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PubMed1999

Constitutive activation of IkappaB kinase alpha and NF-kappaB in prostate cancer cells is inhibited by ibuprofen.

Apoptotic pathways controlled by the Rel/NF-kappaB family of transcription factors may regulate the response of cells to DNA damage. Here, we have examined the NF-kappaB status of several prostate tumor cell lines. In the androgen-independent prostate tumor cells PC-3 and DU-145, the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB was constitutively activated and IkappaB-alpha levels were decreased. In contrast, the androgen-sensitive prostate tumor cell line LNCaP had low levels of NF-kappaB which were upregulated following exposure to cytokines or DNA damage. The activity of the IkappaB-alpha kinase, IKKalpha, which mediates NF-kappaB activation, was also measured. In PC-3 cells, IKKalpha activity was constitutively active, whereas LNCaP cells had minimal IKKalpha activity that was activated by cytokines. The anti-inflammatory agent ibuprofen inhibited the constitutive activation of NF-kappaB and IKKalpha in PC-3 and DU-145 cells, and blocked stimulated activation of NF-kappaB in LNCaP cells. However, ibuprofen did not directly inhibit IkappaB-alpha kinase. The results demonstrate that NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in the hormone-insensitive prostate tumor cell lines PC-3 and DU-145, but not in the hormone responsive LNCaP cell line. The constitutive activation of NF-kappaB in prostate tumor cells may increase expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of anti-tumor therapy and contributing to the development of the malignant phenotype.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2001

Constitutively active Akt is an important regulator of TRAIL sensitivity in prostate cancer.

TRAIL/Apo-2L is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily and has recently been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, but not in normal cells. In nude mice injected with human tumors, TRAIL reduces the size of these tumors without side effects. Akt promotes cell survival and block apoptosis. Some prostate cancer cells express high levels of Akt due to lack of active lipid phosphatase PTEN, a negative regulator of PI-3 kinase pathway, which may be responsible for drug resistance. The objective of this paper is to investigate the intracellular molecules that regulate TRAIL resistance. We have examined caspase-8 activity, BID cleavage, Akt activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) and apoptosis in prostate cancer (LNCap, PC-3, PC-3M and DU145) cells treated with or without TRAIL. PC-3, PC-3M and DU145 cells are sensitive to TRAIL, whereas LNCap cells are resistant. LNCap cells express the highest level of constitutively active Akt, which is directly correlated with TRAIL resistance. TRAIL activates caspase-8 in all the cell lines. Downregulation of constitutively active Akt by PI-3 kinase inhibitors (wortmannin and LY-294002), dominant negative Akt or PTEN, renders LNCap cells sensitive to TRAIL. Inhibition of TRAIL sensitivity occurs at the level of BID cleavage. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide also causes LNCap cells sensitive to TRAIL. Overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) inhibits TRAIL-induced DeltaPsi(m) and apoptosis. Overexpression of constitutively active Akt in PC-3M cells (express very low levels of constitutively active Akt) restores TRAIL resistance. These data suggest that elevated Akt activity protects LNCap cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and the PI-3 kinase/Akt pathway may inhibit apoptotic signals by inhibiting processing of BID. Thus, constitutively active Akt is an important regulator of TRAIL sensitivity in prostate cancer.

Androstadienes↗

PubMed2005

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor constitutively represses c-myc transcription in human mammary tumor cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an environmental carcinogen-activated transcription factor associated with tumorigenesis. High levels of apparently active AhR characterize a variety of tumors, even in the absence of environmental ligands. Despite this association between transformation and AhR upregulation, little is known of the transcriptional consequences of constitutive AhR activation. Here, the effects of constitutively active and environmental ligand-induced AhR on c-myc, an oncogene whose promoter contains six AhR-binding sites (AhREs (aryl hydrocarbon response elements)), were investigated. A reporter containing the human c-myc promoter, with its six AhREs and two NF-kappaB-binding sites, was constructed. This vector, and variants with deletions in the NF-kappaB and/or AhR-binding sites, was transfected into a human breast cancer cell line, Hs578T, which expresses high levels of apparently active, nuclear AhR. Results indicate that: (1) the AhR constitutively binds the c-myc promoter; (2) there is a low but significant baseline level of c-myc promoter activity, which is not regulated by NF-kappaB and is not affected by an environmental AhR ligand; (3) deletion of any one of the AhREs has no effect on constitutive reporter activity, while deletion of all six increases reporter activity approximately fivefold; (4) a similar increase in reporter activity occurs when constitutively active AhR is suppressed by transfection with an AhR repressor plasmid (AhRR); (5) AhRR transfection significantly increases background levels of endogenous c-myc mRNA and c-Myc protein. These results suggest that the AhR influences the expression of c-Myc, a protein critical to malignant transformation.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

Loss of the Nrf2 transcription factor causes a marked reduction in constitutive and inducible expression of the glutathione S-transferase Gsta1, Gsta2, Gstm1, Gstm2, Gstm3 and Gstm4 genes in the livers of male and female mice.

