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Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogues in which the C-2 position of the imidazole ring of the centrally placed histidine residue is substituted with various alkyl groups were synthesized and studied as agonists for TRH receptor subtype 1 (TRH-R1) and subtype 2 (TRH-R2). Several analogues were found to be selective agonists for TRH-R2 exhibiting no activation of TRH-R1. For example, analogue 4 (R= c-C3H5) was found to activate TRH-R2 with a potency (EC50) of 0.41 μM but did not activate TRH-R1 (potency > 100 μM). This study describes the first discovery of TRH-R2-specific agonists and provides impetus to design predominately CNS-effective TRH peptides.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) contains a gene encoding a G protein-coupled receptor (KSHV-GPCR) that is homologous to mammalian chemokine receptors. KSHV-GPCR signals constitutively (in an agonist-independent manner) via the phosphoinositide-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate pathway. Because it has been proposed that the N terminus (N-TERM) of other GPCRs may act as tethered agonists, we determined whether the N-TERM of KSHV-GPCR is necessary for constitutive signaling activity or ligand binding, or both. We show that replacement of the entire N-TERM of KSHV-GPCR with those of two other GPCRs, deletion of residues within the N-TERM, and disruption of a putative disulfide bond that may hold the N-TERM in close proximity to extracellular loop 3 do not affect constitutive signaling activity but decrease chemokine binding. There were differences in the effects of mutation of the N-TERM on binding of the chemokines growth-related oncogene alpha, which is an agonist, and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10, which is an inverse agonist. The effects on chemokine binding were accompanied by changes in chemokine regulation of KSHV-GPCR signaling. We conclude that the N-TERM is not necessary for constitutive KSHV-GPCR signaling, i.e. the N-TERM is not a tethered agonist, but plays a crucial role in binding of chemokine ligands and of chemokine regulation of KSHV-GPCR signaling.

We have studied the role of a highly conserved tryptophan and other aromatic residues of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor (TRH-R) that are predicted by computer modeling to form a hydrophobic cluster between transmembrane helix (TM)5 and TM6. The affinity of a mutant TRH-R, in which Trp279 was substituted by alanine (W279A TRH-R), for most tested agonists was higher than that of wild-type (WT) TRH-R, whereas its affinity for inverse agonists was diminished, suggesting that W279A TRH-R is constitutively active. We found that W279A TRH-R exhibited 3.9-fold more signaling activity than WT TRH-R in the absence of agonist. This increased basal activity was inhibited by the inverse agonist midazolam, confirming that the mutant receptor is constitutively active. Computer-simulated models of the unoccupied WT TRH-R, the TRH-occupied WT TRH-R, and various TRH-R mutants predict that a hydrophobic cluster of residues, including Trp279 (TM6), Tyr282, and Phe199 (TM5), constrains the receptor in an inactive conformation. In support of this model, we found that substitution of Phe199 by alanine or of Tyr282 by alanine or phenylalanine, but not of Tyr200 (by alanine or phenylalanine), resulted in a constitutively active receptor. We propose that a hydrophobic cluster including residues in TM5 and TM6 constrains the TRH-R in an inactive conformation via interhelical interactions. Disruption of these constraints by TRH binding or by mutation leads to changes in the relative positions of TM5 and TM6 and to the formation of an active form of TRH-R.

Cobalt inhibition of stimulated prolactin secretion has been interpreted as demonstrating an essential role for enhanced calcium influx in the action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in GH3 cells. However, this interpretation is based on the assumption that cobalt ion (Co2+) binds to the external surface of cells to antagonize calcium-mediated processes only by blocking influx of extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+). In this report, we present evidence that Co2+ acts at an intracellular locus (or loci) to inhibit prolactin secretion. When GH3 cells were incubated in medium containing 1.5 mM Ca2+, Co2+ inhibited basal as well as 50 mM K+- and TRH-induced secretion; half-maximal effect occurred between 0.1 and 0.3 mM Co2+. When cells were incubated in medium containing 0.05 and 0.003 mM Ca2+, concentrations that abolish 50 mM K+-induced prolactin secretion, Co2+ still inhibited basal and TRH-stimulated prolactin secretion. Co2+ also inhibited prolactin secretion stimulated by 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide, three secretagogues that act to elevate intracellular cAMP, a mechanism which appears not to involve enhanced Ca2+ influx. Last, the presence of Co2+ within the cell was shown by fluorescence quenching of intracellularly trapped Quin 2, a chelator of divalent cations. These data demonstrate that Co2+ enters GH3 cells and that Co2+ inhibition of prolactin secretion does not involve extracellular Ca2+. We suggest that Co2+ not only blocks Ca2+ channels in GH3 cells, but it inhibits prolactin secretion at an intracellular locus (loci). Hence, inhibition by Co2+ should not be interpreted as demonstrating a requirement for Ca2+ influx in stimulated secretion.

