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Bombesin-receptor-subtype-3 (BB3 receptor) is a G-protein-coupled-orphan-receptor classified in the mammalian Bombesin-family because of high homology to gastrin-releasing peptide (BB2 receptor)/neuromedin-B receptors (BB1 receptor). There is increased interest in BB3 receptor because studies primarily from knockout-mice suggest it plays roles in energy/glucose metabolism, insulin-secretion, as well as motility and tumor-growth. Investigations into its roles in physiological/pathophysiological processes are limited because of lack of selective ligands. Recently, a selective, peptide-antagonist, Bantag-1, was described. However, because BB3 receptor has low-affinity for all natural, Bn-related peptides, little is known of the molecular basis of its high-affinity/selectivity. This was systematically investigated in this study for Bantag-1 using a chimeric-approach making both Bantag-1 loss-/gain-of-affinity-chimeras, by exchanging extracellular (EC) domains of BB3/BB2 receptor, and using site-directed-mutagenesis. Receptors were transiently expressed and affinities determined by binding studies. Bantag-1 had >5000-fold selectivity for BB3 receptor over BB2/BB1 receptors and substitution of the first EC-domain (EC1) in loss-/gain-of affinity-chimeras greatly affected affinity. Mutagenesis of each amino acid difference in EC1 between BB3 receptor/BB2 receptor showed replacement of His(107) in BB3 receptor by Lys(107) (H107K-BB3 receptor-mutant) from BB2 receptor, decreased affinity 60-fold, and three replacements [H107K, E11D, G112R] decreased affinity 500-fold. Mutagenesis in EC1's surrounding transmembrane-regions (TMs) demonstrated TM2 differences were not important, but R127Q in TM3 alone decreased affinity 400-fold. Additional mutants in EC1/TM3 explored the molecular basis for these changes demonstrated in EC1, particularly important is the presence of aromatic-interactions by His(107), rather than hydrogen-bonding or charge-charge interactions, for determining Bantag-1 high affinity/selectivity. In regard to Arg(127) in TM3, both hydrogen-bonding and charge-charge interactions contribute to the high-affinity/selectivity for Bantag-1., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Several studies showed that the orphan Bombesin Receptor Subtype-3 (BRS-3) - member of the bombesin receptor family - has an important role in glucose homeostasis (v.g.: BRS-3-KO mice developed mild obesity, and decreased levels of BRS-3 mRNA/protein have been described in muscle from obese (OB) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients). In this work, to gain insight into BRS-3 receptor cell signaling pathways, and its implication on glucose metabolism, primary cultured myocytes from normal subjects, OB or T2D patients were tested using high affinity ligand - [d-Tyr(6),β-Ala(11),Phe(13),Nle(14)]bombesin6-14. In muscle cells from all metabolic conditions, the compound significantly increased not only MAPKs, p90RSK1, PKB and p70s6K phosphorylation levels, but also PI3K activity; moreover, it produced a dose-response stimulation of glycogen synthase a activity and glycogen synthesis. Myocytes from OB and T2D patients were more sensitive to the ligand than normal, and T2D cells even more than obese myocytes. These results widen the knowledge of human BRS-3 cell signaling pathways induced by a BRS-3 agonist, described its insulin-mimetic effects on glucose metabolism, showed the role of BRS-3 receptor in glucose homeostasis, and also propose the employing of BRS-3/ligand system, as participant in the obese and diabetic therapies., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) was implicated for the first time in the pathogenesis of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by Ishikawa-Brush et al. [Ishikawa-Brush et al. (1997): Hum Mol Genet 6: 1241-1250]. Since this original observation, only one association study [Marui et al. (2004): Brain Dev 26: 5-7] has further investigated, though unsuccessfully, the involvement of the GRPR gene in ASD. With the aim of contributing further information to this topic we have sequenced the entire coding region and the intron/exon junctions of the GRPR gene in 149 Italian autistic patients. The results of this study led to the identification of four novel point mutations, two of which, that is, C6S and L181F, involve amino acid changes identified in two patients with ASD and Rett syndrome, respectively. Both the leucine at position 181 and the cysteine at position 6 are strongly conserved in vertebrates. C6S and L181F mutant proteins were expressed in COS-7 and BALB/3T3 cells, but they did not affect either GRP's binding affinity or its potency for stimulating phospholipase C-mediated production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. In summary, our results do not provide support for a major role of the GRPR gene in ASD in the population of patients we have studied. However, there is a potential role of C6S and L181F mutations on GRPR function, and possibly in the pathogenesis of the autistic disorders in the two patients., (2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The mammalian bombesin receptor family comprises three G protein-coupled heptahelical receptors: the neuromedin B (NMB) receptor (BB(1)), the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor (BB(2)), and the orphan receptor bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) (BB(3)). Each receptor is widely distributed, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system (CNS), and the receptors have a large range of effects in both normal physiology and pathophysiological conditions. The mammalian bombesin peptides, GRP and NMB, demonstrate a broad spectrum of pharmacological/biological responses. GRP stimulates smooth muscle contraction and GI motility, release of numerous GI hormones/neurotransmitters, and secretion and/or hormone release from the pancreas, stomach, colon, and numerous endocrine organs and has potent effects on immune cells, potent growth effects on both normal tissues and tumors, potent CNS effects, including regulation of circadian rhythm, thermoregulation; anxiety/fear responses, food intake, and numerous CNS effects on the GI tract as well as the spinal transmission of chronic pruritus. NMB causes contraction of smooth muscle, has growth effects in various tissues, has CNS effects, including effects on feeding and thermoregulation, regulates thyroid-stimulating hormone release, stimulates various CNS neurons, has behavioral effects, and has effects on spinal sensory transmission. GRP, and to a lesser extent NMB, affects growth and/or differentiation of various human tumors, including colon, prostate, lung, and some gynecologic cancers. Knockout studies show that BB(3) has important effects in energy balance, glucose homeostasis, control of body weight, lung development and response to injury, tumor growth, and perhaps GI motility. This review summarizes advances in our understanding of the biology/pharmacology of these receptors, including their classification, structure, pharmacology, physiology, and role in pathophysiological conditions.

Few gastrointestinal hormones/neurotransmitters have high affinity peptide receptor antagonists, and little is known about the molecular basis of their selectivity or affinity. The receptor mediating the action of the mammalian bombesin (Bn) peptide, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), is an exception, because numerous classes of peptide antagonists are described. To investigate the molecular basis for their high affinity for the GRPR, two classes of peptide antagonists, a statine analogue, JMV594 ([d-Phe(6),Stat(13)]Bn(6-14)), and a pseudopeptide analogue, JMV641 (d-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leupsi(CHOH-CH(2))-(CH(2))(2)-CH(3)), were studied. Each had high affinity for the GRPR and >3,000-fold selectivity for GRPR over the closely related neuromedin B receptor (NMBR). To investigate the basis for this, we used a chimeric receptor approach to make both GRPR loss of affinity and NMBR gain of affinity chimeras and a site-directed mutagenesis approach. Chimeric or mutated receptors were transiently expressed in Balb/c 3T3. Only substitution of the fourth extracellular (EC) domain of the GRPR by the comparable NMBR domain markedly decreased the affinity for both antagonists. Substituting the fourth EC domain of NMBR into the GRPR resulted in a 300-fold gain in affinity for JMV594 and an 11-fold gain for JMV641. Each of the 11 amino acid differences between the GRPR and NMBR in this domain were exchanged. The substitutions of Thr(297) in GRPR by Pro from the comparable position in NMBR, Phe(302) by Met, and Ser(305) by Thr decreased the affinity of each antagonist. Simultaneous replacement of Thr(297), Phe(302), and Ser(305) in GRPR by the three comparable NMBR amino acids caused a 500-fold decrease in affinity for both antagonists. Replacing the comparable three amino acids in NMBR by those from GRPR caused a gain in affinity for each antagonist. Receptor modeling showed that each of these three amino acids faced inward and was within 5 A of the putative binding pocket. These results demonstrate that differences in the fourth EC domain of the mammalian Bn receptors are responsible for the selectivity of these two peptide antagonists. They demonstrate that Thr(297), Phe(302), and Ser(305) of the fourth EC domain of GRPR are the critical residues for determining GRPR selectivity and suggest that both receptor-ligand cation-pi interactions and hydrogen bonding are important for their high affinity interaction.