Mice that lack the Nrf2 basic-region leucine-zipper transcription factor are more sensitive than wild-type (WT) animals to the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of foreign chemicals and oxidants. To determine the basis for the decrease in tolerance of the Nrf2 homozygous null mice to xenobiotics, enzyme assay, Western blotting and gene-specific real-time PCR (TaqMan) have been used to examine the extent to which hepatic expression of GSH-dependent enzymes is influenced by the transcription factor. The amounts of protein and mRNA for class Alpha, Mu and Pi glutathione S-transferases were compared between WT and Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice of both sexes under both constitutive and inducible conditions. Among the class Alpha and class Mu transferases, constitutive expression of Gsta1, Gsta2, Gstm1, Gstm2, Gstm3, Gstm4 and Gstm6 subunits was reduced in the livers of Nrf2 mutant mice to between 3% and 60% of that observed in WT mice. Induction of these subunits by butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was more marked in WT female mice than in WT male mice. TaqMan analyses showed the increase in transferase mRNA caused by BHA was attenuated in Nrf2(-/-) mice, with the effect being most apparent in the case of Gsta1, Gstm1 and Gstm3. Amongst class Pi transferase subunits, the constitutive hepatic level of mRNA for Gstp1 and Gstp2 was not substantially affected in the KO mice, but their induction by BHA was dependent on Nrf2; this was more obvious in female mutant mice than in male mice. Nrf2 KO mice exhibited reduced constitutive expression of the glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, and, to a lesser extent, the expression of glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit. Little variation was observed in the levels of glutathione synthase in the different mouse lines. Thus the increased sensitivity of Nrf2(-/-) mice to xenobiotics can be partly attributed to a loss in constitutive expression of multiple GSH-dependent enzymes, which causes a reduction in intrinsic detoxification capacity in the KO animal. These data also indicate that attenuated induction of GSH-dependent enzymes in Nrf2(-/-) mice probably accounts for their failure to adapt to chronic exposure to chemical and oxidative stress.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

A mechanistic insight into a proteasome-independent constitutive inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) degradation and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation pathway in WEHI-231 B-cells.

Inducible activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) is classically mediated by proteasomal degradation of its associated inhibitors, IkappaBalpha (inhibitory kappaBalpha) and IkappaBbeta. However, certain B-lymphocytes maintain constitutively nuclear NF-kappaB activity (a p50-c-Rel heterodimer) which is resistant to inhibition by proteasome inhibitors. This activity in the WEHI-231 B-cell line is associated with continual and preferential degradation of IkappaBalpha, which is also unaffected by proteasome inhibitors. Pharmacological studies indicated that there was a correlation between inhibition of IkappaBalpha degradation and constitutive p50-c-Rel activity. Domain analysis of IkappaBalpha by deletion mutagenesis demonstrated that an N-terminal 36-amino-acid sequence of IkappaBalpha represented an instability determinant for constitutive degradation. Moreover, domain grafting studies indicated that this sequence was sufficient to cause IkappaBbeta, but not chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, to be rapidly degraded in WEHI-231 B-cells. However, this sequence was insufficient to target IkappaBbeta to the non-proteasome degradation pathway, suggesting that there was an additional cis-element(s) in IkappaBalpha that was required for complete targeting. Nevertheless, the NF-kappaB pool associated with IkappaBbeta now became constitutively active by virtue of IkappaBbeta instability in these cells. These findings further support the notion that IkappaB instability governs the maintenance of constitutive p50-c-Rel activity in certain B-cells via a unique degradation pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Constitutive secretion of the granule chymase mouse mast cell protease-1 and the chemokine, CCL2, by mucosal mast cell homologues.