The effects of pertussis toxin on the responses of rat pituitary-tumour (GH) cells to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (thyroliberin, TRH) were examined. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin did not alter the affinity or concentration of TRH receptors, or the sensitivity of the TRH receptor to inhibition by guanine nucleotides. TRH caused an increase in low-Km GTPase activity in membrane-containing fractions from both control and pertussis-toxin-treated cells. TRH stimulation of inositol phosphate formation was insensitive to pertussis toxin. TRH caused a biphasic increase in the concentrations of cytosolic free Ca2+ as monitored by intracellularly trapped Quin 2, and this increase was the same in control and toxin-treated cultures. The toxin did not alter the increase in prolactin and growth-hormone (somatotropin) release stimulated by TRH or shift the TRH dose-response curve, and it did not affect the TRH-induced rise in prolactin synthesis measured over 24 h. However, pertussis toxin did block the ability of somatostatin and muscarinic agonists to inhibit prolactin and growth-hormone secretion stimulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide when analysed under the same conditions as those in which the TRH system was unaffected. These data indicate that the guanine nucleotide effects on TRH binding and activity are not mediated by Ni, but possibly by another member of the family of guanine-nucleotide-dependent regulatory proteins.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; thyroliberin) stimulated rapid hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] by a phosphodiesterase (phospholipase C) in GH3 cells, a prolactin-secreting rat pituitary tumour cell line. TRH caused a rapid decrease in the level of PtdIns(4,5)P2 to 60% of control and stimulated a marked transient increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, the unique product of phosphodiesteratic hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2, to a peak of 410% of control at 15 s. TRH also caused decreases in phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) to 65% and 93% of control at 15 s respectively. Inositol 1,4-bisphosphate was increased to a peak of 450% at 30 s; inositol 1-monophosphate and inositol were not elevated until 30 s and 1 min respectively after TRH addition. To study whether PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis may be caused by an elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, the changes induced by TRH in the levels of inositol sugars were compared with the effects of membrane depolarization by high extracellular [K+]. The elevation in cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by K+ depolarization did not change the level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. These data suggest that phosphodiesteratic hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 may be the initial event in TRH stimulation of inositol lipid metabolism in GH3 cells and that PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis is not stimulated by an elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. The decreases in PtdIns4P and PtdIns may be due to enhanced conversion of PtdIns into PtdIns4P into PtdIns(4,5)P2 or to their direct hydrolysis by phosphomonoesterases and/or phosphodiesterases. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TRH-stimulated PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown causes Ca2+ mobilization leading to prolactin secretion.

The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor (TRH-R) is a member of the seven-transmembrane region, G protein-coupled receptor family. Arg-283 and Arg-306, in transmembrane helices 6 and 7, respectively, are putatively in positions homologous to those of residues that are important for agonist and antagonist binding in receptors for neurotransmitters. These arginines were mutated and the mutant receptors were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells. The affinity of the R306K TRH-R was similar to that of the wild-type (WT) TRH-R, whereas no specific binding was detected in cells expressing R306A, R306E, or R306L TRH-Rs. Because TRH stimulated inositol phosphate (IP) formation to similar maximal extents in cells expressing WT and Arg-306 mutant TRH-Rs, relative potencies were used to estimate the relative affinities of the receptors. The EC50 values for stimulation of R306A, R306E, and R306L TRH-Rs were 1500-, 1200-, and 3000-fold higher than that for the WT TRH-R. No specific binding was measurable in COS-1 cells expressing R283K, R283H, or R283A TRH-Rs, whereas maximal TRH stimulation of IP formation was to levels 64%, 42%, or < 1%, respectively, of that in cells expressing WT TRH-Rs; for R283K and R283H TRH-Rs, EC50 values were 6300- and 50,000-fold higher, respectively, than that for the WT TRH-R. In AtT-20 cells stably expressing R283A TRH-Rs, the binding affinity was 39,000-fold lower than that of the WT TRH-R and the number of receptors was estimated to be 0.88 x 10(6)/cell, but TRH did not stimulate IP formation. Thus, in the TRH-R, Arg-306 appears to be important for binding but not for activation, whereas Arg-283 appears to be important for binding and activation.

