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Recently, we cloned many of the bullfrog neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including receptors for vasotocin (VT), mesotocin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), neurotensin, apelin, and metastin. Bullfrog GPCRs usually have high affinity for bullfrog ligands but relatively low affinity for mammalian ligands. Reciprocally, synthetic agonists and antagonists developed based upon mammalian ligands display lower affinity at bullfrog receptors. Studies using chimeric or domain-swapped receptors indicate that the motifs responsible for differential ligand selectivity usually reside within transmembrane domain 6 (TMD6)-extracellular loop 3 (ECL3)-transmembrane domain 7 (TMD7). Triple mutation of mammalian V1aR (Phe(6.51) to Tyr, Ile(6.53) to Thr, and Pro(7.33) to Thr) increases VT affinity but greatly reduces arginine vasopressin affinity. This binding profile is similar to that of bullfrog VT1R. Changing just three amino acids in the bullfrog GnRH receptor-1 (i.e. Ser-Gln-Ser in the ECL3) to those found in the type-I mammalian GnRH receptor (i.e. Ser-Glu-Pro) reverses GnRH selectivity. In conclusion, specific receptor motifs that govern ligand selectivity can be determined by comparative molecular analyses of GPCRs and their ligands. Such analysis provides clues for understanding how GPCRs maintain high affinity to their authentic ligands.

Satellite cells play a critical role in skeletal muscle regeneration in response to injury. Notch signaling is vital for satellite cell activation and myogenic precursor cell expansion but inhibits myogenic differentiation. Thus, precise spatial and temporal regulation of Notch activity is necessary for efficient muscle regeneration. We report that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Stra13 modulates Notch signaling in regenerating muscle. Upon injury, Stra13−/− mice exhibit increased cellular proliferation, elevated Notch signaling, a striking regeneration defect characterized by degenerated myotubes, increased mononuclear cells, and fibrosis. Stra13−/− primary myoblasts also exhibit enhanced Notch activity, increased proliferation, and defective differentiation. Inhibition of Notch signaling ex vivo and in vivo ameliorates the phenotype of Stra13−/− mutants. We demonstrate in vitro that Stra13 antagonizes Notch activity and reverses the Notch-imposed inhibition of myogenesis. Thus, Stra13 plays an important role in postnatal myogenesis by attenuating Notch signaling to reduce myoblast proliferation and promote myogenic differentiation.

The neurohypophysial nonapeptides vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) modulate a broad range of cognitive and social activities. Notably, in amphibians, vasotocin (VT), the ortholog of mammalian VP, plays a crucial role in the control of sexual behaviors. Because several neurosteroids also regulate reproduction-related behaviors, we investigated the possible effect of VT and the OT ortholog mesotocin (MT) in the control of neurosteroid production. Double immunohistochemical labeling of frog brain sections revealed the presence of VT/MT-positive fibers in close proximity of neurons expressing the steroidogenic enzymes 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta5-delta4 isomerase (3beta-HSD) and cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/c17, 20-lyase (P450(C17)). High concentrations of VT and MT receptor mRNAs were observed in diencephalic nuclei containing the 3beta-HSD and P450(C17) neuronal populations. Exposure of frog hypothalamic explants to graded concentrations of VT or MT produced a dose-dependent increase in the formation of progesterone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone. The stimulatory effect of VT and MT on neurosteroid biosynthesis was mimicked by VP and OT, as well as by a selective V1b receptor agonist, whereas V2 and OT receptor agonists had no effect. VT-induced neurosteroid production was completely suppressed by selective V1a receptor antagonists and was not affected by V2 and OT receptor antagonists. Concurrently, the effect of MT on neurosteroidogenesis was markedly attenuated by selective OT and V1a receptor antagonists but not by a V2 antagonist. The present study provides the first evidence for a regulatory effect of VT and MT on neurosteroid biosynthesis. These data suggest that neurosteroids may mediate some of the behavioral actions of VT and MT.