BACKGROUND: The mucosal mast cell (MMC) granule-specific beta-chymase, mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), is released systemically into the bloodstream early in nematode infection before parasite-specific IgE responses develop and TGF-beta1 induces constitutive release of mMCP-1 by homologues of MMC in vitro. Intraepithelial MMC may also express the chemokine CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) during nematode infection but the expression of this chemokine by MMC homologues has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and to compare the mechanisms of constitutive release of the chymase, mMCP-1, and the chemokine, CCL2. METHODS: MMC homologues were generated by culturing bone marrow cells in the presence of TGF-beta1, IL-3, IL-9 and stem cell factor (SCF). The intracellular distribution of mMCP-1 and CCL2 was examined by confocal microscopy. The involvement of the Golgi complex and of protein synthesis in the constitutive release of mMCP-1 and CCL2 was investigated using the Golgi-disrupting agent brefeldin A and cycloheximide to block protein synthesis. Secreted analytes were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: mMCP-1 colocalized with Golgi matrix protein 130 but was most abundant in the granules, whereas CCL2 was not found in the granules but appeared to be located uniquely in the Golgi complex. Extracellular release of mMCP-1 was significantly inhibited ( approximately 40%) by cycloheximide and by the Golgi-disrupting agent brefeldin A, indicating both continuous protein synthesis and transportation via the Golgi complex are required for optimal mMCP-1 secretion. A similar but more marked inhibitory effect with both compounds was demonstrated on the constitutive secretion of CCL2. CONCLUSION: The culture conditions that promote mMCP-1 expression and release by MMC homologues also promote the expression and release of CCL2. Constitutive release involves de novo protein synthesis and requires a functional Golgi complex, suggesting that similar mechanisms of extracellular secretion operate for both mediators.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Genes predisposing to autoimmunity augment constitutive major histocompatibility complex class II-associated presentation of the self-antigen IgG2a in vivo.

The self-antigen IgG2ab is poorly presented to a gamma2ab 435-451-reactive I-Ad-restricted T-cell hybridoma unless available in high concentrations or targeted to Fcgamma- or complement receptors. Environmental factors, probably the extent of microbial challenge, profoundly influence the constitutive gamma2ab/I-Ad presentation in IgCHb, H-2d mice. Here we report also a strong genetic impact. Constitutive presentation was highly efficient in spleen and thymus of (NZB x BXSB)F1 mice, which inherit a predisposition to develop lupus. Presentation correlated with disease progression and the serum levels of IgG2ab and IgG2ab complement factor 3 complexes. The finding that constitutive presentation was by far most efficient in males indicated that it was augmented by the Y chromosome-linked autoimmune acceleration Yaa gene. In line with previous data for healthy mice, constitutive gamma2ab/I-Ad presentation was most pronounced in the adherent spleen cell fraction and improved by further enrichment for dendritic cells. Notably, however, whereas in normal mice the gamma2ab determinant was undetectable on B cells lacking surface IgG2ab, such B cells contributed considerably to constitutive presentation in (NZB x BXSB)F1 hybrids. Presumably this resulted from complement receptor-mediated internalization of IgG2ab-containing immune complexes formed in lupus. These data add to the evidence that B cells with self-reactive receptors, known to exist in the mature repertoire, may present non-cognate foreign antigen to anti-foreign helper T lymphocytes and thus differentiate into autoantibody-secreting cells, and might likewise account for the polyclonal B-cell activation characteristic of several autoimmune syndromes.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Constitutive and cell-division-inducible protein-DNA interactions in two maize histone gene promoters.

Protein-DNA interactions in the promoter regions of two maize histone genes have been analyzed by DNase I and DMS in vivo footprinting combined with LMPCR amplification. Both promoters present a bimodular structure characterized by a proximal cell division-specific set of interactions and a distal region which displays constitutive footprints but enhancement of these footprints upon cell proliferation. The inducible region contains two cis-elements common to all replication-dependent plant histone genes, one of them having previously been shown to be a target for the wheat nuclear protein HBP-2. In the constitutive region, the first demonstration for the existence of a transcription factor binding to the highly conserved plant histone-specific octamer CGCGGATC is provided. Exchange of cell-type-specific factors is postulated to occur at that site. Additional immediate upstream constitutive elements binding regulatory proteins include a degenerate octameric sequence, a CCAAT-box, a CACCC sequence and composite ACGTCA/ACGTGG hexameric sequences binding HBP-1-related trans-acting factors. The close proximity of these elements within the constitutive region and the redundancy of some of them suggest complex cooperation and competition mechanisms contributing to achieve the final expression level and likely also to mediate the interplay between constitutive and inducible factors.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Derepression of the activity of genetically engineered heat shock factor causes constitutive synthesis of heat shock proteins and increased thermotolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.