The orphan receptor, bombesin (Bn) receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3), shares high homology with bombesin receptors (neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R)). This receptor is widely distributed in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract; target disruption leads to obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, however, its role in physiological and pathological processes remain unknown due to lack of selective ligands or identification of its natural ligand. We have recently discovered (Mantey, S. A., Weber, H. C., Sainz, E., Akeson, M., Ryan, R. R. Pradhan, T. K., Searles, R. P., Spindel, E. R., Battey, J. F., Coy, D. H., and Jensen, R. T. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 26062-26071) that [d-Tyr(6),beta-Ala(11),Phe(13),Nle(14)]Bn-(6-14) has high affinity for BRS-3 and using this ligand showed BRS-3 has a unique pharmacology with high affinity for no known natural Bn peptides. However, use of this ligand is limited because it has high affinity for all known Bn receptors. In the present study we have attempted to identify BRS-3 selective ligands using a strategy of rational peptide design with the substitution of conformationally restricted amino acids into the prototype ligand [d-Tyr(6),beta-Ala(11),Phe(13),Nle(14)]Bn-(6-14) or its d-Phe(6) analogue. Each of the 22 peptides synthesized had binding affinities determined for hBRS-3, hGRPR, and hNMBR, and hBRS-3 selective ligands were tested for their ability to activate phospholipase C and increase inositol phosphates ([(3)H]inositol phosphate). Using this approach we have identified a number of BRS-3 selective ligands. These ligands functioned as receptor agonists and their binding affinities were reflected in their potencies for altering [(3)H]inositol phosphate. Two peptides with an (R)- or (S)-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid substitution for beta-Ala(11) in the prototype ligand had the highest selectivity for the hBRS-3 over the mammalian Bn receptors and did not interact with receptors for other gastrointestinal hormones/neurotransmitters. Molecular modeling demonstrated these two selective BRS-3 ligands had a unique conformation of the position 11 beta-amino acid. This selectivity was of sufficient magnitude that these should be useful in explaining the role of hBRS-3 activation in obesity, glucose homeostasis, hypertension, and other physiological or pathological processes.

A synthetic peptide, (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) was used to investigate the signal transduction mechanisms of bombesin receptor subtype-3. Using NCI-1299#5 human lung cancer cells stably transfected with bombesin receptor subtype-3, 100 nM (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) elevated the cytosolic Ca2+ from 150 to 250 nM within 10 s. Addition of (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) caused phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinase in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The mitogen activated protein kinase phosphorylation caused by (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) was inhibited by 2'-amino-3'-methyoxyflavone (PD98059), a mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor. Using a luciferase reporter gene construct, (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) caused Elk-1 activation after 10 min and the increase in Elk-1 activation caused by (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) was inhibited by PD98059 as well as a dominant-negative MEK-1. (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) caused increased c-fos as well as c-jun mRNAs 1 h after addition to NCI-H1299#5 cells. The 47-fold increase in c-fos mRNA caused by 100 nM (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) was inhibited by PD98059, a dominant-negative MEK-1 and a substance P antagonist but not (3-phenylpropanoyl-D-Ala(24), Pro(26), Psi(26,27), Phe(27))GRP-(20-27) (BW2258U89), a GRP receptor antagonist. These results indicate that (D-Phe(6), beta-Ala(11), Phe(13), Nle(14))bombesin-(6-14) caused increased nuclear oncogene expression and upstream events include mitogen activated protein kinase phosphorylation and Elk-1 activation.

Peptoid antagonists are increasingly being described for G protein-coupled receptors; however, little is known about the molecular basis of their binding. Recently, the peptoid PD168368 was found to be a potent selective neuromedin B receptor (NMBR) antagonist. To investigate the molecular basis for its selectivity for the NMBR over the closely related receptor for gastrin-releasing peptide (GRPR), we used a chimeric receptor approach and a site-directed mutagenesis approach. Mutated receptors were transiently expressed in Balb 3T3. The extracellular domains of the NMBR were not important for the selectivity of PD168368. However, substitution of the 5th upper transmembrane domain (uTM5) of the NMBR by the comparable GRPR domains decreased the affinity 16-fold. When the reverse study was performed by substituting the uTM5 of NMBR into the GRPR, a 9-fold increase in affinity occurred. Each of the 4 amino acids that differed between NMBR and GRPR in the uTM5 region were exchanged, but only the substitution of Phe(220) for Tyr in the NMBR caused a decrease in affinity. When the reverse study was performed to attempt to demonstrate a gain of affinity in the GRPR, the substitution of Tyr(219) for Phe caused an increase in affinity. These results suggest that the hydroxyl group of Tyr(220) in uTM5 of NMBR plays a critical role for high selectivity of PD168368 for NMBR over GRPR. Receptor and ligand modeling suggests that the hydroxyl of the Tyr(220) interacts with nitrophenyl group of PD168368 likely primarily by hydrogen bonding. This result shows the selectivity of the peptoid PD168368, similar to that reported for numerous non-peptide analogues with other G protein-coupled receptors, is primarily dependent on interaction with transmembrane amino acids.

The ability of nonpeptide antagonists to interact with neuromedin B receptors on C6 cells was investigated. 2-[3-(2, 6-Diisopropyl-phenyl)-ureido]3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-N-(1-pyridin- 2-yl-cyclohexylmethyl)-proprionate (PD165929), 3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-2-[3(4-nitro-phenyl)-ureido]-N-(1-pyridin- 2-yl-cyclohexylmethyl)-propionamide (PD168368) and 3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-[1-(5-methoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-cyclohexylmethyl]- 2-m ethyl-2-[3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-ureido]-propionamide (PD176252) inhibited (125I-Tyr0)neuromedin B binding with IC50 values of 2000, 40 and 50 nM, respectively. Because neuromedin B is a G-protein coupled serpentine receptor, the effects of neuromedin B antagonists on second messenger production and proliferation were investigated. PD168368 inhibited the ability of 10 nM neuromedin B to cause elevation of cytosolic Ca2+, whereas it had no effect on basal cytosolic Ca2+. PD168368 inhibited the ability of 100 nM neuromedin B to cause elevation of c-fos mRNA. Also, PD168368 in a dose-dependent manner inhibited the ability of 100 nM neuromedin B to cause phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Using a [3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay, the order of antagonist potency to inhibit C6 proliferation was PD168368=PD176252>PD165929. Also, 1 microM PD168368 and PD176252 significantly inhibited colony number using a proliferation assay in vitro. PD168368 significantly inhibited C6 xenograft growth in nude mice in vivo. These results indicate that PD168368 is a C6 cell neuromedin B receptor antagonist, which inhibits proliferation.

Many gastrointestinal G protein-coupled receptors are glycosylated; however, which potential glycosylation sites are actually glycosylated and their role in receptor transduction or receptor modulation (internalization, down-regulation, desensitization) is largely unknown. We used site-directed mutagenesis to address these issues with the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R). Each of the four potential glycosylation sites was mutated by converting the Asn (N) to Gln (Q). Transient expression in CHOP cells demonstrated that changing Asn(24) or Asn(191) inhibited GRP-R cell surface expression, whereas elimination of Asn(5) and Asn(20) had no effect. Using ligand cross-linking studies in stable mutants expressed in Balb 3T3 cells, all four potential extracellular sites were glycosylated with carbohydrate residues of approximately 13 kDa on Asn(5), 10 kDa on Asn(20), 5 kDa on Asn(24), and 9 kDa on Asn(191). Removal of three glycosylation sites (N5,20,24,Q mutant) did not alter receptor affinity or G protein coupling; therefore, it could be speculated that deglycosylation at Asn(191) might be responsible for the altered G protein coupling seen with complete enzymatic deglycosylation of the native receptor previously reported. Removal of any single glycosylation site did not interfere with GRP-R induced chronic desensitization or down-regulation. However, elimination of all three NH(2)-terminal sites (N5,20,24) markedly attenuated both processes, with no effect on acute homologous desensitization and with only a minimal alteration of GRP-R internalization, supporting the findings of other studies that suggest that chronic desensitization and down-regulation are functionally coupled, distinct from acute desensitization and distinct from internalization. These data show that separate and specific glycosylation sites are important for GRP-R trafficking to the cell surface, ligand binding, G protein coupling, chronic desensitization, and down-regulation.

