A homogeneous enzyme fragment complementation-based beta-arrestin translocation assay for high-throughput screening of G-protein-coupled receptors

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest gene families in the human genome and have long been regarded as valuable targets for small-molecule drugs. The authors describe a new functional assay that directly monitors GPCR activation. It is based on the interaction between beta-arrestin and ligand-activated GPCRs and uses enzyme fragment complementation technology. In this format, a GPCR of interest is fused to a small (approximately 4 kDa), optimized alpha fragment peptide (termed ProLink) derived from beta-galactosidase, and beta-arrestin is fused to an N-terminal deletion mutant of beta-galactosidase (termed the enzyme acceptor [EA]). Upon activation of the receptor, the beta-arrestin-EA fusion protein binds the activated GPCR. This interaction drives enzyme fragment complementation, resulting in an active beta-galactosidase enzyme, and thus GPCR activation can be determined by quantifying beta-galactosidase activity. In this report, the authors demonstrate the utility of this technology to monitor GPCR activation and validate the approach using a Galphai-coupled GPCR, somatostatin receptor 2. Potential application to high-throughput screens in both agonist and antagonist screening modes is exemplified.     

Measurement of the millisecond activation switch of G protein-coupled receptors in living cells

Hormones and neurotransmitters transduce signals through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Despite their common signaling pathways, however, the responses they elicit have different temporal patterns. To reveal the molecular basis for these differences we have developed a generally applicable fluorescence-based technique for real-time monitoring of the activation switch of GPCRs in living cells. We used such direct measurements to investigate the activation of the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2A)AR; neurotransmitter) and the parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR; hormone) and observed much faster kinetics than expected: approximately 40 ms for the alpha(2A)AR and approximately 1 s for the PTHR. The different switch times are in agreement with the different receptors' biological functions. Agonists and antagonists could rapidly switch the receptors on or off, whereas a partial agonist caused only a partial signal. This approach allows the comparison of agonist and partial agonist intrinsic activities at the receptor level and provides evidence for millisecond activation times of GPCRs.     

Functional screening of adrenergic receptors by measuring intracellular calcium using the FlexStation scanning fluorimeter

In this study we test whether functional screening of compounds to adrenergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) would provide data that correlated significantly with radiolabeled binding data, thereby permitting researchers to replace expensive radioligand-binding experiments with non-radioactive screening. An increase in intracellular calcium levels represents an important second messenger signal for several recombinant GPCRs. In this study, we describe the affinities of three alpha adrenoceptor antagonists (terazosin, tamsulosin and alfuzosin), determined by monitoring the changes in intracellular calcium levels and comparing them with their radioligand-binding affinities. In addition to determining the functional affinities of the three alpha adrenoceptor antagonists, we evaluate their binding at two alpha adrenoceptor subtypes and optimized the assay for high-throughput screening.     

Multiplex GPCR assay in reverse transfection cell microarrays

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a superfamily of proteins that include some of the most important drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry. Despite the success of this group of drugs, there remains a need to identify GPCR-targeted drugs with greater selectivity, to develop screening assays for validated targets, and to identify ligands for orphan receptors. To address these challenges, the authors have created a multiplexed GPCR assay that measures greater than 3000 receptor: ligand interactions in a single microplate. The multiplexed assay is generated by combining reverse transfection in a 96-well plate format with a calcium flux readout. This assay quantitatively measures receptor activation and inhibition and permits the determination of compound potency and selectivity for entire families of GPCRs in parallel. To expand the number of GPCR targets that may be screened in this system, receptors are cotransfected with plasmids encoding a promiscuous G protein, permitting the analysis of receptors that do not normally mobilize intracellular calcium upon activation. The authors demonstrate the utility of reverse transfection cell microarrays to GPCR-targeted drug discovery with examples of ligand selectivity screening against a panel of GPCRs as well as dose-dependent titrations of selected agonists and antagonists.     

Real-time monitoring of receptor and G-protein interactions in living cells

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of proteins involved in signal transduction. Here we present a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay that directly monitors in real time the early interactions between human GPCRs and their cognate G-protein subunits in living human cells. In addition to detecting basal precoupling of the receptors to Galpha-, Gbeta- and Ggamma-subunits, BRET measured very rapid ligand-induced increases in the interaction between receptor and Galphabetagamma-complexes (t(1/2) approximately 300 ms) followed by a slower (several minutes) decrease, reflecting receptor desensitization. The agonist-promoted increase in GPCR-Gbetagamma interaction was highly dependent on the identity of the Galpha-subunit present in the complex. Therefore, this G protein-activity biosensor provides a novel tool to directly probe the dynamics and selectivity of receptor-mediated, G-protein activation-deactivation cycles that could be advantageously used to identify ligands for orphan GPCRs.     

