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The G protein-coupled receptors, GPR43 (free fatty acid receptor 2, FFA2) and GPR41 (free fatty acid receptor 3, FFA3), are activated by short-chain fatty acids produced under various conditions, including microbial fermentation of carbohydrates. Previous studies have implicated this receptor energy homeostasis and immune responses as well as in cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Here, we observed the expression of both receptors in human blood cells and a remarkable enhancement in leukemia cell lines (HL-60, U937, and THP-1 cells) during differentiation. A reporter assay revealed that GPR43 is coupled with Gα

Asparagine-linked glycosylation (N-glycosylation) is necessary for the proper folding of secreted and membrane proteins, including GPCRs. Thus, many GPCRs possess the N-glycosylation motif Asn-X-Ser/Thr at their N-termini and/or extracellular loops. We found that human GPR109A (hGPR109A) has an N-glycosylation site at Asn17 in the N-terminal atypical motif, Asn17-Cys18-Cys19. Why does hGPR109A require the atypical motif, rather than the typical sequence? Here we show that Asn17-Cys18-Cys19 sequence of hGPR109A possesses 2 biologic roles. First, Asn17-X-Cys19 contributed to hGPR109A N-glycosylation by acting as an atypical motif. This modification is required for the normal surface expression of hGPR109A, as evidenced by the reduced surface expression of the nonglycosylated mutants, hGPR109A/N17A, and the finding that hGPR109A/C19S and hGPR109A/C19T, which are N-glycosylated at Asn17, exhibited expression similar to the wild-type receptor. Second, the X-Cys18-Cys19 dicysteine is indispensable for hGPR109A function. Substitution of Cys18 or Cys19 residue to Ala impaired Gi-mediated signaling via hGPR109A. We propose the disulfide bond formations of these residues with other Cys existed in the extracellular loops for the proper folding. Together, these results suggest that the atypical motif Asn17-Cys18-Cys19 is crucial for the normal surface trafficking and function of hGPR109A.—Yasuda, D., Imura, Y., Ishii, S., Shimizu, T., and Nakamura, M. The atypical N-glycosylation motif, Asn-Cys-Cys, in human GPR109A is required for normal cell surface expression and intracellular signaling.

G2 accumulation (G2A) is a G-protein coupled receptor, activated by several ligands and stimuli, such as lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), extracellular low pH and oxidized phospholipids including 9- and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, and has been implicated in mediating inflammatory process under oxidative conditions. Recently, it was demonstrated that G2A in monocytes/macrophages plays critical roles in atherosclerosis deterioration, and therefore its transcriptional regulation in monocytes/macrophages is of great interest. Here, we first confirmed the expression of human G2A (hG2A) in lymph nodes, spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes, including monocytes. Thereafter, transcription start site (TSS) of hG2A was determined by 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis. In the course of the analysis, we found that two transcriptional variants, hG2A-a and -b, are produced by alternative splicing, resulting in the production of N-terminal different hG2A proteins with similar sensitivity to low pH and LPC. Using a monocytic cell line THP-1 as a model, transcription of hG2A was precisely examined, and we demonstrated that it is dependent both on the chromatin structure around TSS, and on the binding of the transcription factors (c/EBPalpha and beta, Runx1 and Pu.1) to their cis-elements, located at the core promoter just upstream of TSS.

Cellular interactions between hematopoietic cells and stromal cells play crucial roles in the proliferation and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells. Interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent 7TD1 cells markedly proliferated without IL-6 when they were co-cultured with hematopoietic-supportive bone marrow stromal cells, HESS-5 cells and HESS-1 CL.3 cells, which can support long-term hematopoiesis in vitro with but not without direct cell contact, cell contact being prevented with a microporous membrane. The production of IL-6 and the amount of IL-6 mRNA in hematopoietic-supportive stromal cells but not 7TD1 cells significantly increased only when the stromal cells were co-cultured in direct contact with 7TD1 cells. Furthermore, the amount of IL-6 mRNA increased according to the number of 7TD1 cells co-cultured. These inductions were not observed on co-culture with a murine myeloid cell line, M1 cells, or on the addition of the co-culture supernatant. These results suggest that 7TD1 cells transmit the signal to stromal cells that enhances IL-6 production by stromal cells via direct cell contact. A certain specific molecule for transduction of the signals may exist on the surface membrane of stromal cells and hematopoietic cells.

