Récemment plusieurs récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (RCPGs) ont été caractérisés au niveau des membranes intracellulaires, dont la membrane nucléaire. Notre objectif était de déterminer si les sous-types de récepteurs β-adrénergiques (βAR) et leurs machineries de signalisation étaient fonctionnels et localisés à la membrane nucléaire des cardiomyocytes. Nous avons démontré la présence des β1AR et β3AR, mais pas du β2AR à la membrane nucléaire de myocytes ventriculaires adultes par immunobuvardage, par microscopie confocale, et par des essais fonctionnels. De plus, certains partenaires de signalisation comme les protéines GαS, Gαi, l’adénylate cyclase II, et V/VI y étaient également localisés. Les sous-types de βAR nucléaires étaient fonctionnels puisqu'ils pouvaient lier leurs ligands et activer leurs effecteurs. En utilisant des noyaux isolés, nous avons observé que l'agoniste non-sélectif isoprotérénol (ISO), et que le BRL37344, un ligand sélectif du β3AR, stimulaient l'initiation de la synthèse de l’ARN, contrairement à l'agoniste sélectif du β1AR, le xamotérol. Cette synthèse était abolie par la toxine pertussique (PTX). Cependant, la stimulation des récepteurs nucléaires de type B de l’endothéline (ETB) causaient une réduction de l'initiation de la synthèse d’ARN. Les voies de signalisations impliquées dans la régulation de la synthèse d’ARN par les RCPGs ont ensuite été étudiées en utilisant des noyaux isolés stimulés par des agonistes en présence ou absence de différents inhibiteurs des voies MAP Kinases (proteines kinases activées par mitogènes) et de la voie PI3K/PKB. Les protéines impliquées dans les voies de signalisation de p38, JNK, ERK MAP Kinase et PKB étaient présents dans les noyaux isolés. L'inhibition de PKB par la triciribine, inhibait la synthèse d’ARN. Nous avons ensuite pu mettre en évidence par qPCR que la stimulation par l’ISO entrainait une augmentation du niveau d'ARNr 18S ainsi qu’une diminution de l'expression d’ARNm de NFκB. En contraste, l’ET-1 n’avait aucun effet sur le niveau d’expression de l’ARNr 18S. Nous avons ensuite montré que la stimulation par l’ISO réduisait l’expression de plusieurs gènes impliqués dans l'activation de NFκB, tandis que l’inhibition de ERK1/2 et PKB renversait cet effet. Un microarray global nous a ensuite permis de démontrer que les βARs et les ETRs nucléaires régulaient un grand nombre de gènes distincts. Finalement, les βARs et ETRs nucléaires augmentaient aussi une production de NO de noyaux isolés, ce qui pouvait être inhibée par le LNAME. Ces résultats ont été confirmés dans des cardiomyocytes intacts en utilisant des analogues cagés et perméables d’ISO et de l'ET-1: l'augmentation de NO nucléaire détectée par DAF2-DA, causée par l'ET-1 et l'ISO, pouvait être prévenue par le LNAME. Finalement, l’augmentation de l’initiation de la transcription induite par l'ISO était aussi bloquée par le L-NAME ou par un inbitheur de PKG, le KT5823, suggérant que la voie NO-GC-PKG est impliquée dans la régulation de la transcription par les βAR. En conclusion, les βARs et les ETRs nucléaires utilisent des voies de signalisation différentes et exercent ainsi des effets distincts sur l’expression des gènes cardiaques. Ils représentent donc une avenue intéressante pour le développement de drogues pharmacologiques. / Recently several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to localize to intracellular membranes, in particular the nuclear membrane. As such, we sought to determine if the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) subtypes and their associated signalling machinery are functionally localized to nuclear membranes. We demonstrated the presence of β1AR and the β3AR, but not the β2AR, in adult ventricular myocyte nuclei by western blotting, confocal microscopy and functional assays. Downstream signalling partners such as GαS, Gαi and adenylyl cyclase II and V/VI were also present. Nuclear-localized βARs were functional with respect to ligand binding and effector activation. In isolated nuclei, the non-selective βAR agonist isoproterenol (ISO) and the β3AR-selective ligand BRL37344, but not the β1AR-selective xamoterol, stimulated transcription initiation in a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive manner. In contrast, stimulation of type B endothelin receptors (ETB), another GPCR family shown to be present on the nuclear membrane, decreased de novo RNA synthesis. To investigate the signalling pathway(s) involved in GPCR-mediated regulation of RNA synthesis, nuclei were isolated from intact adult rat hearts and treated with receptor agonists in the presence or absence of inhibitors of the PI3K/PKB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Components of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 MAPK cascades as well as PKB were detected in nuclear preparations. Inhibition of PKB with triciribine converted the activation of the βAR from stimulatory to inhibitory with regards to transcription initiation. Analysis by qPCR indicated isoproterenol treatment increased 18S rRNA but decreased NFκB mRNA. In contrast, ET-1 had no effect on 18S rRNA expression. Further