The murine gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (mGRP-R) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family and mediates important physiological actions of its specific ligand, the gastrointestinal hormone/neurotransmitter GRP, including mitogenic properties in the mouse Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Glucocorticoids and increases in intracellular cAMP are reported to alter GRP-R gene transcription, but the molecular basis for these effects is unknown. To begin to identify possible gene regulatory mechanisms that are responsible for modifying mGRP-R expression, we determined its structure and investigated its basal promoter activity. We isolated and characterized genomic bacteriophage P1 clones encoding the mouse gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (mGRP-R). By DNA sequencing and Southern blot analyses, we determined the protein coding region to be contained in three exons interrupted by two introns 20 and 2kb in length. The open reading frame of the putative GRP-R gene encodes for a 384-amino-acid protein which demonstrates 48% identity with the mouse BRS-3 protein and 53% identity with the mouse NMB-R protein. The mGRP-R gene locus extends over 29kb and was mapped to the X-chromosome (DXMit20) utilizing a minisatellite polymorphism in the 5' UTR and by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH). In Swiss 3T3 cells, which natively express mGRP-R, two gene-specific mRNA species of 3 and 7kb can be detected by Northern blot analysis. With RNase protection assays, and independently with inverse PCR of 5' RACE clones, common mRNA initiation sites were identified clustered between 21 and 61bp downstream of a TTTAAA motif, which is located 450bp upstream of the ATG translation start site. However, different polyadenylation sites are utilized. A 2kb genomic DNA fragment extending from 2147 to 141 bases 5' to the ATG translation start was cloned into a luciferase reporter plasmid and shown to contain promoter activity in Swiss 3T3 and COS-7 cells. Progressive promoter truncations and mutations of a cyclic AMP response element (CRE) located 83bp upstream of the TTTAAA motif demonstrate that transcriptional mGRP-R activation in Swiss 3T3 cells only occurs when both the TTTAAA motif and the intact CRE site are retained. With the availability of the full structure of the mGRP-R gene and the minimal promoter sequences reported in this study, it will be possible in future studies to investigate the molecular basis for transcriptional regulation of the mGRP-R gene by glucocorticoids, cAMP and other factors.

The mammalian peptide neuromedin B (NMB) and its receptor are expressed in a variety of tissues; however, little is definitively established about its physiological actions because of the lack of potent, specific antagonists. Recently, the peptoid PD 168368 was found to be a potent human NMB receptor antagonist. Because it had been shown previously that either synthetic analogs of bombesin (Bn) or other receptor peptoid or receptor antagonists function as an antagonist or agonist depends on animal species and receptor subtype studied, we investigated the pharmacological properties of PD 168368 compared with all currently known Bn receptor subtypes (NMB receptor, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, Bn receptor subtype 3, and Bn receptor subtype 4) from human, mouse, rat, and frog. In binding studies, PD 168368 had similar high affinities (K(i) = 15-45 nM) for NMB receptors from each species examined, 30- to 60-fold lower affinity for gastrin-releasing peptide receptors, and >300-fold lower affinity for Bn receptor subtype 3 or 4. It inhibited NMB binding in a competitive manner. PD 168368 alone did not stimulate increases in either intracellular calcium concentration or [(3)H]inositol phosphates in any of the cells studied but inhibited NMB-induced responses with equivalent potencies in cells containing NMB receptors. PD 168368 was only minimally soluble in water. When hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin rather than dimethyl sulfoxide was used as the vehicle, both the affinity and the antagonist potency of PD 168368 were significantly greater. The results demonstrate that PD 168368 is a potent, competitive, and selective antagonist at NMB receptors, with a similar pharmacology across animal species. PD 168368 should prove useful for delineating the biological role of NMB and selectively blocking NMB signaling in bioassays and as a lead for the development of more selective nonpeptide antagonists for the NMB receptor.

The mammalian bombesin receptor subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors currently consists of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), neuromedin B receptor, and bombesin receptor subtype 3. All three receptors contain a conserved aspartate residue (D98) at the extracellular boundary of transmembrane domain II and a conserved arginine residue (R309) near the extracellular boundary of transmembrane domain VII. To evaluate the functional role of these residues, site-directed GRP-R mutants were expressed in fibroblasts and assayed for their ability to both bind agonist and catalyze exchange of guanine nucleotides. Alanine substitution at GRP-R position 98 or 309 reduced agonist binding affinity by 24- and 56-fold, respectively, compared to wild-type GRP-R. Single swap GRP-R mutations either resulted in no receptor expression in the membrane (D98R) or the protein was not able to bind agonist (R309D). In contrast, the double swap mutation (D98R/R309D) had high-affinity agonist binding, reduced from wild-type GRP-R by only 6-fold. In situ reconstitution of urea-extracted membranes expressing either wild-type or mutant (D98A or R309A) GRP-R with G(q) indicated that alanine substitution greatly reduced G protein catalytic exchange compared to wild-type GRP-R. The D98R/R309D GRP-R had both a higher intrinsic basal activity and a higher overall catalytic exchange activity compared to wild-type; however, the wild-type GRP-R produced a larger agonist-stimulated response relative to the double swap mutant. Taken together, these data show that GRP-R residues D98 and R309 are critical for efficient coupling of GRP-R to G(q). Furthermore, our findings are consistent with a salt bridge interaction between these two polar and oppositely charged amino acids that maintains the proper receptor conformation necessary to interact with G proteins.

Recently, a fourth member of the bombesin (Bn) receptor family (fBB4-R) was isolated from a cDNA library from the brain of the frog, Bombina orientalis. Its pharmacology and cell biology are largely unknown, and no known natural cell lines or tissues possess sufficient numbers of fBB4-R's to allow either of these to be determined. To address these issues, we have used three different strategies. fBB4-R expression in cells widely used for other Bn receptor subtypes was unsuccessful as was expression in two frog cell lines. However, stable fBB4-R cell lines were obtained in CHO-K1 cells which were shown to faithfully demonstrate the correct pharmacology of the related Bn receptor, the GRP receptor, when expressed in these cells. [DPhe6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn(6-14) was found to have high affinity (Ki = 0.4 nM) for the fBB4 receptor and 125I-[DTyr6,betaala11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn(6-14) to be an excellent ligand for this receptor. The fBB4-R had a unique pharmacology for naturally occurring Bn-related agonists, with the presence of a penultimate phenylalanine being critical for high-affinity interaction. It also had a unique profile for six classes of Bn antagonists. The fBB4-R was coupled to phospholipase C with activation increasing [3H]inositol phosphates and mobilizing Ca2+ almost entirely from cellular sources. There was a close correlation between agonist the receptor occupation and the receptor activation. Three of the five classes of Bn receptor antagonists that interacted with higher affinity with the fBB4-R functioned as fBB4-R antagonists and two as partial agonists. fBB4-R activation stimulated increases in phospholipase D (PLD) over the same range of concentrations at which it activated phospholipase C. These results demonstrate that the fBB4 receptor has a unique pharmacology for agonists and antagonists and is coupled to phospholipase C and D. The availability of these cell lines, this novel ligand, and the identification of three classes of antagonists that can be used as lead compounds should facilitate the further investigation of the pharmacology and cell biology of the BB4 receptor.

We used an in situ reconstitution assay to examine the receptor coupling to purified G protein alpha subunits by the bombesin receptor family, including gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R), and bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3). Cells expressing GRP-R or NMB-R catalyzed the activation of squid retinal Galphaq and mouse Galphaq but not bovine retinal Galphat or bovine brain Galphai/o. The GRP-R- and NMB-R-catalyzed activations of Galphaq were dependent upon and enhanced by different betagamma dimers in the same rank order as follows: bovine brain betagamma > beta1gamma2 >> beta1gamma1. Despite these qualitative similarities, GRP-R and NMB-R had distinct kinetic properties in receptor-G protein coupling. GRP-R had higher affinities for bovine brain betagamma, beta1gamma1, and beta1gamma2 and squid retinal Galphaq. In addition, GRP-R showed higher catalytic activity on squid Galphaq. Like GRP-R and NMB-R, BRS-3 did not catalyze GTPgammaS binding to Galphai/o or Galphat. However, BRS-3 showed little, if any, coupling with squid Galphaq but clearly activated mouse Galphaq. GRP-R and NMB-R catalyzed GTPgammaS binding to both squid and mouse Galphaq, with GRP-R activating squid Galphaq more effectively, and NMB-R also showed slight preference for squid Galphaq. These studies reveal that the structurally similar bombesin receptor subtypes, in particular BRS-3, possess distinct coupling preferences among members of the Galphaq family.

