The DRY motif as a molecular switch of the human oxytocin receptor

Biochemistry. 2005 Aug 2;44(30):9990-10008. doi: 10.1021/bi0509853.

Abstract

The human oxytocin receptor is known to exhibit promiscuous activity by coupling to both Galpha(q) and Galpha(i) G proteins to activate distinct signaling pathways. A single-amino acid substitution within the highly conserved E/DRY motif at the cytosolic extension of helix 3 [i.e., D136(3.49)N] increased the rate of both basal and agonist-stimulated inositol phosphate (IP(3)) accumulation of the receptor. Furthermore, like for a typical constitutively active receptor, the partial agonist arginine vasopressin behaved as a full agonist for the D136(3.49)N mutant. Subsequently, both oxytocin and arginine vasopressin showed an increased potency in stimulating IP3 accumulation as compared to the wild-type receptor. Very interestingly, our experiments provide strong evidence that the D136(3.49)N mutant inhibits receptor signaling via Galpha(i)-mediated pathways while increasing the activity through the Galpha(q)-mediated pathways. Molecular simulations of the free and OT-bound forms of wild-type OTR and of the D136(3.49)N constitutively active mutant suggest that the receptor portions close to the E/DRY and NPxxY motifs are particularly susceptible to undergoing structural modification in response to activating mutations and agonist binding. Furthermore, computational modeling suggests that the OT-bound form of wild-type OTR is able to explore more states than the OT-bound form of the D136(3.49)N constitutively active mutant, consistent with its G protein promiscuity. Taken together, these observations emphasize the important role of the E/DRY motif not only in receptor activation but also in the promiscuity of G protein coupling. Knowledge of the mechanism of selective G protein coupling could aid drug discovery efforts to identify signaling specific therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Animals
  • Arginine / genetics
  • Asparagine / genetics
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Computational Biology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Oxytocin / chemistry
  • Oxytocin / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Receptors, Oxytocin / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Oxytocin / genetics
  • Receptors, Oxytocin / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction* / genetics
  • Tyrosine / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • Tyrosine
  • Oxytocin
  • Asparagine
  • Arginine