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A long-held tenet in inositol-lipid signaling is that cleavage of membrane phosphoinositides by phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) isozymes to increase cytosolic Ca2+ in living cells is exclusive to Gq- and Gi-sensitive G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here we extend this central tenet and show that Gs-GPCRs also partake in inositol-lipid signaling and thereby increase cytosolic Ca2+. By combining CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to delete Gαs, the adenylyl cyclase isoforms 3 and 6, or the PLCβ1-4 isozymes, with pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Gq and G11, we pin down Gs-derived Gβγ as driver of a PLCβ2/3-mediated cytosolic Ca2+ release module. This module does not require but crosstalks with Gαs-dependent cAMP, demands Gαq to release PLCβ3 autoinhibition, but becomes Gq-independent with mutational disruption of the PLCβ3 autoinhibited state. Our findings uncover the key steps of a previously unappreciated mechanism utilized by mammalian cells to finetune their calcium signaling regulation through Gs-GPCRs. Gs heterotrimers are considered to be poor providers of free Gβγ subunits. Here, the authors show that—despite this—Gs-derived Gβγ dimers are active transducers of GPCR-initiated Ca2+ signals involving phosphoinositide-based signaling routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human histamine 2 receptor (H2R) in an active conformation with bound histamine and in complex with Gs heterotrimeric protein at an overall resolution of 3.4 Å. The complex was generated by cotranslational insertion of the receptor into preformed nanodisc membranes using cell-free synthesis in E. coli lysates. Structural comparison with the inactive conformation of H2R and the inactive and Gq-coupled active state of H1R together with structure-guided functional experiments reveal molecular insights into the specificity of ligand binding and G protein coupling for this receptor family. We demonstrate lipid-modulated folding of cell-free synthesized H2R, its agonist-dependent internalization and its interaction with endogenously synthesized H1R and H2R in HEK293 cells by applying a recently developed nanotransfer technique.The study describes the molecular structure of the human histamine 2 receptor in active conformation and in complex with Gs heterotrimer, synthesized in a cell-free system and co-translationally inserted into preformed nanodiscs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frizzleds (FZDs) are G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that bind to WNT family ligands. FZDs signal through multiple effector proteins, including Dishevelled (DVL), which acts as a hub for several downstream signaling pathways. To understand how WNT binding to FZD stimulates intracellular signaling and influences downstream pathway selectivity, we investigated the dynamic changes in the FZD5-DVL2 interaction elicited by WNT-3A and WNT-5A. Ligand-induced changes in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between FZD5 and DVL2 or the isolated FZD-binding DEP domain of DVL2 revealed a composite response consisting of both DVL2 recruitment and conformational dynamics in the FZD5-DVL2 complex. The combination of different BRET paradigms enabled us to identify ligand-dependent conformational dynamics in the FZD5-DVL2 complex and distinguish them from ligand-induced recruitment of DVL2 or DEP to FZD5. The observed agonist-induced conformational changes at the receptor-transducer interface suggest that extracellular agonist and intracellular transducers cooperate through transmembrane allosteric interaction with FZDs in a ternary complex reminiscent of that of classical GPCRs. WNT bends FZD-DVL complexes: The binding of WNTs to G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) of the FZD family drives the oligomerization of the intracellular protein DVL at the receptor complex. Although the activation of G proteins to GPCRs depends on ligand-induced conformational changes in the receptors, WNT-induced conformational changes in FZD have not been thought to contribute substantially to DVL-mediated signaling because FZD and DVL can interact in the absence of WNT. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays, Bowin et al. confirmed that FZD5 associated with DVL2 or the isolated DEP domain of DVL2 in the absence of WNT and showed that WNT stimulation promoted changes in the conformation of FZD5-DVL2 and FZD5-DEP complexes. These findings suggest that ligand-induced conformational changes in FZD may influence whether downstream signaling proceeds through DVL or G proteins. —AMV [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion G protein‐coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are a class of structurally and functionally highly intriguing cell surface receptors with essential functions in health and disease. Thus, they display a vastly unexploited pharmacological potential. Our current understanding of the physiological functions and signaling mechanisms of aGPCRs form the basis for elucidating further molecular aspects. Combining these with novel tools and methodologies from different fields tailored for studying these unusual receptors yields a powerful potential for pushing aGPCR research from singular approaches toward building up an in‐depth knowledge that will facilitate its translation to applied science. In this review, we summarize the state‐of‐the‐art knowledge on aGPCRs in respect to structure–function relations, physiology, and clinical aspects, as well as the latest advances in the field. We highlight the