Neither the native ligand nor the cell biology of the bombesin (Bn)-related orphan receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) is known. In this study, we used RT-PCR to identify two human lung cancer lines that contain sufficient numbers of native hBRS-3 to allow study: NCI-N417 and NCI-H720. In both cell lines, [DPhe6,betaAla11,Phe13, Nle14]Bn(6-14) stimulates [3H]inositol phosphate. In NCI-N417 cells, binding of 125I-[DTyr6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn(6-14) was saturable and high-affinity. [DPhe6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn(6-14) stimulated phospholipase D activity and a concentration-dependent release of [3H]inositol phosphate (EC50 = 25 nM) and intracellular calcium (EC50 = 14 nM); the increases in intracellular calcium were primarily from intracellular stores. hBRS-3 activation was not coupled to changes in adenylate cyclase activity, [3H]-thymidine incorporation or cell proliferation. No naturally occurring Bn-related peptides bound or activated the hBRS-3 with high affinity. Four different bombesin receptor antagonists inhibited increases in [3H]inositol phosphate. Using cytosensor microphysiometry, we found that [DPhe6,betaAla11,Phe13, Nle14]Bn(6-14) caused concentration-dependent acidification. The results show that native hBRS-3 receptors couple to phospholipases C and D but not to adenylate cyclase and that they stimulate mobilization of intracellular calcium and increase metabolism but not growth. The discovery of human cell lines with native, functional BRS-3 receptors, of new leads for a more hBRS-3-specific antagonist and of the validity of microphysiometry as an assay has yielded important tools that can be used for the identification of a native ligand for hBRS-3 and for the characterization of BRS-3-mediated biological responses.

Three mammalian bombesin receptor subtypes have been characterized: the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R), and bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3). In a previous report we identified four amino acids that are critical for high affinity binding of bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to the GRP-R. These four amino acids are conserved in all species variants of the GRP-R and NMB-R which bind bombesin with high affinity, but they are diverged in BRS-3, the bombesin receptor subtype that binds bombesin with much lower affinity. Substituting these four divergent amino acids in BRS-3 for the conserved amino acids in either GRP-R or NMB-R increased the affinity of the mutated BRS-3 (4DeltaBRS-3) for bombesin compared with wild-type BRS-3. We hypothesized that the same four amino acids might be critical for high affinity NMB binding to the NMB-R. In this study we confirm this hypothesis by showing that the affinity of NMB is increased in a mutant BRS-3 receptor (4DeltaBRS-3) that contains these four substitutions resulting in an affinity that is close to the affinity of wild-type NMB-R for NMB. In contrast, these four amino acid substitutions in BRS-3 did not result in the formation of a high affinity binding site for the recently described non-peptide NMB-R antagonist PD168368.

Bombesin (Bn) receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) is an orphan receptor that is a predicted member of the heptahelical G-protein receptor family and so named because it shares a 50% amino acid homology with receptors for the mammalian bombesin-like peptides neuromedin B (NMB) and gastrin-releasing peptide. In a recent targeted disruption study, in which BRS-3-deficient mice were generated, the mice developed obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. To date, BRS-3's natural ligand remains unknown, its pharmacology unclear, and cellular basis of action undetermined. Furthermore, there are few tissues or cell lines found that express sufficient levels of BRS-3 protein for study. To define the intracellular signaling properties of BRS-3, we examined the ability of [D-Phe6,beta-Ala11,Phe13, Nle14]Bn-(6-14), a newly discovered peptide with high affinity for BRS-3, and various Bn receptor agonists and antagonists to alter cellular function in hBRS-3-transfected BALB 3T3 cells and hBRS-3-transfected NCI-H1299 non-small cell lung cancer cells, which natively express very low levels of hBRS-3. This ligand stimulated a 4-9-fold increase in [3H]inositol phosphate formation in both cell lines under conditions where it caused no stimulation in untransfected cells and also stimulated an increase in [3H]IP1, [3H]IP2, and 3H]IP3. The elevation of [3H]IP was concentration-dependent, with an EC50 of 20-35 nM in both cell lines. [D-Phe6,beta-Ala11,Phe13,Nle14]Bn-(6-14) stimulated a 2-3-fold increase in [Ca2+]i, a 3-fold increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) with an EC50 of 0.2-0.7 nM, but failed to either stimulate increases in cyclic AMP or inhibit forskolin-stimulated increases. None of nine naturally occurring Bn peptides or three synthetic Bn analogues reported to activate hBRS-3 did so with high affinity. No high affinity Bn receptor antagonists had high affinity for the hBRS-3 receptor, although two low affinity antagonists for gastrin-releasing peptide and NMB receptors, [D-Arg1,D-Trp7,9, Leu11]substance P and [D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10]substance P-(4-11), inhibited hBRS-3 receptor activation. The NMB receptor-specific antagonist D-Nal,Cys,Tyr,D-Trp,Lys,Val, Cys,Nal-NH2 inhibited hBRS-3 receptor activation in a competitive fashion (Ki = 0.5 microM). Stimulation of p125(FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation by hBRS-3 activation was not inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor, GF109203X, or thapsigargin, alone or in combination. These results show that hBRS-3 receptor activation increases phospholipase C activity, which causes generation of inositol phosphates and changes in [Ca2+]i and is also coupled to tyrosine kinase activation, but is not coupled to adenylate cyclase activation or inhibition. hBRS-3 receptor activation results in tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK), and it is not dependent on activation of either limb of the phospholipase C cascade. Although the natural ligand is not a known bombesin-related peptide, the availability of [D-Phe6,beta-Ala11, Phe13,Nle14]Bn-(6-14), which functions as a high affinity agonist in conjunction with hBRS-3-transfected cell lines and the recognition of three classes of receptor antagonists including one with affinity of 0.5 microM, should provide important tools to assist in the identification of its natural ligand, the development of more potent selective receptor antagonists and agonists, and further exploration of the signaling properties of the hBRS-3 receptor.

Bombesin (BN)-like peptides/neurotransmitters mediate a broad range of physiological funtions in the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system through binding to their specific, high-affinity mammalian bombesin receptors. This family of heptahelical, G-protein coupled receptors includes the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R, or bb2), neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R, or bb1), and the bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3, or bb3). The tissue distribution of BRS-3 is quite dissimilar compared to the other two BN receptors, GRP-R and NMB-R, and a natural ligand for BRS-3 is currently unknown. Nothing is known about mechanisms regulating BRS-3 gene expression and possible association with disease. To gain insight into the underlying structure and chromosomal localization of the BRS-3 genes, bacteriophage P1 genomic clones, harboring the genes for the human and mouse BRS-3, respectively, were isolated and their structure and chromosomal localizations determined. The protein-coding region of both genes is divided into three exons and spans approximately 5kb. The loci of the BRS-3 genes were mapped to a syntenic region of the human (Xq25) and mouse (XA7.1-7.2) X-chromosome, respectively. The structural data of the BRS-3 genes derived from this study will permit future investigations of the mechanisms regulating their expression.

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) is one of three members of the mammalian bombesin subfamily of seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that mediate diverse biological responses including secretion, neuromodulation, chemotaxis, and growth. The X chromosome-linked GRP-R gene is expressed widely during embryonic development and predominantly in gastrointestinal, neuronal, and neuroendocrine systems in the adult. Surprisingly, gene-targeted mice lacking a functional GRP-R gene develop and reproduce normally and show no gross phenotypic abnormalities. However, peripheral administration of bombesin at dosages up to 32 nmol/kg to such mice had no effect on the suppression of glucose intake, whereas normal mice showed a dose-dependent suppression of glucose intake. These data suggest that selective agonists for the GRP-R may be useful in inducing satiety.