investigation using pathway-specific PCR arrays revealed that isoproterenol treatment also reduced the expression of several other genes involved in the activation of NFκB and that ERK1/2 and PKB inhibitors attenuated this effect. Subsequent genome-wide microarray analysis has revealed that nuclear βAR and ETB regulated a host of genes in an overlapping but distinct manner. Moreover, both ET-1 and ISO produced an L-NAME-sensitive increase in NO production in isolated cardiac nuclei. These observations were confirmed in intact cardiomyocytes using novel caged analogues of ISO and ET-1 and the cell-permable NO-sensitive fluorescent dye, DAF-2 DA. Briefly, both ET-1 and isoproterenol increased NO production, and this increase was prevented upon preincubation with L-NAME. Moreover, the ability of isoproterenol to increase transcription initiation in isolated nuclei was blocked by L-NAME or the PKG inhibitor KT5823, indicating the NO-GC-PKG pathway is involved in the regulation of gene expression by nuclear βARs. Hence, we have shown that βARs and ETRs in the nuclear membrane activate distinct signalling pathways, resulting in different effects on gene transcription and thus represent potentially important targets for drug development.

Melanopsin (Opn4) is the opsin photopigment of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). It has a conserved opsin structure and activation mechanism, yet demonstrates unusual functional properties that suggest it will possess unique structure-function relationships. The aim of this thesis was to characterise key OPN4 residues by examining the impact of non-synonymous mutations on melanopsin function. A genotype-driven screen of a chemically-mutagenized mouse archive led to the identification of a novel Opn4 mutant, S310A, located at a known opsin spectral tuning site. Action spectra from ipRGC and pupil light responses (PLR) of Opn4^S310A mice revealed no change in wavelength of peak sensitivity. However, Opn4^S310A PLR was significantly less sensitive at longer wavelengths, consistent with a short-wavelength shift in spectral sensitivity. This suggests S310A acts as a spectral tuning site in melanopsin. Next, the impact of naturally-occurring missense variants in human melanopsin (hOPN4) was examined in vitro. Fluorescent calcium imaging of 16 hOPN4 variants expressed in HEK293 cells revealed four hOPN4 variants abolished or attenuated responses to light (Y146C, R168C, G208S and S308F). These variants were located in conserved opsin motifs for chromophore binding or hydrogen-bond networks, functional roles apparently shared by melanopsin. Finally, two hOPN4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) P10L and T394I, associated with abnormal non-image forming behaviour in humans, were explored in vivo. Using targeted viral-delivery of hOPN4 SNPs to mouse ipRGCs, a range of OPN4-driven behaviours, such as circadian photoentrainment and pupil light responses, were found to be comparable with hOPN4 WT control. Multi-electrode array recordings of ipRGCs transduced with hOPN4 T394I virus had significantly attenuated sensitivity and faster response offset, indicating this site may be functionally important for melanopsin activity but compensatory rod and cone input limits changes to non-image forming behaviour.

Le récepteur humain de la mélatonine MT1 appartient à la famille des récepteurs couplés aux protéines G (RCPG). En raison du rôle majeur qu'il joue dans la régulation du rythme circadien, ce récepteur est impliqué dans les troubles du sommeil et la dépression et présente donc un intérêt thérapeutique important. Afin de progresser vers une meilleure caractérisation structurale et fonctionnelle de ce récepteur, nous avons élaboré une stratégie globale visant à générer les échantillons et méthodes nécessaires pour de telles études. Nous avons ainsi mis au point un ensemble original de conditions de production et de purification permettant d'isoler les récepteurs MT1 sous forme relativement pure, homogène et fonctionnelle. Parallèlement, à partir d'un RCPG de référence, le récepteur de l’adénosine A2A, nous avons mis au point un panel de techniques d’analyses biochimiques et biophysiques qui contribuent à une caractérisation fine des récepteurs purifiés et leur interaction avec des ligands. / The human MT1 melatonin receptor belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It plays a major role in the regulation of circadian rhythm and is involved in sleep disorders and depression. This receptor is thus of significant therapeutic interest. However, very few in vitro studies have been conducted on this receptor and in particular no structural characterization and interactio studies by biophysical methods. In order to progress on these aspects, we developed conditions of production and purification of MT1 receptors for obtaining samples compatible with this type of study. Furthermore, we initiated stabilization tests of the purified receptors. Meanwhile, we have developed biochemical and biophysical analysis techniques to characterize the purified receptors and study their interactions with ligands, on a reference GPCR, the A2A adenosine receptor.