G-protein-coupled receptors in drug discovery: nanosizing using cell-free technologies and molecular biology approaches

Signal transduction by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) underpins a multitude of physiological processes. Ligand recognition by the receptor leads to activation of a generic molecular switch involving heterotrimeric G-proteins and guanine nucleotides. Signal transduction has been studied extensively with both cell-based systems and assays comprising isolated signaling components. Interest and commercial investment in GPCRs in areas such as drug targets, orphan receptors, high throughput screening, biosensors, and so on will focus greater attention on assay development to allow for miniaturization, ultra-high throughput and, eventually, microarray/biochip assay formats. Although cell-based assays are adequate for many GPCRs, it is likely that these formats will limit the development of higher density GPCR assay platforms mandatory for other applications. Stable, robust, cell-free signaling assemblies comprising receptor and appropriate molecular switching components will form the basis of future GPCR assay platforms adaptable for such applications as microarrays. The authors review current cell-free GPCR assay technologies and molecular biological approaches for construction of novel, functional GPCR assays.     

Identification of Drosophila neuropeptide receptors by G protein-coupled receptors-beta-arrestin2 interactions

Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) leads to the recruitment of beta-arrestins. By tagging the beta-arrestin molecule with a green fluorescent protein, we can visualize the activation of GPCRs in living cells. We have used this approach to de-orphan and study 11 GPCRs for neuropeptide receptors in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we verify the identities of ligands for several recently de-orphaned receptors, including the receptors for the Drosophila neuropeptides proctolin (CG6986), neuropeptide F (CG1147), corazonin (CG10698), dFMRF-amide (CG2114), and allatostatin C (CG7285 and CG13702). We also de-orphan CG6515 and CG7887 by showing these two suspected tachykinin receptor family members respond specifically to a Drosophila tachykinin neuropeptide. Additionally, the translocation assay was used to de-orphan three Drosophila receptors. We show that CG14484, encoding a receptor related to vertebrate bombesin receptors, responds specifically to allatostatin B. Furthermore, the pair of paralogous receptors CG8985 and CG13803 responds specifically to the FMRF-amide-related peptide dromyosuppressin. To corroborate the findings on orphan receptors obtained by the translocation assay, we show that dromyosuppressin also stimulated GTPgammaS binding and inhibited cAMP by CG8985 and CG13803. Together these observations demonstrate the beta-arrestin-green fluorescent protein translocation assay is an important tool in the repertoire of strategies for ligand identification of novel G protein-coupled receptors.     

Differential affinities of visual arrestin, beta arrestin1, and beta arrestin2 for G protein-coupled receptors delineate two major classes of receptors

Visual arrestin, betaarrestin1, and betaarrestin2 comprise a family of intracellular proteins that desensitize G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). In addition, betaarrestin1 and betaarrestin2 target desensitized receptors to clathrin-coated pits for endocytosis. Whether arrestins differ in their ability to interact with GPCRs in cells is not known. In this study, we visualize the interaction of arrestin family members with GPCRs in real time and in live cells using green fluorescent protein-tagged arrestins. In the absence of agonist, visual arrestin and betaarrestin1 were found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of HEK-293 cells, whereas betaarrestin2 was found only in the cytoplasm. Analysis of agonist-mediated arrestin translocation to multiple GPCRs identified two major classes of receptors. Class A receptors (beta2 adrenergic receptor, mu opioid receptor, endothelin type A receptor, dopamine D1A receptor, and alpha1b adrenergic receptor) bound betaarrestin2 with higher affinity than betaarrestin1 and did not interact with visual arrestin. In contrast, class B receptors (angiotensin II type 1A receptor, neurotensin receptor 1, vasopressin V2 receptor, thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor, and substance P receptor) bound both betaarrestin isoforms with similar high affinities and also interacted with visual arrestin. Switching the carboxyl-terminal tails of class A and class B receptors completely reversed the affinity of each receptor for the visual and non-visual arrestins. In addition, exchanging the betaarrestin1 and betaarrestin2 carboxyl termini reversed their extent of binding to class A receptors as well as their subcellular distribution. These results reveal for the first time marked differences in the ability of arrestin family members to bind GPCRs at the plasma membrane. Moreover, they show that visual arrestin can interact in cells with GPCRs other than rhodopsin. These findings suggest that GPCR signaling may be differentially regulated depending on the cellular complement of arrestin isoforms and the ability of arrestins to interact with other cellular proteins.     