Four subtypes of bombesin receptors are identified (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, neuromedin B receptor, the orphan receptor bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BB3 or BRS-3) and bombesin receptor subtype 4 (BB4)), however, only the pharmacology of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor has been well studied. This lack of data is due in part to the absence of a general ligand. Recently we have discovered a ligand, 125I-[D-Tyr6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]bombesin-(6-1 4) that binds to BRS-3 receptors. In this study we investigate its ability to interact with all four bombesin receptor subtypes. In rat pancreatic acini containing only gastrin-releasing peptide receptor and in BB4 transfected BALB cells, this ligand and 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin, the conventional gastrin-releasing peptide receptor ligand, gave similar results for receptor number, affinity for bombesin and affinity for the unlabeled ligand. In neuromedin B receptor transfected BALB cells, this ligand and 125I-[D-Tyr0]neuromedin B, the generally used neuromedin B receptor ligand, gave similar results for receptor number, neuromedin B affinity or the unlabeled ligand affinity. Lastly, in BRS-3 transfected BALB cells, only this ligand had high affinity. For all four bombesin receptors this ligand had an affinity of 1-8 nM and was equal or greater in affinity than any other specific ligands for any receptor. The unlabeled ligand is specific for gastrin-releasing peptide receptors on rat pancreatic acini and did not inhibit binding of 125I-cholecystokinin octapeptide (125I-CCK-8), 125I-vasoactive intestinal peptide (125I-VIP) or 125I-endothelin to their receptors. The unlabeled ligand was an agonist only at the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in rat acini and did not interact with CCK(A) receptors or muscarinic M3 acetylcholine receptors to increase [3H]inositol phosphates. These results demonstrate 125I-[D-Tyr6,betaAla11,Phe13,Nle14]bombesin-(6-1 4) is a unique ligand with high affinity for all subtypes of bombesin receptors. Because of the specificity for bombesin receptors, this ligand will be a valuable addition for such pharmacological studies as screening for bombesin receptor agonists or antagonists and, in particular, for investigating BRS-3 cell biology, a receptor for which no ligand currently exists.

Recent studies show that tyrosine phosphorylation by a number of neuropeptides may be an important intracellular pathway in mediating changes in cell function, particularly related to growth. Neuromedin B (NMB), a mammalian bombesin related peptide, functions through a distinct receptor, the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R), of which little is known about its cellular basis of action. In the present study we explored the ability of NMB-R activation to cause tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)), an important substrate for tyrosine phosphorylation by other neuropeptides. NMB caused rapid increases in p125(FAK) phosphorylation which reached maximum at 2 min in both rat C6 glioblastoma cells which possess native NMB-Rs and rat neuromedin B receptor (rNMR-R) transfected BALB 3T3 cells. NMB had a half-maximal effect was at 0.4 nM and was 30-fold more potent than gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). The stoichiometric relationships between increased p125(FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation and other cellular processes was similar in both C6 cells and rNMB-R transfected cells. TPA (1 microM) caused 45% and the calcium ionophore, A23187, 11% of maximal tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) seen with NMB. A23187 potentiated the effect of TPA. Pretreatment with the selective PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, inhibited TPA-induced p125(FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation, but it had no effect on the NMB stimulation. Pretreatment with thapsigargin completely inhibited NMB-stimulated increases in [Ca2+]i, but had no effect on NMB-stimulation of p125(FAK) phosphorylation either alone or with GF109203X. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin A25, inhibited NMB-induced phosphorylation of p125(FAK) by 52%. However, tyrphostin A25 did not inhibit NMB-stimulated increases in [3H]inositol phosphates. Cytochalasin D, an agent which disrupts actin microfilaments, inhibited BN- and TPA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) completely. In contrast, colchicine, an agent which disrupts microtubules, had no effect. Pretreatment with Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme which inactivates the small GTP-binding protein rho p21, also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) by 55%. These results demonstrate that activation of NMB-R can cause rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK). NMB-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK) is independent of NMB-induced changes in [Ca2+]i or PKC. The integrity of the actin cytoskeleton but not of microtubules is necessary for NMB-stimulated phosphorylation of p125(FAK). The ras-related small GTP-binding protein rho p21 is at least partially involved in mediating NMB-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p125(FAK). These results suggest that similar to some other neuropeptides, activation of this pathway may be an important mechanism in mediating cellular changes by this receptor such as growth.

An orphan receptor discovered in 1993 was called bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3) because of 47-51% amino acid identity with bombesin (Bn) receptors. Its pharmacology is unknown, because no naturally occurring tissues have sufficient receptors to allow studies. We made two cell lines stably expressing the human BRS-3 (hBRS-3). hBRS-3 was overexpressed in the human non-small cell lung cancer cells, NCI-H1299, and the other was made in Balb 3T3 cells, which lack endogenous BRS-3. [D-Phe6,beta-Ala11,Phe13, Nle14]Bn-(6-14) (where Nle represents norleucine) was discovered to have high potency for stimulating inositol phosphate formation in both cell lines. [125I-D-Tyr6,beta-Ala11,Phe13, Nle14]Bn-(6-14) bound to both cell lines with high affinity. Neither Bn nor 14 other naturally occurring Bn peptides bound to hBRS-3 with a Kd <1000 nM. Twenty-six synthetic peptides that are high affinity agonists or antagonists at other bombesin receptors had an affinity >1000 nM. Guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate inhibited binding to both cells due to a change in receptor affinity. These results demonstrate hBRS-3 has a unique pharmacology. It does not interact with high affinity with any known natural agonist or high affinity antagonist of the Bn receptor family, suggesting the natural ligand is either an undiscovered member of the Bn peptide family or an unrelated peptide. The availability of these cell lines and the hBRS-3 ligand should facilitate identification of the natural ligand for BRS-3, its pharmacology, and cell biology.

The bombesin family of G-protein-coupled receptors includes the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R), bombesin receptor subtype 3 (BRS-3), and bombesin receptor subtype 4 (bb4). All species homologues of GRP-R, NMB-R, and bb4 bind bombesin with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range; by comparison, human BRS-3 binds bombesin at much lower affinity (Kd >> 1 microM). We used this difference to help identify candidate residues that were potentially critical for forming the bombesin binding pocket. We reasoned that amino acids essential for bombesin binding would be conserved among all homologues of bb4, NMB-R, and GRP-R; conversely, at least one of these amino acids would not be conserved among homologues of BRS-3. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed nine residues that fit this model. We replaced each of these amino acids in mouse GRP-R with the homologous amino acid in human BRS-3. Four substitutions resulted in a significant decrease in bombesin affinity (R288H, Q121R, P199S, and A308S). The analogous mutations in BRS-3 (R127Q, H294R, S205P, and S315A) together resulted in a receptor with a 100-fold increase in bombesin and GRP affinities relative to wild-type BRS-3. From this, we propose a preliminary map of some of the amino acids comprising the agonist binding pocket.

