β2 adrenergic receptor fluorescent protein fusions traffic to the plasma membrane and retain functionality

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e74941. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074941. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has proven useful for the study of protein interactions and dynamics for the last twenty years. A variety of new fluorescent proteins have been developed that expand the use of available excitation spectra. We have undertaken an analysis of seven of the most useful fluorescent proteins (XFPs), Cerulean (and mCerulean3), Teal, GFP, Venus, mCherry and TagRFP657, as fusions to the archetypal G-protein coupled receptor, the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR). We have characterized these β2AR::XFP fusions in respect to membrane trafficking and G-protein activation. We noticed that in the mouse neural cell line, OP 6, that membrane bound β2AR::XFP fusions robustly localized in the filopodia identical to gap::XFP fusions. All β2AR::XFP fusions show responses indistinguishable from each other and the non-fused form after isoprenaline exposure. Our results provide a platform by which G-protein coupled receptors can be dissected for their functionality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis / drug effects
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Pseudopodia / drug effects
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transferrin / metabolism
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transferrin
  • beta-Arrestins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Isoproterenol