The stem cell-expressed receptor Lgr5 possesses canonical and functionally active molecular determinants critical to ?-arrestin-2 recruitment.
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ABSTRACT: Lgr5 is a membrane protein related to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR)s whose expression identifies stem cells in multiple tissues and is strongly correlated with cancer. Despite the recent identification of endogenous ligands for Lgr5, its mode of signaling remains enigmatic. The ability to couple to G proteins and ?arrestins are classical molecular behaviors of GPCRs that have yet to be observed for Lgr5. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine if Lgr5 can engage a classical GPCR behavior and elucidate the molecular determinants of this process. Structural analysis of Lgr5 revealed several motifs consistent with its ability to recruit ?arr2. Among them, a "SSS" serine cluster located at amino acid position 873-875 within the C-terminal tail (C-tail), is in a region consistent with other GPCRs that bind ?arr2 with high-affinity. To test its functionality, a ligand-independent ?arr2 translocation assay was implemented. We show that Lgr5 recruits ?arr2 and that the "SSS" amino acids (873-875) are absolutely critical to this process. We also demonstrate that for full efficacy, this cluster requires other Lgr5 C-tail serines that were previously shown to be important for constitutive and ?arr2 independent internalization of Lgr5. These data are proof of principle that a classical GPCR behavior can be manifested by Lgr5. The existence of alternative ligands or missing effectors of Lgr5 that scaffold this classical GPCR behavior and the downstream signaling pathways engaged should be considered. Characterizing Lgr5 signaling will be invaluable for assessing its role in tissue maintenance, repair, and disease.
SUBMITTER: Snyder JC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3873998 | biostudies-literature | 2013
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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