Recent studies suggest that in some tissues GRP receptor activation can both stimulate phospholipase C and the adenylate cyclase pathway and that activation of the latter pathway may be important in mediating some of its well-described growth effects. However, other studies suggest GRP-R may not be coupled to adenylate cyclase. To investigate this possibility, in the present study we determined the coupling of the GRP receptors to each pathway in mouse, rat, and guinea pig pancreatic acini and compared it to that in mouse Swiss 3T3 cells and human SCLC cells, all of which possess well-characterized GRP receptors. Moreover, we tested the effect of PKC activation on the ability of GRP-related peptides to increase cAMP accumulation in these tissues. Changes in cAMP levels were determined with or without IBMX present, with or without forskolin, or both to amplify small increases in cAMP. In mouse, rat and guinea pig pancreatic acini, murine Swiss 3T3 cells and human SCLC cells, GRP-related peptides caused a 600%, 500%, 250%, 300% and 60% increase, respectively, in [3H]IP with 1-3 nM causing a half-maximal effect. In murine Swiss 3T3 cells, IBMX, forskolin, and IBMX plus forskolin caused a 300%, 3500% and 10500% increase in cAMP, respectively. GRP-related peptides and VIP caused an additional 70% increase in cAMP with GRP causing a half-maximal (EC50) increase in cAMP at 2.1 +/- 0.5 nM, which was not significantly different from the EC50 of 3.1 +/- 0.9 nM for increasing [3H]IP in these cells. GRP-related peptides did not stimulate increases in cAMP in mouse, rat or guinea pig pancreatic acini or in SCLC cells either alone, with IBMX or forskolin or both. However, in pancreatic acini IBMX, forskolin or both increased cAMP 3 to 8-, 10 to 500-, and 100 to 1000-fold increase and the addition of VIP caused an additional 20-, 2-, and 3-fold increase in cAMP in the different species. In mouse pancreatic acini with TPA alone or IBMX plus TPA, neither bombesin nor GRP increased cAMP. Furthermore, in mouse pancreatic acini, neither TPA nor TPA plus IBMX altered basal or VIP-stimulated increases in cAMP. In mouse Swiss 3T3 cells TPA significantly increased cAMP stimulated by Bn, GRP or VIP. These results demonstrated that GRP receptor activation in normal tissues from three different species and a human tumoral cell line do not result in adenylate cyclase activation, whereas in Swiss 3T3 cells it causes such activation. The results suggest that the difference in coupling to adenylate cyclase is likely at least partially due to a difference in coupling to an adenylate cyclase subtype whose activation is regulated by PKC. Therefore, the possible growth effects mediated by this receptor in different embryonic or tumoral cells through activation of adenylate cyclase are not likely to be an important intracellular pathway for these effects in normal tissues.

The relationship between receptor number and agonist-induced intracellular responses has been well studied in receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase; however, for receptors coupled to phospholipase C (PLC), very little is known about the effect of receptor number on receptor-mediated processes. To explore this issue, we investigated the effect of the number of receptors for gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on ligand affinity and on the ability to activate intracellular messengers [PLC, tyrosine phosphorylation of p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK)] and cause receptor modulation (internalization, desensitization, down-regulation) and ligand degradation. Three BALB 3T3 cell lines were made that stably expressed the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) with receptor numbers varying by 280-fold (GRP-R-Low, GRP-R-Med, and GRP-R-Hi). Each cell line had the same affinity for agonist. The efficacy for bombesin to increase [3H]inositol phosphates but not tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK correlated well with receptor number. In contrast, the EC50 value for [3H]inositol phosphate generation for bombesin was the same in each cell line. Receptor number did not alter internalization. In the absence of protease inhibitors, there was an inverse correlation between receptor number and receptor down-regulation and desensitization. However, with protease inhibitors present, GRP-R-Med and GRP-R-Hi down-regulated significantly less than the GRP-R-Low. Similarly, GRP-R-Low desensitized significantly more than GRP-R-Med or GRP-R-Hi. GRP-R-Hi caused significantly greater ligand degradation than GRP-R-Low, and protease inhibitors completely inhibited degradation by GRP-R-Low and inhibited degradation by 70% for GRP-R-Hi. In conclusion, we show that for the PLC-coupled GRP-R, receptor number had little or no effect on binding affinity, potency for activating PLC, tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK, or extent of receptor internalization. In contrast, receptor number had an effect on ligand degradation, down-regulation, desensitization, and efficacy of PLC activation without altering the efficacy of tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK. These results demonstrate that the effect of receptor number differs for the different functions mediated by the GRP receptor and differs from that reported for adenylate cyclase-coupled receptors such as receptors mediating the action of adrenergic agents, secretin, and opioids.

Recently it has been established that both a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-preferring bombesin receptor and a neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor mediate the mammalian actions of bombesin-related peptides. Because many tissues used for studies of the structure-activity relationship of these peptides possess both receptor subtypes and none possess only the neuromedin B-preferring subtype, there is minimal information on the peptide structural features determining receptor selectivity and it is unknown whether the determinants of agonism at both bombesin receptor subtypes are similar. In the present study we have used native cells either possessing only one bombesin receptor subtype or stably transfected with one subtype to study in detail the peptide structural requirements for interacting and activating each receptor subtype. For the naturally occurring agonists, at the GRP-preferring bombesin receptor the relative affinities were litorin = ranatensin = bombesin > GRP >> neuromedin B, phyllolitorin and at the neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor were litorin = neuromedin B = ranatensin > bombesin, phyllolitorin >> GRP. For the GRP-preferring bombesin receptor the heptapeptide and for the neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor the octapeptide was the minimal carboxyl fragment interacting with the receptor/or causing biologic activity, and the nonapeptide and full decapeptide, respectively, were the minimal required for full affinity. Making neuromedin B more bombesin- or GRP-like by replacing amino acids in position 3, 6, and 9 demonstrated that position 3 was the most important, followed by position 9 for receptor subtype selectivity. A conformationally restricted GRP analogue, [D-Cys6,D-Ala11,Cys14]bombesin-(6-14) had a significantly higher affinity for GRP-preferring bombesin receptor than NMB receptor. These results demonstrate that: (1) the structure-function relations for the two mammalian bombesin receptors have important differences; (2) suggest that the active conformation of neuromedin B must differ markedly from the beta-sheet model proposed for GRP; and (3) suggest that one important function of the NH2 terminus of GRP and neuromedin B is determining receptor subtype selectivity.

Recently it has been established that both a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor and a neuromedin B (NMB) receptor mediate the actions of bombesin-related peptides in mammals. Five different classes of peptides that function as GRP receptor antagonists have been identified; however, it is unknown whether similar strategies will yield antagonists for the closely related NMB receptor. In the present study we have used either native cells possessing only one bombesin (Bn) receptor subtype or cells stably transfected with one subtype to determine whether using the strategies that were used successfully for GRP receptors would allow NMB receptor antagonists to be identified. [DPhe12]Bn analogs; des Met14 amides, esters and alkylamides; psi 13-14 Bn pseudopeptides; and D-amino acid-substituted analogs of substance P (SP) or SP(4-11) were all synthesized and each functioned as a GRP receptor antagonist. All of these antagonists had low affinity for the NMB receptor. Application of similar strategies to NMB by formation of [DPhe8]NMB, [psi 9-10]NMB pseudopeptides, des-Met10 NMB amides, alkylamide or esters did not result in any potent NMB receptor antagonists. D-Amino acid SP and SP(4-11) analogs were weakly selective NMB receptor antagonists. No COOH-terminal fragments of NMB or GRP functioned as a GRP or NMB receptor antagonist. These results demonstrate that none of the known strategies used to prepare peptide GRP receptor antagonists are successful at the NMB receptor, suggesting that a different strategy will be needed for this peptide, such as the formation of somatostatin octapeptide or D-amino acid-substituted substance P analogs. These results suggest that even though there is a close homology between GRP and NMB and their receptors, their structure-function relations are markedly different. These results indicate that the development of receptor subtype-specific peptide agonists or peptide antagonists for newly discovered receptor subtypes of gastrointestinal hormones/neurotransmitters may be difficult because the strategies developed for one well-studied subtype may not apply to the other even though it is structurally closely related.

