪的GPR1蛋白有七个跨膜螺旋结构,不存在蛋白信号肽。GPR1蛋白存在两个N糖基化位点和多个潜在磷酸化位点。本研究成功克隆陆川猪GPR1基因完整的编码区序列,为今后GPR1基因在陆川猪的脂肪沉积及脂肪代谢方面的研究提供了理论依据。     

与癌症相关的G 蛋白偶联受体及通路的研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体(G protein-coupled receptors,GPCRs)是一类重要的细胞膜表面跨膜蛋白受体超家族,具有7个跨膜螺旋结构。GPCRs的细胞内信号由G蛋白介导,可将激素、神经递质、药物、趋化因子等多种物理和化学的细胞外刺激穿过细胞膜转导到细胞内不同的效应分子,激活相应的信号级联系统进而影响恶性肿瘤的生长迁移过程。虽然目前药物市场上有很多治疗癌症的小分子药物属于G蛋白受体相关药物,但所作用的靶点集中于少数特定G蛋白偶联受体。因此,新的具有成药性的G蛋白偶联受体的开发具有很大的研究价值和市场潜力。本文主要以在癌症发生、发展中起重要作用的溶血磷脂酸(LPA),G蛋白偶联受体30(GPR30)、内皮素A受体(ETAR)等不同G蛋白偶联受体为分类依据,综述其与相关的信号通路在癌症进程中的作用,并对相应的小分子药物的临床应用和研究进展进行展望。     

GPR50在肥胖及相关疾病中的作用研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体家族(GPCRs)是真核细胞膜表面最大的一类膜蛋白受体,能够被细胞外的多肽、糖类、脂类、离子、生物胺等激活,被认为参与了80%以上的细胞信号转导过程,是细胞信号转导中重要的蛋白质。GPCRs广泛参与生殖、发育、内分泌以及代谢等多种生理过程,同时与免疫性疾病、中枢神经系统疾病、糖尿病、心脏病、癌症等疾病的发生、发展密切相关。GPR50是GPCR的A家族成员,其氨基酸序列与褪黑素受体MT1和MT2有45%相同,目前仍是孤儿受体,其功能尚不明确,相关已发表的研究论文也不足百篇。任培根课题组近期的研究发现,孤儿受体GPR50在肥胖小鼠和正常小鼠的脂肪组织中表达差异显著,提示GPR50这一被认为主要在大脑中表达的GPCR在肥胖过程中可能具有潜在作用。该文将根据已有文献调研,从GPR50与褪黑素异二聚化、瘦素信号通路调节、脂质代谢调节等三方面阐述其在肥胖及相关疾病中的作用,为解析GPR50的生物学作用及其去孤儿化寻找思路。     

植物G蛋白偶联受体

G蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)是数量最大的一类膜蛋白受体,存在于大多数真核生物中,参与多种不同的信号转导途径。动物中已经发现1000多个GPCR,但植物中只发现了少数候选GPCR,包括拟南芥GCR1、GCR2、AtRGS1、豌豆PsGPCR和其他一些七次跨膜蛋白质。本文介绍了近几年来植物GPCR的研究进展,包括已发现的植物候选GPCR、与其相互作用的蛋白质及GPCR信号转导途径等。     

GPR158/179 regulate G protein signaling by controlling localization and activity of the RGS7 complexes

The extent and temporal characteristics of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling are shaped by the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins, which promote G protein deactivation. With hundreds of GPCRs and dozens of RGS proteins, compartmentalization plays a key role in establishing signaling specificity. However, the molecular details and mechanisms of this process are poorly understood. In this paper, we report that the R7 group of RGS regulators is controlled by interaction with two previously uncharacterized orphan GPCRs: GPR158 and GPR179. We show that GPR158/179 recruited RGS complexes to the plasma membrane and augmented their ability to regulate GPCR signaling. The loss of GPR179 in a mouse model of night blindness prevented targeting of RGS to the postsynaptic compartment of bipolar neurons in the retina, illuminating the role of GPR179 in night vision. We propose that the interaction of RGS proteins with orphan GPCRs promotes signaling selectivity in G protein pathways.     