Context: GnRH is known to directly regulate prostate cancer cell proliferation, but the precise mechanism of action of the peptide is still under investigation.Objective: This study demonstrates differential effects of GnRH-I and GnRH-II on androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells.Results: Both GnRH-I and GnRH-II increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) either through Ca2+ influx from external Ca2+ source or via mobilization of Ca2+ from internal Ca2+ stores. Interestingly, the [Ca2+]i increase was mediated by activation of the ryanodine receptor but not the inositol trisphosphate receptor. Trptorelix-1, a novel GnRH-II antagonist but not cetrorelix, a classical GnRH-I antagonist, completely inhibited the GnRH-II-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Concurrently at high concentrations, trptorelix-1 and cetrorelix inhibited GnRH-I-induced [Ca2+]i increase, whereas at low concentrations they exerted an agonistic action, inducing Ca2+ influx. High concentrations of trptorelix-1 but not cetrorelix-induced prostate cancer cell death, probably through an apoptotic process. Using photoaffinity labeling with 125I-[azidobenzoyl-d-Lys6]GnRH-II, we observed that an 80-kDa protein specifically bound to GnRH-II.Conclusions: This study suggests the existence of a novel GnRH-II binding protein, in addition to a conventional GnRH-I receptor, in prostate cancer cells. These data may facilitate the development of innovatory therapeutic drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Arginine vasotocin (VT) is the ortholog in all nonmammalian vertebrates of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in mammals. We have previously cloned an amphibian V1atype vasotocin receptor (VT1R) that exhibited higher sensitivity for VT than AVP, while the mammalian V1a type receptor (V1aR) responded better to AVP than VT. In the present study, we identified the amino acid residues that confer differential ligand selectivity for AVP and VT between rat V1aR and bullfrog VT1R (bfVT1R). A chimeric rat V1aR having transmembrane domain (TMD) VI to the carboxyl-terminal tail (C-tail) of bfVT1R showed a reverse ligand preference for AVP and VT, whereas a chimeric VT1R with TMD VI to the C-tail of rat V1aR showed a great increase in sensitivity for AVP. A single mutation (Ile(315(6.53)) to Thr) in TMD VI of V1aR increased the sensitivity for VT, while a single mutation (Phe(313(6.51)) to Tyr or Pro(334(7.33)) to Thr) reduced sensitivity toward AVP. Interestingly the triple mutation (Phe(313(6.51)) to Tyr, Ile(6.53) to Thr, and Pro(7.33) to Thr) of V1aR increased sensitivity to VT but greatly reduced sensitivity to AVP, behaving like bfVT1R. Further, like V1aR, a double mutant (Tyr(306(6.51)) to Phe and Thr(327(7.33)) to Pro) of bfVT1R showed an increased sensitivity to AVP. These results suggest that Phe/Tyr(6.51), Ile/Thr(6.53), and Pro/Thr(7.33) are responsible for the differential ligand selectivity between rat V1aR and bfVT1R. This information regarding the molecular interaction of VT/AVP with their receptors may have important implications for the development of novel AVP analogs.

The neurohypophysial nonapeptides vasotocin (VT) and mesotocin (MT) are the amphibian counterparts of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT). We have here reported the cloning and functional characterization of the receptors for vasotocin (VTR) and mesotocin (MTR) in two species of frog, Rana catesbeiana and Rana esculenta. The frog VTR and MTR cDNAs encode proteins of 419 and 384 amino acids respectively. Frog VTR exhibits a high degree of sequence identity with the mammalian AVP-1a (V1a) receptor while the frog MTR possesses a high degree of sequence identity with the mammalian OT receptor. Activation of VTR induced both c-fos promoter- and cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-driven transcriptional activities, while activation of MTR induced c-fos promoter-driven transcriptional activity but failed to evoke CRE-driven transcriptional activity, suggesting differential G protein coupling between VTR and MTR. The VTR exhibited the highest sensitivity for VT followed by OT>AVP approximately MT, whereas the MTR showed preferential ligand sensitivity for MT>OT>VT>AVP. A V1a agonist but not V2 and OT agonists substantially activated both VTR and MTR with a similar sensitivity. V1a, V2 and OT antagonists inhibited MT-induced MTR activation but not VT-induced VTR activation. In the frog brain, VTR and MTR mRNAs were found to be widely expressed in the telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon, and exhibited very similar regional distribution. In the pituitary, VTR and MTR were expressed in the distal and intermediate lobes but were virtually absent in the neural lobe. Taken together, these data indicated that, although the distribution of VTR and MTR largely overlaps in the frog brain and pituitary, VT and MT may play distinct activities owing to the ligand selectivity and different signaling pathways activated by their receptors.

Sharp-1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional repressor that is involved in a number of cellular processes. Our previous studies have demonstrated that Sharp-1 is a negative regulator of skeletal myogenesis and it blocks differentiation of muscle precursor cells by modulating the activity of MyoD. In order to understand its role in pre- and post-natal myogenesis, we assessed skeletal muscle development and freeze-injury-induced regeneration in Sharp-1-deficient mice. We show that embryonic skeletal muscle development is not impaired in the absence of Sharp-1; however, post-natally, the regenerative capacity is compromised. Although the initial phases of injury-induced regeneration proceed normally in Sharp-1(-/-) mice, during late stages, the mutant muscle exhibits necrotic fibers, calcium deposits and fibrosis. TGF-β expression, as well as levels of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad3, are sustained in the mutant tissue and treatment with decorin, which blocks TGF-β signaling, improves the histopathology of Sharp-1(-/-) injured muscles. In vitro, Sharp-1 associates with Smad3, and its overexpression inhibits TGF-β- and Smad3-mediated expression of extracellular matrix genes in myofibroblasts. These results demonstrate that Sharp-1 regulates muscle regenerative capacity, at least in part, by modulation of TGF-β signaling.