upcoming most pressing topics in aGPCR research and identify strategies to tackle them. Furthermore, we discuss approaches how to promote, stimulate, and translate research on aGPCRs 'from bench to bedside' in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the intestine, the human G protein--coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR35 is involved in oncogenic signaling, bacterial infections, and inflammatory bowel disease. GPR35 is known to be expressed as two distinct isoforms that differ only in the length of their extracellular N-termini by 31 amino acids, but detailed insights into their functional differences are lacking. Through gene expression analysis in immune and gastrointestinal cells, we show that these isoforms emerge from distinct promoter usage and alternative splicing. Additionally, we employed optical assays in living cells to thoroughly profile both GPR35 isoforms for constitutive and ligand-induced activation and signaling of 10 different heterotrimeric G proteins, ligand-induced arrest in recruitment, and receptor internalization. Our results reveal that the extended N-terminus of the long isoform limits G protein activation yet elevates receptor--β-arrest in interaction. To better understand the structural basis for this bias, we examined structural models of GPR35 and conducted experiments with mutants of both isoforms. We found that a proposed disulfide bridge between the N-terminus and extracellular loop 3, present in both isoforms, is crucial for constitutive G13 activation, while an additional cysteine contributed by the extended N-terminus of the long GPR35 isoform limits the extent of agonist-induced receptor-- β-arrestin2 interaction. The pharmacological profiles and mechanistic insights of our study provide clues for the future design of isoform-specific GPR35 ligands that selectively modulate GPR35--transducer interactions and allow for mechanism-based therapies against, for example, inflammatory bowel disease or bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor-activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins that associate with different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R), a class B GPCR and an important modulator of mineral ion homeostasis and bone metabolism. However, it is unknown whether and how RAMP proteins may affect PTH1R function. Using different optical biosensors to measure the activation of PTH1R and its downstream signaling, we describe here that RAMP2 acts as a specific allosteric modulator of PTH1R, shifting PTH1R to a unique preactivated state that permits faster activation in a ligand-specific manner. Moreover, RAMP2 modulates PTH1R downstream signaling in an agonistdependent manner, most notably increasing the PTH-mediated Gi3 signaling sensitivity. Additionally, RAMP2 increases both PTH- and PTHrP-triggered ß-arrestin2 recruitment to PTH1R. Employing homology modeling, we describe the putative structural molecular basis underlying our functional findings. These data uncover a critical role of RAMPs in the activation and signaling of a GPCR that may provide a new venue for highly specific modulation of GPCR function and advanced drug design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Frizzled BRET sensors based on bioorthogonal labeling of unnatural amino acids reveal WNT-induced dynamics of the cysteine-rich domain. Topics include Frizzleds are G protein–coupled receptors containing an extracellular cysteine-rich domain (CRD) binding Wingless/Int-1 lipoglycoproteins (WNTs), and the role of WNT/FZD signaling in health and disease, our understanding of how WNT binding is translated into receptor activation and transmembrane signaling remains limited.

Better biosensors for constitutive activity: G protein activation is a common downstream signal transduction event upon agonist binding to the GPCR family of receptors. Genetically encoded BRET sensors are often used to measure the activity of G proteins but are limited to those stimulated by wild-type receptors. Schihada et al. developed BRET sensors capable of measuring the activity of GPCRs with disease-associated mutations that confer constitutive activity. By relying on plasmids that encoded all of the necessary components, these BRET sensors also showed better sensitivity than currently available BRET sensors that require cotransfection of cells with three separate plasmids. This set of BRET biosensors, which can detect the activity of the four major G protein families, will help to delineate the pathophysiological roles and effects of constitutively active GPCRs. Heterotrimeric G proteins constitute the primary transducers of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. In addition to mediating ligand-induced GPCR activation, G proteins transduce basal signaling in various physiological and pathophysiological settings evoked by constitutively active, native GPCRs or disease-related receptor mutants. Optical biosensors have been developed and optimized to monitor GPCR ligand–induced activation of G proteins, but these biosensors cannot be used to detect constitutively active GPCRs. Here, we designed and validated eight bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)–based G protein sensors that can measure the activity of all four major families of G proteins. We also established a protocol to identify constitutive GPCR or G protein signaling in live cells. These G protein–based, tricistronic activity sensors (G-CASE) rely on the encoding of all three G protein subunits by a single plasmid, enabling their expression at the desired relative amounts and resulting in reduced signal variability in mammalian cells. We