Abstract The delta opioid receptor (δOR) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family. This transmembrane receptor has an important role in the regulation of pain. The OPRD1 gene that encodes the human δOR (hδOR) contains at least 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The only nonsynonymous SNP resides in the amino-terminal (N-terminal) domain of the receptor and it replaces Phe at position 27 with Cys, thus introducing an unpaired Cys residue on the extracellular surface of the receptor. The Cys27 variant has been shown to have an allelic frequency of about 10% in Caucasian populations. The polymorphic site is flanked by two putative N-glycosylation sites at Asn18 and Asn33. In this study, the folding, maturation and trafficking of hδOR was assessed using the hδORPhe27 and hδORCys27 variants and the N-glycosylation deficient forms of the latter as models in a heterologous expression system. The effects of N-glycosylation and the unpaired Cys-residue were studied with various biochemical, pharmacological and cell biological methods. In addition, protein-protein interactions of the intracellular hδOR precursors were assessed. The hδORCys27 and hδORPhe27 variants differed significantly in their subcellular localization and maturation efficiency. The newly synthesized hδORCys27 was found to accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) prior to its ER-associated degradation in proteasomes. Although a slow maturation rate was characteristic for both variants, only the hδORCys27 had poor maturation efficiency. The cell surface expression of hδORCys27 was further decreased because the constitutive internalization of this receptor was enhanced compared to hδORPhe27. N-linked glycosylation was not required for hδOR function or ligand binding, but was important for the expression of the correctly folded receptor species at the cell surface. The mutant non-N-glycosylated receptor was shown to traffic to the cell surface with enhanced kinetics, but some of the plasma membrane receptors were in a nonnative conformation. Also, the overall levels of the non-N-glycosylated hδORCys27 were decreased as the receptor was efficiently internalized for lysosomal degradation in a constitutive fashion. The hδORCys27 and hδORPhe27 precursors were found to interact with several ER localized proteins, such as calnexin (CNX), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and ERp72. The receptors also associated with the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2b (SERCA2b), which was shown to occur during translocation of the receptor to the ER membrane or immediately thereafter. The interaction was not receptor N-glycan dependent and the normal functional activity of SERCA2b was shown to be required for proper cell surface expression of hδOR. / Tiivistelmä δ-opioidireseptori kuuluu G-proteiinikytkentäisiin reseptoreihin, ja sillä on tärkeä rooli kivun säätelyssä. Ihmisen δ-opioidireseptoria koodaavassa OPRD1 geenissä on havaittu ainakin 11 yhden nukleotidin polymorfiaa. Vain yksi tunnetuista polymorfioista aiheuttaa muutoksen proteiinin aminohapposekvenssiin. Se sijaitsee reseptorin aminoterminaalisessa osassa ja se muuttaa fenyylialaniinin (Phe) kohdassa 27 kysteiiniksi (Cys), joka on pariton. Cys27-variantin yleisyys eurooppalaisessa väestössä on noin 10 %. Polymorfisen kohdan molemmilla puolilla on N-glykosylaatiokohdat asparagiineissa Asn18 ja Asn33. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli tutkia δ-opioidireseptorin laskostumista, maturaatiota ja kuljetusta heterologisessa solumallissa käyttämällä Phe27- ja Cys27-variantteja sekä Cys27-variantin N-glykosyloimatonta mutanttia. Cys27-polymorfian ja N-glykosylaation vaikutuksia tutkittiin useilla biokemiallisilla, farmakologisilla sekä solubiologisilla menetelmillä. Lisäksi työssä tutkittiin solunsisäisen δ-opioidireseptorin esiasteen vuorovaikutusta muiden proteiinien kanssa. Phe27- ja Cys27-varianttien sijainti solun sisällä ja maturaatiotehokkuus eroavat toisistaan merkittävästi. Vastasyntetisoitu Cys27-variantti kerääntyy endoplasmakalvostoon, josta