Toward the next step in G protein-coupled receptor research: a knowledge-driven analysis for the next potential targets in drug discovery

More than 800 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes have been discovered in the human genome. Towards the next step in GPCR research, we performed a knowledge-driven analysis of orphan class-A GPCRs that may serve as novel targets in drug discovery. We examined the relationship between 61 orphan class-A GPCR genes and diseases using the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database and the DDSS tool. The OMIM database contains data on disease-related variants of the genes. Particularly, the variants of GPR101, GPR161, and GPR88 are related to the genetic diseases: growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma 2, pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (not confirmed), and childhood-onset chorea with psychomotor retardation, respectively. On the other hand, the Drug Discovery and Diagnostic Support System (DDSS) tool suggests that 48 out of the 61 orphan receptor genes are related to diseases, judging from their co-occurrences in abstracts of biomedical literature. Notably, GPR50 and GPR3 are related to as many as 25 and 24 disease-associated keywords, respectively. GPR50 is related to 17 keywords of psychiatric disorders, whereas GPR3 is related to 11 keywords of neurological disorders. The aforementioned five orphan GPCRs were characterized genetically, structurally and functionally using the structural life science data cloud VaProS, so as to evaluate their potential as next targets in drug discovery.     

Seven evolutionarily conserved human rhodopsin G protein-coupled receptors lacking close relatives

We report seven new members of the superfamily of human G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) found by searches in the human genome databases, termed GPR100, GPR119, GPR120, GPR135, GPR136, GPR141, and GPR142. We also report 16 orthologues of these receptors in mouse, rat, fugu (pufferfish) and zebrafish. Phylogenetic analysis shows that these are additional members of the family of rhodopsin-type GPCRs. GPR100 shows similarity with the orphan receptor SALPR. Remarkably, the other receptors do not have any close relative among other known human rhodopsin-like GPCRs. Most of these orphan receptors are highly conserved through several vertebrate species and are present in single copies. Analysis of expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences indicated individual expression patterns, such as for GPR135, which was found in a wide variety of tissues including eye, brain, cervix, stomach and testis. Several ESTs for GPR141 were found in marrow and cancer cells, while the other receptors seem to have more restricted expression patterns.     

Isolation and Chromosomal Localization of GPR31, a Human Gene Encoding a Putative G Protein-Coupled Receptor

The screening of a human genomic library with a chemokine receptor-like probe allowed us to obtain a putative member of the G protein-coupled receptor gene (GPCR) family, designated GPR31. Its deduced amino acid sequence encodes a polypeptide of 319 amino acids that shares 25–33% homology with members of the chemokine, purino, and somatostatin receptor gene families. Amino acid sequence comparison reveals that the best match in the protein databases is with the human orphan GPCR called HM74 (33% identity). Southern genomic analysis of the GPR31 gene shows a hybridization pattern consistent with that of a single-copy gene. Using fluorescencein situhybridization, we have determined the chromosomal and regional localization of the GPR31 gene at 6q27. The GPR31 mRNA is expressed at low levels by several human cell lines of different cellular origins. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the GPR31 receptor may represent a member of a new GPCR subfamily.     

The orphan GPR50 receptor specifically inhibits MT1 melatonin receptor function through heterodimerization

One-third of the approximately 400 nonodorant G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are still orphans. Although a considerable number of these receptors are likely to transduce cellular signals in response to ligands that remain to be identified, they may also have ligand-independent functions. Several members of the GPCR family have been shown to modulate the function of other receptors through heterodimerization. We show that GPR50, an orphan GPCR, heterodimerizes constitutively and specifically with MT(1) and MT(2) melatonin receptors, using biochemical and biophysical approaches in intact cells. Whereas the association between GPR50 and MT(2) did not modify MT(2) function, GPR50 abolished high-affinity agonist binding and G protein coupling to the MT(1) protomer engaged in the heterodimer. Deletion of the large C-terminal tail of GPR50 suppressed the inhibitory effect of GPR50 on MT(1) without affecting heterodimerization, indicating that this domain regulates the interaction of regulatory proteins to MT(1). Pairing orphan GPCRs to potential heterodimerization partners might be of clinical importance and may become a general strategy to better understand the function of orphan GPCRs.     