Whereas baculovirus expression systems have been extensively used for high-level expression of steroid receptors and receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase, there are few studies on peptide receptors coupled to phospholipase C (PLC). In the present study we have expressed the murine gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (mGRP-R) in Sf9 cells using a recombinant baculovirus and characterized it structurally and functionally. mGRP-R was detectible 12 h post infection with recombinant baculovirus carrying mGRP-R cDNA and became maximal at 60 h post infection (Bmax = 6 pmol/mg protein), which is a 4-60-fold greater density than is found in native tissues. The mGRP-R in Sf9 cells assessed by affinity labeling or immunoblotting was smaller than that in native tissues (M(r) = 51 kD vs 82 kD), and the difference was due to the extent of glycosylation. In Sf9 cells the mGRP-R had at least two of the four potential extracellular glycosylation sites glycosylated, whereas in the native receptor all four were approximately equally glycosylated. In Sf9 cells the glycosylation was entirely biantennary complex, in contrast to the native mGRP-R, where it was entirely tri- and tetraantennary complex N-linked oligosaccharides. Affinity labeling studies revealed a band with an apparent molecular mass about 40 kDa higher than the 51-kDa mGRP-R band. The intensity of this band correlated with the extent of functional G protein coupling, suggesting that it may represent an mGRP-R-G protein complex. In binding studies the affinity of the mGRP-r in Sf9 cells for the agonists bombesin (Bn), GRP, and neuromedin B (NMB) varied differently with infection time: with Bn the affinity decreased 3-fold with longer infection times, with GRP it remained unchanged, and with NMB it decreased 10-fold. GPP(NH)p inhibited binding of either [125I]Tyr4Bn or [125I]GRP at 24 h post infection, but not at 96 h post infection. Agonists activated PLC, increasing both [3H]IP and [Ca2+]i; however, the efficacy of each agonist decreased with infection time. These results demonstrate that by the use of recombinant baculovirus infected Sf9 cells the PLC-linked receptor mGRP-R can be expressed in amounts significantly greater than those in native tissues. The mGRP-R expressed in these Sf9 cells is incompletely glycosylated and has less complex N-linked oligosaccharide chains, yet it is fully coupled to G proteins and activates phospholipase C, similar to the native receptor, if short infection times are used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Several guanine nucleotide-binding protein-coupled receptors are known to be rapidly phosphorylated after agonist exposure. In this study we show that the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) is rapidly phosphorylated in response to agonist exposure. When [32P]orthophosphate-labeled cells were exposed to bombesin, the receptor was maximally phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues within 1 min. Although addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate also resulted in phosphorylation of the GRP-R, elimination of protein kinase C activity using the inhibitor 7-hydroxystaurosporine did not prevent bombesin-induced GRP-R phosphorylation. We conclude that a kinase other than protein kinase C is principally responsible for the rapid, agonist-induced phosphorylation of the GRP-R.

The cellular basis of down-regulation and desensitization in phospholipase C-linked receptors is unclear. Recent studies with some receptors suggest that elements in the carboxyl terminus of the receptor are important in mediating these processes. Three mutant gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRP-R) were studied: one whose last 37 carboxyl-terminal amino acids were eliminated (construct MGT346); one that replaced all of the carboxyl-terminal Ser and Thr eliminated in MGT346 with Ala, Asn, or Gly (construct JF1); and one that selectively replaced the Ser and Thr of the protein kinase C consensus sequence (PKC-CS) located within the same region with alanine (construct TS360AA). Desensitization was assessed by measuring the ability to activate phospholipase C and increase cellular [3H]inositol phosphates, or increase [Ca2+]i, after pre-exposure to 3 nM bombesin for 24 h. Wild-type GRP-R was maximally desensitized and down-regulated after a 24-h exposure to 3 nM bombesin, and removal of the PKC-CS alone markedly attenuated each process. Elimination of additional serines and threonines by truncation (MGT346) or replacement (JF1) did not decrease down-regulation or desensitization further. To confirm the necessity of second messenger activation in mediating down-regulation, we further investigated two additional mutant GRP-R that bound agonist with high affinity but fail to activate phospholipase C (constructs R139G and A263E). Neither construct underwent significant down-regulation. Removal of all GRP-R carboxyl-terminal Ser or Thr, either by MGT346 or JF1, reduced internalization by > 80%, whereas elimination of the PKC-CS in TS360AA only attenuated internalization by 21 +/- 2%. These data suggest that activation of the distal carboxyl-terminal PKC-CS is essential for chronic desensitization and down-regulation of the GRP-R, and provide no evidence for involvement of second messenger-independent processes. In contrast, internalization is equally regulated by both second messenger-dependent and independent processes.

Little is known about the pharmacology or cell biology of human bombesin (Bn) receptors, because they are usually present at low levels and both subtypes are frequently present in the same tissues. Human gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors (huGRP-R) and human neuromedin B (NMB) receptors (huNMB-R) were stably transfected into BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. Both receptor types were glycosylated, with 35% of the huGRP-R and 38% of the huNMB-R representing carbohydrate residues. The extent of glycosylation of the transfected huGRP-R was the same as that seen in the human glioblastoma cell line U-118. Radiolabeled agonist ligands were rapidly internalized, whereas noninternalized ligand readily dissociated in a temperature-dependent fashion. The affinities of various agonists for binding to the huGRP-R were Bn (Ki = 1.4 +/- 0.2 nM) = 4 x GRP = 300 x NMB. In contrast, affinities for the huNMB-R were NMB (Ki = 8.1 +/- 5.2 nM) = 4 x Bn = 600 x GRP. [F5-D-Phe6,D-Ala11]Bn(6-13)methyl ester was the most potent huGRP-R antagonist, whereas D-Nal-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys-Nal-NH2 was the most potent huNMB-R antagonist. Agonist binding to either receptor type caused activation of phospholipase C and increased cellular [3H]inositol phosphate levels. GRP was potent at increasing [3H]inositol phosphate generation in cells expressing the huGRP-R (EC50 = 13.6 +/- 1.3 nM), whereas NMB was similarly potent when acting upon cells expressing the huNMB-R (EC50 = 9.3 +/- 1.4 nM). However, neither receptor type, when stimulated with agonist, caused an increase in cAMP levels. These data show that stably transfected huGRP-R exhibit similar pharmacology for agonists and antagonists, are appropriately glycosylated, and function similarly with respect to their ability to alter biological activity, compared with natively expressed receptors. Minimal native huNMB-R data are available for comparison, but in general the huNMB-R is similar to the rat NMB receptor in its pharmacology and cell biology.

Bombesin (BN)-related peptides, such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), have been shown in vivo to stimulate release of pepsinogen. However, whether this is due to a direct interaction with chief cells is not clear. To clarify this we prepared isolated chief cells (> 90% pure) from guinea pig stomach. BN, GRP, or neuromedin B (NMB), at concentrations up to 1 microM, did not stimulate pepsinogen release or affect the stimulation caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (100 nM) or CCK-8 (10 nM), respectively. In addition, BN, GRP, or NMB at a concentration of 1 microM did not increase cAMP nor did they alter the increase in cAMP caused by VIP or secretin. BN (1 microM) did not alter basal cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i or affect the increase in [Ca2+]i caused by CCK-8 (1 microM). Furthermore, BN, GRP, or NMB at a concentration of 1 microM did not increase the generation of inositol phosphates (IP) or alter the increase in [3H]IP1, [3H]IP2, or [3H]IP3, caused by CCK-8 (1 microM) or carbachol (1 mM). Binding studies demonstrated no saturable binding of either [125I][Tyr4]BN or [125I][D-Tyr0]NMB using experimental conditions where binding with other peptide ligands to other receptors on chief cells is seen. We conclude that BN-related peptides do not interact directly with specific receptors on chief cells to stimulate or alter stimulated pepsinogen secretion, increase the breakdown of inositol phosphates, or alter [Ca2+]i or cAMP.

