The essential role for aromatic cluster in the Β3 adrenergic receptor

Abstract

Aim:To explore the function of the conserved aromatic cluster F213 5.47, F3086.51, and F3096.52 in human Β3 adrenergic receptor (hΒ3AR).Methods:Point mutation technology was used to produce plasmid mutations of hΒ3AR. HEK-293 cells were transiently co-transfected with the hΒ3AR (wild-type or mutant) plasmids and luciferase reporter vector pCRE-luc. The expression levels of hΒ3AR in the cells were determined by Western blot analysis. The constitutive signalling and the signalling induced by the Β3AR selective agonist, BRL (BRL37344), were then evaluated. To further explore the interaction mechanism between BRL and Β3AR, a three-dimensional complex model of Β3AR and BRL was constructed by homology modelling and molecular docking.Results:For F308 6.51, Ala and Leu substitution significantly decreased the constitutive activities of Β3AR to approximately 10% of that for the wild-type receptor. However, both the potency and maximal efficacy were unchanged by Ala substitution. In the F3086.51 L construct, the EC 50 value manifested as a right shift of approximately two orders of magnitude with an increased E max. Impressively, the molecular pharmacological phenotype was similar to the wild-type receptor for the introduction of Tyr at position 3086.51, though the EC 50 value increased by approximately five-fold for the mutant. For F3096.52, the constitutive signalling for both F3096.52 A and F3096.52 L constructs were strongly impaired. In the F3096.52 A construct, BRL-stimulated signalling showed a normal E max but reduced potency. Leu substitution of F309 6.52 reduced both the E max and potency. When F3096.52 was mutated to Tyr, the constitutive activity was decreased approximately three-fold, and BRL-stimulated signalling was significantly impaired. Furthermore, the double mutant (F3086.51 A-F3096.52 A) caused the total loss of Β3AR function. The predicted binding mode between Β3AR and BRL revealed that both F3086.51 and F3096.52 were in the BRL binding pocket of Β3AR, while F2135.47 and W3056.48 were distant from the binding site.Conclusion:These results revealed that aromatic residues, especially F3086.51 and F309 6.52, play essential roles in the function of Β3AR. Aromatic residues maintained the receptor in a partially activated state and significantly contributed to ligand binding. The results supported the common hypothesis that the aromatic cluster F[Y]5.47/F[Y]6.52/F[Y]6.51 conserved in class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) plays an important role in the structural stability and activation of GPCRs. © 2012 CPS and SIMM. All rights reserved.