se ohjautuu proteasomihajoitukseen. Molemmat variantit kulkeutuvat solun pintaan hitaasti. Cys27-variantin prosessointi on huomattavasti tehottomampaa ja sen määrää solun pinnalla vähentää myös lisääntynyt ohjaaminen solunsisäiseen lysosomihajotukseen. N-glykosylaatiolla ei havaittu olevan vaikutusta reseptorin toimintaan tai ligandin sitomiseen, mutta sillä on tärkeä merkitys oikein laskostuneiden reseptorien kuljetukselle solun pinnalle, koska osa pintaan päässeistä N-glykosyloimattomista reseptoreista on muodossa, johon reseptorispesifinen ligandi ei sitoudu. Vaikka mutanttireseptori kulkeutuukin solun pintaan nopeammin, sen määrä solun pinnalla on alhaisempi, koska mutanttireseptori ohjataan huomattavan nopeasti solun pinnalta lysosomihajotukseen. Phe27- ja Cys27-varianttien havaittiin olevan myös vuorovaikutuksessa eräiden endosomaalisen kalvoston proteiinien kanssa, kuten kalneksiinin, proteiinidisulfidi-isomeraasin ja ERp72-proteiinin. Kumpikin reseptori havaittiin yhteisessä rakenteessa sarko(endo)plasmakalvoston kalsium-ATPaasi 2b -pumpun (SERCA2b) kanssa N-glykosylaatiosta riippumattomalla tavalla. Nämä proteiiniryhmät muodostuvat, kun reseptori liitetään synteesin aikana endoplasmakalvostoon tai heti sen jälkeen. Vuorovaikutus toiminnallisen SERCA2b:n kanssa havaittiin tärkeäksi toimintakykyisen δ-opioidireseptorin esiintymiselle solun pinnassa.

Molecular mechanism of Cannabinoid receptor 1 regulation by SGIP1 Abstract Src homology 3-domain growth factor receptor-bound 2-like endophilin interacting protein 1 (SGIP1) has been identified as an interacting partner of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R). Their protein-protein interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. SGIP1 hinders the internalization of activated CB1R and modulates its signaling in HEK293 cells. Employing whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, we have shown that SGIP1 affects CB1R signaling in autaptic hippocampal neurons. Using a battery of behavioral tests in SGIP1 constitutive knock-out (SGIP1-/- ) and WT mice, we investigated the consequences of SGIP1 deletion on behavior regulated by the endocannabinoid system. In SGIP1-/- mice, exploratory levels, working memory and sensorimotor gating were unaltered. SGIP1-/- mice showed decreased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors. Fear extinction to tone was enhanced in SGIP1-/- females. Several cannabinoid tetrad behaviors were altered in the absence of SGIP1. SGIP1-/- males exhibited abnormal THC withdrawal behaviors. SGIP1 deletion also reduced acute nociception, and SGIP1-/- mice were more sensitive to antinociceptive effects of CB1R agonists and morphine. CB1R-SGIP1 interaction results in profound modification of CB1R...

5 Abstract The thesis is focused on the role of regulator of G-protein signaling NtRGS1 in control of growth and cell proliferation of tobacco cell line BY-2. The protein NtRGS1 is an important candidate for being plant G-protein coupled receptor. Heterotrimeric G-proteins are involved in key signaling mechanisms in eukaryotic cells. Basic principles of this type of signaling are well conserved between plants and animals and related higher taxa. Outstanding difference of plant G-protein system is altered enzymatic activity of Gα subunit of the G-protein heterotrimer. These alterations correlate with chimeric structure and function of investigated NtRGS1 protein. The interaction of Gα and NtRGS1 is absolutely essential for running of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in plants. Truncated versions of NtRGS1 fused to GFP were crated in the aim of protein characterization. The truncated proteins were investigated in respect of analysis of the role of NtRGS1 domains in protein targeting. Dynamic changes in NtRGS1 and selected truncated versions induced by experimental application of nutrition, especially sugars were described. Expression if Gα and NtRGS1 were investigated simultaneously. Influence of modulation of Gα and NtRGS1 expression on growth parameters of tobacco cell line BY-2 were described. Key words:...