ATHSF1 is a heat shock transcription factor (HSF) of Arabidopsis that is constitutively expressed but its activity for DNA binding, trimer formation and transcriptional activation of heat shock (hs) genes is repressed at normal temperatures. In this study the functional properties of chimeric HSF-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion proteins were tested. Ectopic expression of HSF-GUS or GUS-HSF in transgenic Arabidopsis plants resulted in a derepression of HSF functions as shown by trimer formation, specific DNA binding, and the constitutive expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) at normal temperature. A novel GUS activity-staining protocol was used to show the specific binding of trimeric HSF fusion proteins to DNA and following hs, an interaction between chimeric HSF-GUS and authentic HSF proteins. The chimeric HSFs were insensitive to the negative regulation that counteracts activation of the authentic HSF at normal temperature. Heterotrimer complexes were reconstituted in vitro from recombinant ATHSF1 and HSF-GUS proteins expressed in Escherichia coli and using this protocol, the temperature-dependent activation of wt HSF was monitored in vivo and in vitro. Transgenic plants expressing constitutively active HSF-GUS fusion proteins are also constitutive for HSPs. Approximately 20% of the maximum heat-inducible levels of HSP18 were already present at normal temperature. The level of basic thermotolerance was significantly enhanced in these plants. The results indicate that genetic engineering using protein fusion is a very effective means to derepress the activity of an important regulatory protein in plants, that consequently activates a constitutive hs response in the absence of heat stress and eventually alters the thermotolerance phenotype.

Acclimatization↗

PubMed2003

Association of feather colour with constitutively active melanocortin 1 receptors in chicken.

Seven alleles of the chicken melanocortin (MC) 1 receptor were cloned into expression vectors, expressed in mammalian cells and pharmacologically characterized. Four of the clones e(+R), e(+B&D), e(wh)/e(y), E(Rfayoumi) gave receptors to which melanocortin stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and NDP-MSH bound with similar IC50 values and responded to alpha-MSH by increasing intracellular cAMP levels in a dose-dependent manner. Three of the cMC1 receptors; e(b), E and E(R), did not show any specific binding to the radioligand, but were found to be constitutively active in the cAMP assay. The E and E(R) alleles are associated with black feather colour in chicken while the eb allele gives rise to brownish pigmentation. The three constitutively active receptors share a mutation of Glu to Lys in position 92. This mutation was previously found in darkly pigmented sombre mice, but constitutively active MC receptors have not previously been shown in any nonmammalian species. We also inserted the Glu to Lys mutation in the human MC1 and MC4 receptors. In contrast with the chicken clones, the hMC1-E94K receptor bound to the ligand, but was still constitutively active independently of ligand concentration. The hMC4-E100K receptor did not bind to the MSH ligand and was not constitutively active. The results indicate that the structural requirements that allow the receptor to adapt an active conformation without binding to a ligand, as a consequence of this E/K mutation, are not conserved within the MC receptors. The results are discussed in relationship to feather colour in chicken, molecular receptor structures and evolution. We suggest that properties for the 'E92K switch' mechanism may have evolved in an ancestor common to chicken and mammals and were maintained over long time periods through evolutionary pressure, probably on closely linked structural features.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Constitutive alpha-secretase cleavage of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in the furin-deficient LoVo cell line: involvement of the pro-hormone convertase 7 and the disintegrin metalloprotease ADAM10.

The beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) undergoes a physiological cleavage triggered by one or several proteolytic activities referred to as alpha-secretases, leading to the secretion of sAPPalpha. Several lines of evidence indicate that the alpha-secretase cleavage is a highly regulated process. Thus, besides constitutive production of sAPPalpha, several studies have reported on protein kinase C-regulated sAPPalpha secretion. Studies aimed at identifying alpha-secretase(s) candidates suggest the involvement of enzymes belonging to the pro-hormone convertases and disintegrin families. The delineation of respective contributions of proteolytic activities in constitutive and regulated sAPPalpha secretion is rendered difficult by the fact that the overall regulated response always includes the basal constitutive counterpart that cannot be selectively abolished. Here we report on the fact that the furin-deficient LoVo cells are devoid of regulated PKC-dependent sAPPalpha secretion and therefore represent an interesting model to study exclusively the constitutive sAPPalpha secretion. We show here, by a pharmacological approach using selective inhibitors, that pro-hormone convertases and proteases of the ADAM (disintegrin metalloproteases) family participate in the production/secretion of sAPPalphas in LoVo cells. Transfection analysis allowed us to further establish that the pro-hormone convertase 7 and ADAM10 but not ADAM17 (TACE, tumour necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme) likely contribute to constitutive sAPPalpha secretion by LoVo cells.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗

PubMed2000

Systematic identification of mutations that constitutively activate the angiotensin II type 1A receptor by screening a randomly mutated cDNA library with an original pharmacological bioassay.