The roles of conserved residues in transmembrane helices (TMs) of G protein-coupled receptors have not been well established. A computer-generated model of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor (TRH-R) indicated that conserved Asp-71 (TM-2) could interact with conserved asparagines 316 (TM-7) and 43 (TM-1). To test this model, we constructed mutant TRH-Rs containing polar or alanine substitutions of these residues. The maximal activities of N43A and N316A TRH-Rs were diminished, whereas D71A (Perlman, J. H., Nussenzveig, D. R., Osman, R., and Gershengorn, M. C. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 24413-24417) and N43A/N316A TRH-Rs were inactive. Computer models of D71A and N43A/N316A TRH-Rs show similar changes from native TRH-R in their TM bundle conformations. The inactivity and the similarity of the computer models of D71A and N43A/N316A TRH-Rs are consistent with the idea that Asp-71 bridges Asn-43 and Asn-316 and suggest that activity is critically dependent on these interactions. The conservation of these residues suggests these specific interactions involving TMs 1, 2, and 7 may be structurally important for all members of the rhodopsin/beta-adrenergic receptor subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation of prolactin secretion from rat pituitary (GH3) cells is biphasic with a secretory burst (0-2 min) at a higher rate, followed by sustained secretion (beyond 2 min) at a lower rate. Based on the effects of calcium ionophores, K+ depolarization, and diacylglycerol (or phorbol esters), it was suggested that the secretory burst is dependent on elevation of cytoplasmic free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) whereas sustained secretion is mediated by lipid-activated protein phosphorylation. In this study, we pretreated GH3 cells with 0.03 mM arachidonic acid to abolish thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i (Kolesnick, R. N., and Gershengorn, M. C. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 707-713). In control cells, basal secretion was 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/10(6) cells/min which increased to 8.3 +/- 0.8 between 0 and 2 min after TRH and remained elevated at 3.3 +/- 0.2 between 2-10 min. In cells pretreated with arachidonic acid, TRH stimulated prolactin secretion to only 2.6 +/- 0.3 ng/10(6) cells/min between 0 and 2 min and to 3.2 +/- 0.2 between 2 to 10 min; these values are not different from each other nor from the response between 2 and 10 min in control cells. K+ depolarization, which elevates [Ca2+]i even in arachidonic acid-pretreated cells but does not affect lipid metabolism, caused only a secretory burst. Bovine serum albumin, which binds free arachidonic acid and reverses arachidonic acid inhibition of TRH-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i, reversed the inhibition of the secretory burst stimulated by TRH. These studies present direct evidence that the burst of prolactin secretion stimulated by TRH is dependent on an elevation of [Ca2+]i whereas the sustained phase of secretion is independent of such elevation.

Sphingosine inhibited [3H]methylhistidine-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (MeTRH) binding to intact GH3 cells and to GH3 membranes. This inhibition was dependent on the concentration of sphingosine and on the ratio of sphingosine to cell number (or membrane protein) and was partly reversed by washing. In intact cells, the IC50 was 63 microM (1.8 X 10(6) cells/ml; 2 nM MeTRH), and 100 microM sphingosine was found, by Scatchard analysis, to increase the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) from 1.1 +/- 0.3 to 6.5 +/- 2.3 nM and to decrease the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) to 41 +/- 9.5% of control. Kinetic analysis showed that the major effect of sphingosine on Kd was due to a marked decrease in the apparent association rate constant for MeTRH from 2.5 +/- 0.4 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 to 0.10 +/- 0.015 X 10(5) M-1 s-1. At 100 microM, sterylamine was as effective as sphingosine in inhibiting MeTRH binding, whereas sphinganine was less effective, and psychosine and steroylsphingosine were without effect. The following observations show that sphingosine inhibition of MeTRH binding did not involve protein kinase C. The IC50 for sphingosine inhibition of MeTRH binding was the same in GH3 cells that had been incubated with 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 16 h, to “down-regulate” protein kinase C, as in control cells. Sphingosine inhibited MeTRH binding to membranes isolated from GH3 cells that contain very little protein kinase C activity. In GH3 membranes, 100 microM sphingosine increased the Kd for MeTRH from 3.4 +/- 0.1 to 13 +/- 3.1 nM but did not significantly decrease Bmax (12 +/- 5.0% of control, p greater than 0.05). And, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, failed to decrease MeTRH binding to intact GH3 cells or to membranes, and did not interfere with the effects of sphingosine. These data show that sphingosine and its analogs have complex actions to inhibit MeTRH binding to GH3 cells, at least some of which are independent of protein kinase C, and thereby demonstrate that sphingolipids cannot be used as specific inhibitors of protein kinase C.