A novel human G protein-coupled receptor is over-expressed in prostate cancer

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in a large variety of physiological functions. The number of known members that belong to this large family of receptors has been rapidly increasing. Now, with the availability of the human genome sequence databases, further family members are being identified. We describe the identification of a novel GPCR that shows no significant amino acid identity to any one of the known members of the GPCR superfamily. The gene expression pattern of this receptor is restricted: in normal tissues it is confined to the nervous system and testis, but we also detected gene expression in several tumor types, most notably prostate cancer, suggesting a potential role for this gene as a marker for this disease.     

The rise and fall of the chemoattractant receptor GPR33

Chemokine and chemoattractant receptors are members of the large superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), which control leukocyte chemotaxis. In addition to their physiological role, several chemokine and chemoattractant receptors, such as CCR5 and Duffy, have been directly associated with pathogen entry. GPR33 is an orphan chemoattractant GPCR that was previously identified as a pseudogene in humans. GPR33 evolved in mammals about 125-190 million years ago. The cloning and analysis of more than 120 mammalian GPR33 orthologs from 16 of 18 eutherian orders revealed an inactivation of this chemoattractant GPCR not only in humans, but also in several great ape and rodent species. Intriguingly, in all ape and some rodent species where the inactivation occurred, samples harbored both pseudogene and intact gene variants. The analysis of over 1200 human individuals representing all major linguistic groups revealed that the intact allele of GPR33 is still present in the human population. Estimates of the age of the human alleles suggest inactivation in the past 1 million years. Similarly, analysis of more than 120 wild-caught gray rats (Rattus norvegicus), revealed that inactivation of gpr33 is worldwide fixed and occurred in less than 0.7 million years ago. The coincidental inactivation and its fixation in several species of distantly related mammalian orders suggest a selective pressure on this chemoattractant receptor gene.     

Oxidized LDL at low concentration promotes in-vitro angiogenesis and activates nitric oxide synthase through PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway in human coronary artery endothelial cells

There are many orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), for which ligands have not yet been identified, in both vertebrates and invertebrates, such as Drosophila melanogaster. Identification of their cognate ligands is critical for understanding the function and regulation of such GPCRs. Indeed, the discovery of bioactive peptides that bind GPCRs has enhanced our understanding of mechanisms underlying many physiological processes. Here, we identified an endogenous ligand of the Drosophila orphan GPCR, CG34381. The purified ligand is a peptide comprised of 28 amino acids with three intrachain disulfide bonds. The preprotein is coded for by gene CG14871. We designated the cysteine-rich peptide “trissin” (it means for triple S–S bonds) and characterized the structure of intrachain disulfide bonds formation in a synthetic trissin peptide. Because the expression of trissin and its receptor is reported to predominantly localize to the brain and thoracicoabdominal ganglion, trissin is expected to behave as a neuropeptide. The discovery of trissin provides an important lead to aid our understanding of cysteine-rich peptides and their functional interaction with GPCRs.     

Monitoring ligand-mediated internalization of G protein-coupled receptor as a novel pharmacological approach

Agonist activation of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) results in the redistribution of the receptor protein away from the cell surface into internal cellular compartments through a process of endocytosis known as internalization. Visualization of receptor internalization has become experimentally practicable by using fluorescent reagents such as green fluorescent protein (GFP). In this study, we examined whether the ligand-mediated internalization of a GPCR can be exploited for pharmacological evaluations. We acquired fluorescent images of cells expressing GFP-labeled GPCRs and evaluated the ligand-mediated internalization quantitatively by image processing. Using beta2-adrenoceptor and vasopressin V1a receptor as model GPCRs that couple to Gs and Gq, respectively, we first examined whether these GFP-tagged GPCRs exhibited appropriate pharmacology. The rank order of receptor internalization potency for a variety of agonists and antagonists specific to each receptor corresponded well with that previously observed in ligand binding studies. In addition to chemical ligand-induced internalization, this cell-based fluorescence imaging system successfully monitored the internalization of the proton-sensing GPCR TDAG8, and that of the free fatty acid-sensitive GPCR GPR120. The results show that monitoring receptor internalization can be a useful approach for pharmacological characterization of GPCRs and in fishing for ligands of orphan GPCRs.