The constitutive activation of G-protein-coupled receptors is a major new approach to investigating their physiopathology and pharmacology. A large number of spontaneous and site-directed mutations resulting in constitutive activity have been identified, but systematic mapping of the amino acids involved for a given receptor would be extremely useful for complete elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying its activation. We carried out such mapping for the angiotensin II type 1A (AT(1A)) receptor by screening a randomly mutated cDNA library after expressing the mutated clones in eukaryotic cells. To test the AT(1A) mutants generated, we developed an original, specific, and highly sensitive assay based on the properties of CGP42112A. This classical AT(2) agonist is a weak partial agonist of the wild-type AT(1A) receptor and becomes a full agonist for constitutively active AT(1A) mutants, as shown experimentally and in allostery-based theoretical models. Activation of the mutated receptors by CGP42112A was monitored by using the bioluminescent protein aequorin, a very sensitive and specific sensor of intracellular calcium mobilization. The screening of 4,800 clones, providing an exhaustive coverage of all of the mutations generated, led to the identification of 16 mutations in sequences encoding the transmembrane domains that were responsible for high sensitivity to CGP42112A. The constitutive activity was confirmed by agonist-independent production of inositol phosphates, which showed that at least half of the clones had significantly increased basal activity. These data demonstrate that this new type of approach is very efficient for the systematic identification of constitutively active mutants of G-protein-coupled receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1981

Constitutive gene expression in myeloid leukemia and cell competence for induction of differentiation by the steroid dexamethasone.

Regulation of the cytoplasmic protein changes during myeloid cell differentiation has been analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and differentiation-defective cell mutants. The cells studied include a clone of myeloid leukemia cells (clone 11) that can be induced to differentiate to macrophages by the protein inducer MGI and the steroid dexamethasone (Dex) and mutant clones that were inducible for differentiation to macrophages by MGI but not by Dex. The mutants were not defective in the specific binding of [3H]Dex to cytoplasmic receptors or in the transport and nuclear binding of the receptor--steroid complex. The protein patterns in the mutants showed both specific constitutive protein changes and nonresponding proteins. Twenty-one percent of the Dex-induced protein changes and 2% of the MGI-induced protein changes in clone 11 were constitutively expressed in the mutants. In addition, 28% of the proteins that responded to Dex in clone 11 did not respond to Dex in the mutants, whereas only 4% of the proteins that responded to MGI in clone 11 did not respond to MGI. The higher percentage of constitutive changes was thus associated with a larger defect in induction. The proteins with an abnormal response to Dex still showed a normal response to MGI, and the constitutive changes and nonresponding proteins were different for the two inducers. It is suggested that specific constitutive protein changes expressed by the mutants produced an asynchrony in the developmental program, resulting in a defective response to Dex and to MGI, and that this may apply to other inducers and developmental programs.

Cell Differentiation↗

PubMed1992

Homodimerization and constitutive activation of the erythropoietin receptor.

The erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) is a member of the recently described cytokine receptor superfamily. A constitutively active (hormone independent) form of the EPO-R was isolated that has a single amino acid change in the exoplasmic domain, converting arginine-129 to cysteine (R129C). Since EPO-Rs containing R129S, R129E, and R129P mutations are functionally wild type, the presence of cysteine at residue 129, and not the loss of arginine, is required for constitutive activity. Several mutant forms of the EPO-R were analyzed; all constitutively active mutants form disulfide-linked homodimers, whereas EPO-responsive or inactive forms of the receptor do not. Monomers and disulfide-linked dimers of the constitutive receptor are present on the plasma membrane and bind EPO with a single affinity. Homodimerization of the EPO-R is likely to play a role in ligand-induced signal transduction, and disulfide-linked dimerization of the constitutive receptor may mimic this step.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Genetic identification of a gene involved in constitutive, high-affinity nitrate transport in higher plants.