The biological functions of platelet-activating factor (PAF) have been extensively studied in the rat. However, the precise structure and distribution of rat PAF receptor has not been reported. To address this question, we isolated a rat PAF-receptor cDNA from a size-fractionated rat spleen cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat PAF receptor showed 80% and 79% identity with guinea pig and human PAF receptors, respectively. Pharmacological properties (ED50, inhibition by WEB2086) of rat PAF receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes were similar to those for PAF receptors expressed from guinea pig or human cDNAs. Northern blot analysis showed a widespread distribution of PAF-receptor mRNA in almost all organs including spleen, small intestine, kidney, lung, liver and brain. Considerable difference in the PAF-receptor distribution detected among species suggests the existence of a species-specific and tissue-specific regulatory mechanism for PAF-receptor-mRNA expression. Isolation of rat PAF-receptor cDNA should facilitate further analysis of PAF-receptor function and pharmacology in diverse pathophysiological processes.

Prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha increased [3H]thymidine incorporation into quiescent NIH 3T3 cells, stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown, and raised intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a dose-dependent manner with ED50 values of 2.0 x 10(-8) M, 4.6 x 10(-8) M, and 7.5 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation with PGF2 alpha was additive with that seen with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or insulin. The peak [Ca2+]i increase with PGF2 alpha was still obvious in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and was insensitive to islet activating protein (IAP) pretreatment. Membranes prepared from NIH 3T3 cells exhibited a specific binding for PGF2 alpha, which was sensitive to GTP gamma S but not sensitive to IAP pretreatment. Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with NIH 3T3 cell mRNA between 18S and 28S rRNA fractionated by sucrose gradient, expressed a PGF2 alpha-specific Cl- current when examined by voltage clamp. This Cl- current was also insensitive to IAP pretreatment and not affected by extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o). These results indicate 1) that the NIH 3T3 cells expressed a specific PGF2 alpha receptor which is linked to phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) activation and to mobilization of Ca2+ via an IAP-insensitive G-protein(s), 2) that this PGF2 alpha receptor may play an active role in the proliferation of NIH 3T3 cells, and 3) that this PGF2 alpha receptor can be expressed in the oocyte system.

In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), quality control mechanisms distinguish between correctly and incorrectly folded structures to ensure that aberrant proteins are not processed along the secretory pathway. Numerous studies have demonstrated the functional rescue of ER-retained, aberrant proteins by small membrane permeable molecules called pharmacological chaperones. Pharmacological chaperones can bind to misfolded proteins, including G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and promote their correct folding and export from the ER. Recently, common structural features of GPCRs have been uncovered, including the eighth helical domain in the C-terminal tail and conserved residues in the transmembrane domains. However, little is known about the importance of these features in signaling and intracellular trafficking, because receptors deficient in these domains are likely retained in the ER due to misfolding. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the requirement of these consensus domains and amino acid residues for the passing through the quality control of the ER. Furthermore, we propose the utilization of membrane permeable ligands for the transport of their cognate, ER-retained GPCRs to the cell surface. The chaperone activity of these ligands allows us to perform functional analyses of the structure-deficient receptors after their trafficking to the cell surface.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a pathogenic substance causing severe multiple organ failures and high mortality, Although several LPS binding proteins have been identified, the molecular mechanism underlying the LPS signaling pathway still remains obscure. We have found that the LPS-induced Ca2+ increase in platelets and platelet aggregation is blocked by selective platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonists, thus suggesting a cross-talk between LPS and the PAF receptor. Next, we confirmed this hypothesis using the cloned PAF receptors [(1991) Nature 349, 342–346; (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 20400–20405] expressed in Xenopus occytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In both systems, cells responded to LPS only when PAF receptors were expressed, and specific PAF binding was successfully displaced and reversibly dissociated by LPS. PAF receptor activation by LPS may represent a novel important pathway in the pathogenesis of circulatory collapse and systemic thrombosis caused by endotoxin.