In the present study, we investigated the nature and the importance of glycosylation of two mammalian bombesin receptors, the neuromedin B receptor (NMB-R) and the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R), using chemical cross-linking and enzymatic deglycosylation. [125I]-(D-Tyr0)NMB cross-linked to native NMB-R on rat C-6 glioblastoma cells or rat NMB-R transfected into BALB 3T3 cells revealed a single broad band, M(r) = 63,000, on both cell types that was not altered by DTT. NMB inhibited cross-linking specifically and saturably with an IC50 of 4.8 and 6.1 nM for C-6 and NMB-R transfected cells, respectively, and there was a close correlation between its ability to inhibit binding and its ability to inhibit cross-linking. A single broad band of M(r) = 82,000 was cross-linked with [125I]GRP on mouse GRP-R transfected BALB 3T3 cells. Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta- glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase F (PNGase F) digestion increased the mobility of the original band in C-6, NMB-R, and GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endoglycosidase H (Endo-H) and endoglycosidase F2 (Endo-F2) digestion had no effect on both transfected cells. Neuraminidase digestion slightly increased the mobility of the original band in NMB-R transfected cell membranes; however, it had no effect on GRP-R transfected cell membranes. Endo-alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (O-glycanase) digestion subsequent to neuraminidase treatment showed no additional effect on either receptor. Serial partial deglycosylation of cross-linked NMB-Rs with PNGase F treatment for different incubation periods revealed one band of partially glycosylated receptor (53 kDa) besides the fully glycosylated and fully deglycosylated ones, showing that NMB-R has two oligosaccharide chains. Similarly, three partially deglycosylated species (72, 62, and 52 kDa) are seen with the GRP-R, indicating that the GRP-R has four oligosaccharide chains. Treatment of unlabeled membranes with PNGase F followed by affinity labeling resulted in fully deglycosylated NMB-R or 75% deglycosylated GRP-R. Deglycosylation of the NMB-R did not alter its affinity for NMB or alter G-protein coupling; however, 75% deglycosylation of the GRP-R both decreased its affinity for GRP and altered its ability to couple to G-proteins. The present results demonstrate that NMB-R on native and transfected cells is an N-linked sialoglycoprotein with two triantenary and/or tetraantenary complex oligosaccharide chains. The apparent M(r) of this sialoglycoprotein is 63,000, and this protein does not contain disulfide-linked subunits or O-linked carbohydrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Consequent to agonist exposure, many G protein-coupled receptors undergo sequestration or internalization. Results with receptors linked to adenylate cyclase, such as the beta 2-adrenergic receptor, or receptors linked to phospholipase C (PLC) have provided conflicting results regarding the role of second messenger-dependent (i.e., protein kinase A or C) and -independent (i.e., beta-adrenergic receptor kinase) kinases in mediating this process. Recent results for truncated and mutated gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors (GRP-R), as well as muscarinic cholinergic receptors, suggest that activation of protein kinase C may be needed for full receptor internalization. Nearly all G protein-coupled receptors studied to date, including the GRP-R, possess two highly conserved amino acids that are important in mediating receptor-G protein coupling to second messengers, i.e., arginine in the proximal second intracellular loop and alanine in the distal third intracellular loop. We selectively mutated each of these residues in the GRP-R to determine their importance for activation of PLC. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to change arginine at position 139 to glycine (R139G mutant) and alanine at position 263 to glutamate (A263E mutant), with stable cell lines being created by transfection of the wild-type or mutated receptor cDNA into BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. Both R139G (Kd = 12.0 +/- 1.6 nM) and A263E (Kd = 12.2 +/- 1.7 nM) had a lower affinity for bombesin than did wild-type GRP-R (Kd = 1.4 +/- 0.4 nM); however, characteristic stoichiometries for the binding of agonists to this receptor were maintained equally in all three cell lines (bombesin > GRP >> neuromedin B). The wild-type GRP-R exposed to bombesin increased [3H]inositol phosphates (a measure of PLC activation) approximately 4-fold, with an EC50 of 5.1 +/- 2.2 nM. In contrast, [3H]inositol phosphates were not significantly increased in cells expressing R139G or A263E receptors, demonstrating that Arg139 and Ala263 are required for GRP-R activation of PLC. However, when receptor internalization at 37 degrees was assessed by ligand acid-stripping studies, 53 +/- 2% of A263E receptors were internalized at 90 min, compared with 85 +/- 5% of wild-type GRP-R, whereas only 10 +/- 3% of R139G receptors were internalized. Preincubation of either mutant cell line with 100 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate markedly increased internalization rates, such that at 90 min 62 +/- 2% of R139G receptors and 82 +/- 1% of A263E receptors were internalized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Stimulation of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) in Swiss 3T3 cells resembles that of a number of other recently described G protein-coupled receptors, insofar as both the phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase signal transduction pathways are activated. GRP-R activation induces numerous alterations in both the cell and the receptor, but because two signal transduction pathways are activated it is difficult to determine the specific contributions of either pathway. We have found that BALB/3T3 fibroblasts transfected with the coding sequence for the GRP-R are pharmacologically indistinguishable from native receptor-expressing cells and activate phospholipase C in a manner similar to that of the native receptor but fail to increase cAMP in response to bombesin; thus, they may be useful cells to explore the role of activation of each pathway in altering cell and receptor function. Swiss 3T3 cells and GRP-R-transfected BALB/3T3 cells expressed identically glycosylated receptors that bound various agonists and antagonists similarly. G protein activation, as determined by evaluation of agonist-induced activation of phospholipase C and by analysis of the effect of guanosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate on GRP-R binding affinity, was indistinguishable. Agonist stimulation of GRP-R caused similar receptor changes (internalization and down-regulation) and homologous desensitization in both cell types. Bombesin stimulation of Swiss 3T3 cells that had been preincubated with forskolin increased cAMP levels 9-fold, but no bombesin-specific increase in cAMP levels was detected in transfected cells, even though forskolin and cholera toxin increased cAMP levels in these cells. Quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells treated with bombesin rapidly increased c-fos mRNA levels and [3H]thymidine incorporation, whereas both effects were potentiated by forskolin. The specific protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 blocked increases in c-fos levels and [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by low concentrations of bombesin. GRP-R-transfected BALB/3T3 cells increased c-fos mRNA levels and [3H]thymidine incorporation with the addition of serum but not bombesin. These data suggest that bombesin-stimulated increases in cellular levels of cAMP appear not to be an important mediator of GRP-R internalization, down-regulation, or desensitization but do play an important role in bombesin-induced mitogenesis.

The receptor for neuromedin B (NMB-R), a mammalian bombesin-related peptide, is widely distributed in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. While it is known that this receptor is coupled to phospholipase C, like many other phospholipase C-activating receptors, little is known about regulation of the NMB-R subsequent to agonist stimulation. We studied both native NMB-R on C-6 rat glioblastoma cells and wild type NMB-R cloned from rat esophageal muscle which was stably transfected into Balb/3T3 fibroblasts. Both cell types rapidly increased [3H]inositol phosphates and [Ca2+]i in response to 1 microM NMB, whereas preincubation with 3 nM NMB for 3 h markedly attenuated the ability of 1 microM NMB, but not 1 microM endothelin-1, to alter either cell type's biological activity. Prolonged exposure to 3 nM NMB caused a rapid decrease in the number of NMB-R, with the maximal receptor down-regulation seen at 24 h due to NMB-R internalization. After maximal down-regulation, removal of agonist resulted in a rapid restoration of NMB-R to the cell surface of both cell types. NMB-R recovery at 6 h was blocked by monensin, an inhibitor of receptor recycling, but was not affected by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. Resensitization to agonist paralleled the recovery of NMB-R in both cell types, and resensitization likewise was blocked by monensin. Our data demonstrate that the NMB-R undergoes rapid homologous desensitization consequent to agonist stimulation, which is mediated by receptor down-regulation and which, in turn, is regulated by internalization. During resensitization, NMB-R reappearance on the cell surface membrane is independent of protein synthesis and is due to a recycling from an intracellular site.

Bombesin-related peptides have widespread activities in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. Recent studies show two subtypes of receptors; a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor subtype and a neuromedin B (NMB) receptor subtype exist. In contrast to the GRP receptor, no antagonists exist for the NMB receptor. In the present study we report that certain somatostatin (SS) octapeptide analogues function as selective NMB receptor antagonists. The most potent analogue, D-Nal-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys-Nal-NH2, inhibited binding of 125I-[D-Tyr degree]NMB to NMB receptor-transfected 3T3 cells and C6 cells. This analogue had 100-fold lower affinity for GRP receptors. Structure-function studies were performed by synthesizing 18 structurally related SS octapeptide analogues; each of these analogues, but not native SS-14 or SS-28, also inhibited binding to NMB receptors. The stereochemistry at positions 1, 2, 7, and 8, the hydrophobicity and ring size of the substitution in positions 1, 3, and 4, and the basicity of the group in position 5 were all important in determining NMB receptor affinity. No SS octapeptide analogue increased [3H]inositol phosphates in NMB receptor-transfected cells; however, each analogue inhibited NMB-stimulated increases. The most potent analogue, D-Nal-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys-Nal-NH2, caused a parallel rightward shift of the NMB dose-response curve, the Schild plot slope was not significantly different from unity, and the affinity was 230 nM. SS octapeptide analogues also interacted with SS receptors and mu-opioid receptors; however, there was no correlation between the affinities of the analogues for these receptors and their affinities for NMB receptors, demonstrating that these activities can be separated. The results demonstrate for the first time a class of antagonists with > 100-fold selectivity for NMB versus GRP receptors. Because the structural requirements for determining NMB, SS, and mu-opioid receptor activity differ, it is likely that highly selective, specific, high affinity NMB receptor antagonists can now be developed that will be useful in defining the role of NMB in various physiological processes.