Two mutations have been found in a gene (NRT2) of Arabidopsis thaliana that specifically impair constitutive, high-affinity nitrate uptake. These mutants were selected for resistance to 0.1 mM chlorate in the absence of nitrate. Progency from one of the backcrossed mutants showed no constitutive uptake of nitrate below 0.5 mM at pH 7.0 in liquid culture (that is, within 30 min of initial exposure to nitrate). All other uptake activities measured (high-affinity phosphate and sulfate uptake, inducible high-affinity nitrate uptake, and constitutive low-affinity nitrate uptake) were present or nearly normal in the backcrossed mutant. Electrophysiological analysis of individual root cells showed that the nrt2 mutant showed little response to 0.25 mM of nitrate, whereas NRT2 wild-type cells showed an initial depolarization followed by recovery. At 10 mM of nitrate both the mutant and wild-type cells displayed similar, strong electrical responses. These results indicate that NRT2 is a critical and perhaps necessary gene for constitutive, high-affinity nitrate uptake in Arabidopsis, but not for inducible, high-affinity nor constitutive, low-affinity nitrate uptake. Thus, these systems are genetically distinct.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2000

Constitutive activation of tethered-peptide/corticotropin-releasing factor receptor chimeras.

Constitutive activity, or ligand-independent activity, of mutant G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been described extensively and implicated in the pathology of many diseases. Using the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor and the thrombin receptor as a model, we present a ligand-dependent constitutive activation of a GPCR. A chimera in which the N-terminal domain of the CRF receptor is replaced by the amino-terminal 16 residues of CRF displays significant levels of constitutive activation. The activity, as measured by intracellular levels of cAMP, is blocked in a dose-dependent manner by the nonpeptide antagonist antalarmin. These results support a propinquity effect in CRF receptor activation, in which the amino-terminal portion of the CRF peptide is presented to the body of the receptor in the proper proximity for activation. This form of ligand-dependent constitutive activation may be of general applicability for the creation of constitutively activated GPCRs that are regulated by peptide ligands such as CRF. These chimeras may prove useful in analyzing mechanisms of receptor regulation and in the structural analysis of ligand activated receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Thrombin receptor activating mutations. Alteration of an extracellular agonist recognition domain causes constitutive signaling.

Constitutively active thrombin receptors were generated while constructing chimeric receptors to identify the structural basis for thrombin receptor agonist specificity. Substitution of eight amino acids from the Xenopus receptor's second extracellular loop (XECL2B) for the cognate sequence in the human thrombin receptor was sufficient to confer robust constitutive activity. Smaller substitutions within the XECL2B site yielded less constitutive activation, and substitution of several unrelated sequences at this site caused no activation. Expression of the XECL2B receptor caused high basal 45Ca efflux in Xenopus oocytes and high basal phosphoinositide hydrolysis and reporter gene induction in COS cells. Of note, a mutant receptor in which all four of the Xenopus thrombin receptor's extracellular segments replaced the cognate human sequences showed much less constitutive activity than XECL2B and preserved responsiveness to agonist. This partial complementation of the XECL2B phenotype by addition of other Xenopus extracellular structures suggests that the XECL2B mutation causes constitutive activation by altering interactions among the human receptor's extracellular domains. Thus, a change in an extracellular loop of a G protein-coupled receptor can transmit information across the cell membrane to cause signaling, perhaps via a conformational change similar to that caused by agonist binding. Indeed, the site of the activating mutation in XECL2B coincides with a putative agonist-docking site, supporting the hypothesis that agonist interactions with the thrombin receptor's extracellular loops contribute to receptor activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Two isoforms of the prostaglandin E receptor EP3 subtype different in agonist-independent constitutive activity.

We previously identified two isoforms of the mouse prostaglandin E receptor EP3 subtype, EP3 alpha and EP3 beta, with different carboxyl-terminal tails, produced through alternative splicing and showing different efficiency in inhibition of adenylate cyclase (Sugimoto, Y., Negishi, M., Hayashi, Y., Namba, T., Honda, A., Watabe, A., Hirata, M., Narumiya, S., and Ichikawa, A. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 2712-2718). To assess the role of the carboxyl-terminal tails in the G protein coupling properties of the EP3 receptor, we examined the Gi activities of EP3 alpha, EP3 beta, and the mutant receptor, in which the carboxyl-terminal tail was truncated at the splicing site. The EP3 alpha receptor showed marked agonist-independent constitutive inhibition of adenylate cyclase, while EP3 beta receptor had no agonist-independent inhibition. On the other hand, the truncated receptor showed only agonist-independent constitutive inhibition. The constitutive activity of these receptors on the stimulation of GTPase activity of Gi was also observed. Thus, alternative splicing produced two isoforms with different carboxyl-terminal tails and with different constitutive activity, and the truncation of the carboxyl-terminal tail caused full constitutive activity.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