Understanding the function of membrane proteins is crucial to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which transmembrane signaling based physiological processes,i. e., the interactions of extracellular ligands with membrane-bound receptors, are regulated. In this work, synthetic transmembrane segments derived from the visual photoreceptor rhodopsin, the full length system rhodopsin and mutants of opsin are used to study physical processes that underlie the function of this prototypical class-A G-protein coupled Receptor. The dependency of membrane protein hydration and protein-lipid interactions on side chain charge neutralization is addressed by fluorescence spectroscopy on synthetic transmembrane segments in detergent and lipidic environment constituting transmembrane segments of rhodopsin in the membrane. Results from spectroscopic studies allow us to construct a structural and thermodynamical model of coupled protonation of the conserved ERY motif in transmembrane helix 3 of rhodopsin and of helix restructuring in the micro-domain formed at the protein/lipid water phase boundary. Furthermore, synthesized peptides and full length systems were studied by time resolved FTIR-Fluorescence Cross Correlation Hydration Modulation, a technique specifically developed for the purpose of this study, to achieve a full prospect of time-resolved hydration effects on lipidic and proteinogenic groups, as well as their interactions. Multi-spectral experiments and time-dependent analyses based on 2D correlation where established to analyze large data sets obtained from time-resolved FTIR difference spectra and simultaneous static fluorescence recordings. The data reveal that lipids play a mediating role in transmitting hydration to the subsequent membrane protein response followed by water penetration into the receptor structure or into the sub-headgroup region in single membrane-spanning peptides carrying the conserved proton uptake site (monitored by the fluorescence emission of hydrophobic buried tryptophan). Our results support the assumption of the critical role of the lipid/water interface in membrane protein function and they prove in particular the important influence of electrostatics, i. e., side chain charges at the phase boundary, and hydration on that function. / Für die Aufklärung der molekularen Wirkungsweise von physiologischen, auf Signaltransduktion, d. h. dem Zusammenspiel von extrazellulären Reizen und membrangebundenen Rezeptoren, beruhenden Prozessen ist das Verständnis der Funktion von Membranproteinen unerlässlich. In dieser Arbeit werden von Rhodopsin abgleitete, synthetische transmembrane Segmentpeptide, Opsin-Mutanten und der vollständige Photorezeptor Rhodopsin untersucht, um die physikalischen Prozesse zu beleuchten, die der Funktionen dieses prototypischen Klasse-A G-Protein gekoppelten Rezeptors zugrunde liegen. Die Abhängigkeit der Membranprotein-Hydratation und der Lipid-Protein-Wechselwirkung von der Ladung einer Aminosäuren-Seitenkette wird erforscht. Hierzu werden synthetische, transmembrane Segmentpeptide in Lipid und Detergenz, als Modell transmembraner Segmente von Rhodopsin in der Membran mittels Fluoreszenzspektroskopie untersucht. Aus den erhaltenen Ergebnissen wird ein thermodynamisches und strukturelles Modell hergeleitet, welches die Kopplung der Protonierung des hochkonservierten ERY-Motivs in Transmembranhelix 3 von Rhodopsin an die Restrukturierung der Helix in der Mikroumgebung der Lipid-Wasser-Phasengrenze erklärt. Des Weiteren werden sowohl die Segementpeptide als auch die vollständigen Systeme Opsin und Rhodopsin mittels zeitaufgelöster FTIR-Fluoreszenz-Kreuzkorrelations-Hydratations-Modulation untersucht. Diese Technik wurde eigens zur Aufklärung von zeitabhängigen Hydratationseffekten auf Lipide und Proteine oder Peptide entwickelt. Dabei werden zeitaufgelöste FTIR Differenz-Spektren und gleichzeitig statische Fluoreszenzsignale aufgenommen und diese zeitabhängigen multispektralen Datensätze mittels 2D Korrelation analysiert. Die Auswertung der Experimente enthüllt einen sequentiellen Hydratationsprozess. Dieser beginnt mit der Bildung von Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen an der Carbonylgruppe des Lipids, gefolgt von Strukturänderungen der Transmembranproteine und abgeschlossen durch das Eindringen von Wasser in das Proteininnere. Letzteres wird nachgewiesen durch die Fluoreszenz von Tryptophan im hydrophoben Peptid- oder Proteininneren. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit unterstreichen die Annahme, dass Lipid-Protein-Wechselwirkungen eine entscheidende Rolle in der Funktion von Membranproteinen spielen und das insbesondere Elektrostatik, in Form von Ladungen an der Phasengrenze, und die Hydratisierung einen kritischen Einfluss auf diese Funktion haben.

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