[HTML][HTML] GPR54 Regulates ERK1/2 Activity and Hypothalamic Gene Expression in a Gαq/11 and β-Arrestin-Dependent Manner

JM Szereszewski, M Pampillo, MR Ahow… - PloS one, 2010 - journals.plos.org
JM Szereszewski, M Pampillo, MR Ahow, S Offermanns, M Bhattacharya, AV Babwah
PloS one, 2010journals.plos.org
G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) is a Gq/11-coupled 7 transmembrane-spanning
receptor (7TMR). Activation of GPR54 by kisspeptin (Kp) stimulates PIP2 hydrolysis, Ca2+
mobilization and ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation. Kp and GPR54 are established regulators
of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and loss-of-function mutations in GPR54
are associated with an absence of puberty and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, thus
defining an important role of the Kp/GPR54 signaling system in reproductive function. Given …
G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) is a Gq/11-coupled 7 transmembrane-spanning receptor (7TMR). Activation of GPR54 by kisspeptin (Kp) stimulates PIP2 hydrolysis, Ca2+ mobilization and ERK1/2 MAPK phosphorylation. Kp and GPR54 are established regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and loss-of-function mutations in GPR54 are associated with an absence of puberty and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, thus defining an important role of the Kp/GPR54 signaling system in reproductive function. Given the tremendous physiological and clinical importance of the Kp/GPR54 signaling system, we explored the contributions of the GPR54-coupled Gq/11 and β-arrestin pathways on the activation of a major downstream signaling molecule, ERK, using Gq/11 and β-arrestin knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Our study revealed that GPR54 employs the Gq/11 and β-arrestin-2 pathways in a co-dependent and temporally overlapping manner to positively regulate ERK activity and pERK nuclear localization. We also show that while β-arrestin-2 potentiates GPR54 signaling to ERK, β-arrestin-1 inhibits it. Our data also revealed that diminished β-arrestin-1 and -2 expression in the GT1-7 GnRH hypothalamic neuronal cell line triggered distinct patterns of gene expression following Kp-10 treatment. Thus, β-arrestin-1 and -2 also regulate distinct downstream responses in gene expression. Finally, we showed that GPR54, when uncoupled from the Gq/11 pathway, as is the case for several naturally occurring GPR54 mutants associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, continues to regulate gene expression in a G protein-independent manner. These new and exciting findings add significantly to our mechanistic understanding of how this important receptor signals intracellularly in response to kisspeptin stimulation.
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