The second intracellular loop of metabotropic glutamate receptors recognizes C termini of G-protein alpha-subunits

Heptahelical receptor coupling selectivity to G-proteins is controlled by a large contact area that involves several portions of the receptor and each subunit of the G-protein. In the G-protein alpha subunit, the C-terminal 5 residues, the N terminus, and the alpha N-beta 1 and alpha 4-alpha 5 loops play important roles. On the receptor side, both the second and third (i2 and i3) intracellular loops as well as the C-terminal tail probably contact these different regions of the G-protein. It is now accepted that the C terminus of the alpha subunit binds in a cavity formed by the i2 and i3 loops. Among the various G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), class III receptors that include metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors greatly differ from the rhodopsin-like GPCRs, but the contact zone between these receptors and the G-protein is less understood. The C terminus of the alpha subunit has been shown to play a pivotal role in the selective recognition of class III GPCRs. Indeed, the mGlu2 and mGlu4 and -8 receptors can discriminate between alpha subunits that differ at the level of their C-terminal end only (such as Gqo and Gqz). Here, we examine the role of the i2 loop of mGluRs in the selective recognition of this region of the alpha subunit. To that aim, we analyzed the coupling properties of mGlu2 and mGlu4 or -8 receptors and chimeras containing the i2 loop of the converse receptor to G-protein alpha subunits that only differ by their C termini (Gqo,Gqz, and their point mutants). Our data demonstrate that the central portion of the i2 loop is responsible for the selective recognition of the C-terminal end of the alpha subunit, especially the residue on position -4. These data are consistent with the proposal that the C-terminal end of the G-protein alpha subunit interacts with residues in a cavity formed by the i2 and i3 loops in class III GPCRs, as reported for class I GPCRs.     

Quantitative Measurement of GPCR Endocytosis via Pulse-Chase Covalent Labeling

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a critical role in many physiological systems and represent one of the largest families of signal-transducing receptors. The number of GPCRs at the cell surface regulates cellular responsiveness to their cognate ligands, and the number of GPCRs, in turn, is dynamically controlled by receptor endocytosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that GPCR endocytosis, in addition to affecting receptor desensitization and resensitization, contributes to acute G protein-mediated signaling. Thus, endocytic GPCR behavior has a significant impact on various aspects of physiology. In this study, we developed a novel GPCR internalization assay to facilitate characterization of endocytic GPCR behavior. We genetically engineered chimeric GPCRs by fusing HaloTag (a catalytically inactive derivative of a bacterial hydrolase) to the N-terminal end of the receptor (HT-GPCR). HaloTag has the ability to form a stable covalent bond with synthetic HaloTag ligands that contain fluorophores or a high-affinity handle (such as biotin) and the HaloTag reactive linker. We selectively labeled HT-GPCRs at the cell surface with a HaloTag PEG ligand, and this pulse-chase covalent labeling allowed us to directly monitor the relative number of internalized GPCRs after agonist stimulation. Because the endocytic activities of GPCR ligands are not necessarily correlated with their agonistic activities, applying this novel methodology to orphan GPCRs, or even to already characterized GPCRs, will increase the likelihood of identifying currently unknown ligands that have been missed by conventional pharmacological assays.     

Novel GPCR screening approach: indirect identification of S1P receptor agonists in antagonist screening using a calcium assay

To elucidate the physiological function of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors 1-3 (S1P1-3) we aimed to identify selective ligands for these GPCRs. S1P2 and S1P3 are coupled to Gq, and are, therefore, linked to the phospholipase C/IP3/calcium pathway. S1P1 is solely coupled to Gi and was artificially linked to calcium signaling by coexpression of Galpha 16. The three receptors desensitized on challenge of cells with an agonist (i.e., agonists appeared as antagonists in a second calcium measurement). We screened a compound library for inhibitors of S1P-stimulated calcium signals, and we could identify agonists and antagonists with a single measurement. Agonism and antagonism were confirmed by recording compound-and S1P-induced calcium signals from the same assay well. For the three receptors, we found a reciprocal correlation of agonism and "apparent" antagonism of agonists. In addition, agonists indirectly discovered by this approach do not promote calcium mobilization through endogenous GPCRs.     

