Role of the Second and Third Intracellular Loops of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Mediating Dual Signal Transduction Activation

Anna Francesconi, Robert M. Duvoisin
1998 Journal of Biological Chemistry  
On the basis of sequence homology and structural similarities, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), extracellular Ca 2؉ -sensing receptor, ␥-aminobutyric acid type B receptor, and pheromone receptors are enlisted in a distinct family within the larger G proteincoupled receptor superfamily. When expressed in heterologous systems, group I mGluRs can activate dual signal transduction pathways, phosphoinositides turnover and cAMP production. To investigate the structural basis of these
more » ... g properties, we introduced single amino acid substitutions within the second and third intracellular loops (i2 and i3) of mGluR1␣. Wildtype and mutant receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and analyzed for their capacity to stimulate both signaling cascades. Each domain appeared to be critical for the coupling to phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase. Within i2, Thr 695 , Lys 697 , and Ser 702 were found to be selectively involved in the interaction with G q class ␣ subunit(s), whereas mutation of Pro 698 and the deletion Cys 694 -Thr 695 affected only G s coupling. Furthermore, the mutation K690A profoundly altered mGluR1␣ signaling properties and imparted to the receptor the ability to couple to the inhibitory cAMP pathway. Within i3, we uncovered two residues, Arg 775 and Phe 781 , that are crucial for coupling to both pathways, since their substitution leads to receptor inactivation.
doi:10.1074/jbc.273.10.5615 pmid:9488690 fatcat:xw56exyjxjejlj7xhhzuxljgia