Multiple ramp domains are required for generation of amylin receptor phenotype from the calcitonin receptor gene product

Calcitonin (CT), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), amylin, and adrenomedullin constitute a family of structurally related peptides that signal via either the calcitonin receptor-like receptor or the CT receptor, with receptor phenotype determined by coexpression of one of the three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). The nature of the interaction between the receptor and RAMP was investigated using chimeras between RAMP1 and RAMP2 where the amino-terminal domain of RAMP1 was attached to the transmembrane domain and carboxy terminus of RAMP2 and called RAMP1/2, and vice versa for RAMP2/1. Cotransfection of wild-type or chimeric RAMPs with the insert-negative isoform of the human CT receptor (hCTR(I1-)) into COS-7 cells resulted in the expression of (125)I-rat amylin binding sites. Highest specific binding was observed when either RAMP1 or RAMP2/1 were cotransfected, indicating the importance of the RAMP transmembrane domain and/or carboxy terminus for the degree to which amylin receptors are expressed. In contrast, the phenotype generated was primarily determined by the amino terminus, with similar RAMP1- and RAMP1/2-induced receptor phenotypes that had higher affinity for human CGRPalpha and lower affinity for human calcitonin than the RAMP2- and RAMP2/1-induced receptors.