Unraveling G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis pathways using real-time monitoring of agonist-promoted interaction between beta-arrestins and AP-2

The most widely studied pathway underlying agonist-promoted internalization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involves beta-arrestin and clathrin-coated pits. However, both beta-arrestin- and clathrin-independent processes have also been reported. Classically, the endocytic routes are characterized using pharmacological inhibitors and various dominant negative mutants, resulting sometimes in conflicting results and interpretational difficulties. Here, taking advantage of the fact that beta-arrestin binding to the beta2 subunit of the clathrin adaptor AP-2 (beta2-adaptin) is needed for the beta-arrestin-mediated targeting of GPCRs to clathrin-coated pits, we developed a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based approach directly assessing the molecular steps involved in the endocytosis of GPCRs in living cells. For 10 of the 12 receptors tested, including some that were previously suggested to internalize via clathrin-independent pathways, agonist stimulation promoted beta-arrestin 1 and 2 interaction with beta2-adaptin, indicating a beta-arrestin- and clathrin-dependent endocytic process. Detailed analyses of beta-arrestin interactions with both the receptor and beta2-adaptin also allowed us to demonstrate that recruitment of beta-arrestins to the receptor and the ensuing conformational changes are the leading events preceding AP-2 engagement and subsequent clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Among the receptors tested, only the endothelin A and B receptors failed to promote interaction between beta-arrestins and beta2-adaptin. However, both receptors recruited beta-arrestins upon agonist stimulation, suggesting a beta-arrestin-dependent but clathrin-independent route of internalization for these two receptors. In addition to providing a new tool to dissect the molecular events involved in GPCR endocytosis, the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based beta-arrestin/beta2-adaptin interaction assay represents a novel biosensor to assess receptor activation.     

Identification of a novel family of G protein-coupled receptor associated sorting proteins

During the past few years several new interacting partners for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been discovered, suggesting that the activity of these receptors is more complex than previously anticipated. Recently, candidate G protein-coupled receptor associated sorting protein (GASP-1) has been identified as a novel interacting partner for the delta opioid receptor and has been proposed to determine the degradative fate of this receptor. We show here that GASP-1 associates in vitro with other opioid receptors and that the interaction domain in these receptors is restricted to a small portion of the carboxyl-terminal tail, corresponding to helix 8 in the three-dimensional structure of rhodopsin. In addition, we show that GASP-1 interacts with COOH-terminus of several other GPCRs from subfamilies A and B and that two conserved residues within the putative helix 8 of these receptors are critical for the interaction with GASP-1. In situ hybridization and northern blot analysis indicate that GASP-1 mRNA is mainly distributed throughout the central nervous system, consistent with a potential interaction with numerous GPCRs in vivo. Finally, we show that GASP-1 is a member of a novel family comprising at least 10 members, whose genes are clustered on chromosome X. Another member of the family, GASP-2, also interacts with the carboxyl-terminal tail of several GPCRs. Therefore, GASP proteins may represent an important protein family regulating GPCR physiology.     

A reporter assay for G-protein-coupled receptors using a B-cell line suitable for stable episomal expression

We have established a cAMP response element (CRE)-mediated reporter assay system for G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) using an oriP-based estrogen-inducible expression vector and the B-cell line (GBC53 or GBCC71) that expresses EBNA-1 and is adapted to serum-free culture. GBC53 harbors a GAL4-ER expression unit and a CRE-luciferase gene in the genome, and GBCC71 also harbors expression units for two chimeric Gαs proteins (Gs/q and Gs/i). Introduction of a GPCR expression plasmid into GBC53 or GBCC71 creates polyclonal stable transformants in 2 weeks, and these are easily expanded and used for assays after induction of the GPCR expression. Using GBC53, we detected ligand-dependent signals of Gs-coupled GPCRs such as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) and β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) with high sensitivity. Interestingly, we also detected constitutive activity of β2AR. Using GBCC71, we detected ligand-dependent signals of Gq- or Gi-coupled GPCRs such as H1 histamine receptor and CXCR1 chemokine receptor in addition to Gs-coupled GPCRs. An agonist, antagonist, or inverse agonist was successfully evaluated in this system. We succeeded in constructing a 384-well high-throughput screening (HTS) system for GLP1R. This system enabled us to easily and rapidly make a large number of efficient GPCR assay systems suitable for HTS as well as ligand hunting of orphan GPCRs.     

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

Although only 16 genes have been identified in mammals, several Galpha 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 Galpha activation, thus not allowing a comprehensive pathway screening. Because adenylyl cyclases are directly activated by G(s)alpha and the carboxyl termini of the various Galpha proteins determine their receptor coupling specificity, we proposed a set of chimeric G(s)alpha where the COOH-terminal five amino acids are replaced by those of other Galpha proteins and used these to dissect the potential Galpha linked to a given GPCR. Unlike G(q)alpha, G(12)alpha, and G(i)alpha outputs, compounding the signals from several Galpha members, the chimeric G(s)alpha 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 Galpha 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 G(q) signals mainly conducted by NMUR1, NMUR2 routed preferentially to the G(i) pathways. Dissecting the potential Galpha 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 Galpha subclass.     