Arginine vasotocin (VT) is the ortholog in all nonmammalian vertebrates of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in mammals. We have previously cloned an amphibian V1atype vasotocin receptor (VT1R) that exhibited higher sensitivity for VT than AVP, while the mammalian V1a type receptor (V1aR) responded better to AVP than VT. In the present study, we identified the amino acid residues that confer differential ligand selectivity for AVP and VT between rat V1aR and bullfrog VT1R (bfVT1R). A chimeric rat V1aR having transmembrane domain (TMD) VI to the carboxyl-terminal tail (C-tail) of bfVT1R showed a reverse ligand preference for AVP and VT, whereas a chimeric VT1R with TMD VI to the C-tail of rat V1aR showed a great increase in sensitivity for AVP. A single mutation (Ile(315(6.53)) to Thr) in TMD VI of V1aR increased the sensitivity for VT, while a single mutation (Phe(313(6.51)) to Tyr or Pro(334(7.33)) to Thr) reduced sensitivity toward AVP. Interestingly the triple mutation (Phe(313(6.51)) to Tyr, Ile(6.53) to Thr, and Pro(7.33) to Thr) of V1aR increased sensitivity to VT but greatly reduced sensitivity to AVP, behaving like bfVT1R. Further, like V1aR, a double mutant (Tyr(306(6.51)) to Phe and Thr(327(7.33)) to Pro) of bfVT1R showed an increased sensitivity to AVP. These results suggest that Phe/Tyr(6.51), Ile/Thr(6.53), and Pro/Thr(7.33) are responsible for the differential ligand selectivity between rat V1aR and bfVT1R. This information regarding the molecular interaction of VT/AVP with their receptors may have important implications for the development of novel AVP analogs.

Recently, we identified three types of non-mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (GnRHR) in the bullfrog (designated bfGnRHR-1-3), and a mammalian type-II GnRHR in green monkey cell lines (denoted gmGnRHR-2). All these receptors responded better to GnRH-II than GnRH-I, while mammalian type-I GnRHR showed greater sensitivity to GnRH-I than GnRH-II. In the present study, we designed new GnRH-II analogs and examined whether they activated or inhibited non-mammalian and mammalian type-II GnRHRs. [D-Ala6]GnRH-II, with D-Ala substituted for Gly6 in GnRH-II, increased inositol phosphate (IP) production in cells stably expressing non-mammalian GnRHRs more effectively than native GnRH-II. However, it exhibited lower activity for mammalian type-I GnRHR than GnRH-I itself. Trptorelix-1, a GnRH-II antagonist, inhibited GnRH-induced IP production in cells expressing non-mammalian GnRHRs more effectively than Cetrorelix, a GnRH-I antagonist. Trptorelix-1, however, had lower potency for mammalian type-I GnRHR than Cetrorelix. Ligand-receptor binding assays revealed that [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 have higher affinities for non-mammalian GnRHRs but lower affinities for mammalian type-I GnRHR than GnRH-II and Cetrorelix, respectively. Moreover, [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 had a higher affinity for gmGnRHR-2 than GnRH-II and Cetrorelix, respectively. These results indicate that [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 are highly effective agonist and antagonist, respectively, for non-mammalian and type-II mammalian GnRHRs.

We previously demonstrated the presence of three distinct types of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) in a bullfrog (denoted bfGnRHR-1, bfGnRHR-2, and bfGnRHR-3). The bfGnRHRs exhibited differential tissue distribution and ligand selectivity. In the present study, we demonstrated the desensitization and internalization kinetics of these receptors in both transiently-transfected HEK293 cells and retrovirus-mediated stable cells. The time-course accumulation of the inositol phosphate in response to GnRH revealed that bfGnRHR-1 and -2 were rapidly desensitized, whereas bfGnRHR-3 was slowly desensitized. A comparison of the internalization kinetics revealed the most rapid rate and highest extent of internalization of bfGnRHR-2 among the three receptors. Interestingly, the mechanisms that underlie the receptor internalization appear to differ from each other. Internalization of bfGnRHR-1 was dependent on both dynamin and beta-arrestin, whereas those of bfGnRHR-2 and -3 were dependent on dynamin, but not on arrestin. These results, therefore, suggest that differential regulatory mechanisms for desensitization and internalization of the GnRHR are involved in diverse cellular and physiological responses to GnRH stimulation.