also present an experimental protocol to use the G-CASE sensor toolbox to quantify constitutive signaling of native and mutated GPCRs through these heterotrimeric transducers. This approach will help to characterize constitutively active GPCRs and their role in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The G protein-coupled receptors Frizzled 1-10 (FZD 1-10) act as molecular checkpoints mediating intracellular signaling induced by 19 mammalian, secreted Wingless/Int-1 lipoglycoproteins (WNTs). Despite the vital roles of these signaling components in health and disease, our knowledge about WNT/FZD selectivity, and the mechanisms of receptor activation and intracellular signal propagation by individual ligand/receptor pairs is limited due to the current lack of suitable biophysical techniques. Here, we developed fluorescence-based biosensors that detect WNT-induced FZD conformational changes in living cells in order to assess WNT action via FZDs at the most proximal level, i.e. the receptor conformation. By testing a panel of recombinant ligands on conformational biosensors representing all four homology clusters of FZDs, we discover yet unappreciated selectivities of WNTs to their receptors and, surprisingly, identify distinct ligand-induced receptor conformations. Furthermore, we demonstrate that FZDs can undergo conformational changes upon WNT binding without being dependent on the WNT co-receptors LRP5/6. This sensor toolbox provides an advanced platform for a thorough investigation of the 190 possible WNT/FZD pairings and for future screening campaigns targeting synthetic FZD ligands. Furthermore, our findings shed new light on the complexity of the WNT/FZD signaling system and have substantial implications for our understanding of fundamental biological processes including embryonal development and tumorigenesis. Image 1 • Development and validation of conformational class F GPCR biosensors. • FZD-cpGFP sensors uncover WNT-induced conformational dynamics. • Investigation of WNT/FZD selectivity. • FZD-cpGFP sensors can serve as new tools to characterize FZD-targeting compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a critical role in nervous system function by transmitting signals between cells and their environment. They are involved in many, if not all, nervous system processes, and their dysfunction has been linked to various neurological disorders representing important drug targets. This overview emphasises the GPCRs of the nervous system, which are the research focus of the members of ERNEST COST action (CA18133) working group ‘Biological roles of signal transduction’. First, the (patho)physiological role of the nervous system GPCRs in the modulation of synapse function is discussed. We then debate the (patho)physiology and pharmacology of opioid, acetylcholine, chemokine, melatonin and adhesion GPCRs in the nervous system. Finally, we address the orphan GPCRs, their implication in the nervous system function and disease, and the challenges that need to be addressed to deorphanize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large portion of the human GPCRome is still in the dark and understudied, consisting even of entire subfamilies of GPCRs such as odorant receptors, class A and C orphans, adhesion GPCRs, Frizzleds and taste receptors. However, it is undeniable that these GPCRs bring an untapped therapeutic potential that should be explored further. Open questions on these GPCRs span diverse topics such as deorphanisation, the development of tool compounds and tools for studying these GPCRs, as well as understanding basic signalling mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the current state of knowledge for each of the diverse subfamilies of understudied receptors regarding their physiological relevance, molecular mechanisms, endogenous ligands and pharmacological tools. Furthermore, it identifies some of the largest knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the foreseeable future and lists some general strategies that might be helpful in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wingless/Int1 (Wnt) signaling system plays multiple, essential roles in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and human diseases. Although many of the underlying signaling mechanisms are becoming clearer, the binding mode, kinetics, and selectivity of 19 mammalianWNTs to their receptors of the class Frizzled (FZD1-10) remain obscure. Attempts to investigate Wnt-FZD interactions are hampered by the difficulties in working with Wnt proteins and their recalcitrance to epitope tagging. Here, we used a fluorescently tagged version of mouse Wnt-3a for studying Wnt-FZD interactions. We observed that the enhanced GFP (eGFP)-tagged Wnt-3a maintains properties akin to wild-type (WT) Wnt-3a in several biologically relevant contexts. The eGFP-tagged Wnt-3a was secreted in an evenness interrupted (EVI)/Wntless-dependent manner, activated Wnt/b-catenin signaling in 2D and 3D cell culture experiments, promoted axis duplication in Xenopus embryos, stimulated lowdensity lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) phosphorylation in cells, and associated with exosomes. Further, we used conditioned medium containing eGFP-Wnt-3a to visualize its binding to FZD and to quantify Wnt-FZD interactions in real time in live cells, utilizing a recently established NanoBRETbased ligand binding assay. In summary, the development of a biologically active, fluorescent Wnt-3a reported here opens up the technical possibilities to unravel the intricate biology of Wnt signaling and Wnt-receptor selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]