Clathrin-dependent mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptor endocytosis

The heptahelical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family includes approximately 900 members and is the largest family of signaling receptors encoded in the mammalian genome. G protein-coupled receptors elicit cellular responses to diverse extracellular stimuli at the plasma membrane and some internalized receptors continue to signal from intracellular compartments. In addition to rapid desensitization, receptor trafficking is critical for regulation of the temporal and spatial aspects of GPCR signaling. Indeed, GPCR internalization functions to control signal termination and propagation as well as receptor resensitization. Our knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate mammalian GPCR endocytosis is based predominantly on arrestin regulation of receptors through a clathrin- and dynamin-dependent pathway. However, multiple clathrin adaptors, which recognize distinct endocytic signals, are now known to function in clathrin-mediated endocytosis of diverse cargo. Given the vast number and diversity of GPCRs, the complexity of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and the discovery of multiple clathrin adaptors, a single universal mechanism controlling endocytosis of all mammalian GPCRs is unlikely. Indeed, several recent studies now suggest that endocytosis of different GPCRs is regulated by distinct mechanisms and clathrin adaptors. In this review, we discuss the diverse mechanisms that regulate clathrin-dependent GPCR endocytosis.     

Mammalian G protein-coupled receptor expression in Escherichia coli: II. Refolding and biophysical characterization of mouse cannabinoid receptor 1 and human parathyroid hormone receptor 1

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent approximately 3% of the human proteome. They are involved in a large number of diverse processes and, therefore, are the most prominent class of pharmacological targets. Besides rhodopsin, X-ray structures of classical GPCRs have only recently been resolved, including the β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors and the A2A adenosine receptor. This lag in obtaining GPCR structures is due to several tedious steps that are required before beginning the first crystallization experiments: protein expression, detergent solubilization, purification, and stabilization. With the aim to obtain active membrane receptors for functional and crystallization studies, we recently reported a screen of expression conditions for approximately 100 GPCRs in Escherichia coli, providing large amounts of inclusion bodies, a prerequisite for the subsequent refolding step. Here, we report a novel artificial chaperone-assisted refolding procedure adapted for the GPCR inclusion body refolding, followed by protein purification and characterization. The refolding of two selected targets, the mouse cannabinoid receptor 1 (muCB1R) and the human parathyroid hormone receptor 1 (huPTH1R), was achieved from solubilized receptors using detergent and cyclodextrin as protein folding assistants. We could demonstrate excellent affinity of both refolded and purified receptors for their respective ligands. In conclusion, this study suggests that the procedure described here can be widely used to refold GPCRs expressed as inclusion bodies in E. coli.     

Mutagenesis and peptide analysis of the DRY motif in the alpha2A adrenergic receptor: evidence for alternate mechanisms in G protein-coupled receptors

In G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a conserved aspartic acid in the DRY motif at the cytoplasmic end of helix 3 regulates the transition to the active state, while the adjacent arginine is crucial for G protein activation. To examine the functions of these two residues, we made D130I and R131Q mutations in the alpha2A adrenergic receptor (AR). We demonstrate that, unlike other GPCRs, the alpha2A AR is not constitutively activated by the D130I mutation, although the mutation increases agonist affinity. While the R131Q mutation severely disrupts function, it decreases rather than increasing agonist affinity as seen in other GPCRs. We then investigated the molecular effects of the same mutations in a peptide model and showed that Arg131 is not required for peptide-mediated G protein activation. These results indicate that the alpha2A AR does not follow the conventional GPCR mechanistic paradigm with respect to the function of the DRY motif.     

Capture and reconstitution of G protein-coupled receptors on a biosensor surface

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors offer a unique opportunity to study the binding activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in real time with minimal sample preparation. Using two chemokine receptors (CXCR4 and CCR5) as model systems, we captured the proteins from crude cell preparations onto the biosensor surface and reconstituted a lipid environment to maintain receptor activity. The conformational states of the receptors were probed using conformationally dependent antibodies, and by characterizing the binding properties of a native chemokine ligand (stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha). The results suggest that the detergent-solubilized receptors are active for ligand binding in the presence and absence of a reconstituted bilayer. There are three advantages to using this receptor-capturing approach: (1) there is no need to purify the receptor prior to immobilization on the biosensor surface, (2) the receptors are homogeneously immobilized through the capturing step, and (3) the receptors can be captured at high enough densities to allow the study of relatively low-molecular-mass ligands (2000-4000Da). We also demonstrated that the receptors are sensitive to the solubilizing conditions, which illustrates the potential for using SPR biosensors to rapidly screen solublization conditions for GPCRs.