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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 281, Issue 52, 39796-39805, December 29, 2006
G Protein-coupled Receptor (GPCR) Kinase 2 Regulates Agonist-independent Gq/11 Signaling from the Mouse Cytomegalovirus GPCR M33*From the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0524
Received for publication, October 25, 2006
The mouse cytomegalovirus M33 protein is highly homologous to mammalian G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) yet functions in an agonist-independent manner to activate a number of classical GPCR signal transduction pathways. M33 is functionally similar to the human cytomegalovirus-encoded US28 GPCR in its ability to induce inositol phosphate accumulation, activate NF- B, and promote smooth muscle cell migration. This ability to promote cellular migration suggests a role for viral GPCRs like M33 in viral dissemination in vivo, and accordingly, M33 is required for efficient murine cytomegalovirus replication in the mouse. Although previous studies have identified several M33-induced signaling pathways, little is known regarding the membrane-proximal events involved in signaling and regulation of this receptor. In this study, we used recombinant retroviruses to express M33 in wild-type and G q/11/ mouse embryonic fibroblasts and show that M33 couples directly to the Gq/11 signaling pathway to induce high levels of total inositol phosphates in an agonist-independent manner. Our data also show that GRK2 is a potent regulator of M33-induced Gq/11 signaling through its ability to phosphorylate M33 and sequester G q/11 proteins. Taken together, the results from this study provide the first genetic evidence of a viral GPCR coupling to a specific G protein signaling pathway as well as identify the first viral GPCR to be regulated specifically by both the catalytic activity of the GRK2 kinase domain and the G q/11 binding activity of the GRK2 RH domain.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR)2 represent the largest family of cellular receptors, with over 800 members predicted to be expressed in the human genome (1). GPCRs are present in virtually all free-living organisms and have also been found in numerous viruses including those in the herpesvirus family (24). GPCRs are seven-transmembrane domain-spanning proteins that upon agonist binding adopt an active confirmation to stimulate GDP to GTP exchange on the G subunit and dissociation from the G![]() heterodimer. The liberated G and G![]() subunits can then induce a variety of cellular responses through the action of effector proteins and intracellular second messengers. In the case of GPCRs coupled to Gq/11 proteins, activation of these receptors stimulates phospholipase C- (PLC- ) activity, resulting in the generation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and diacylglycerol. The concerted action of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and diacylglycerol leads to increased levels of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of protein kinase C. Although Gq/11-coupled receptors activate PLC- via the action of the GTP-bound G subunit, Gi/o-coupled receptors have also been shown to stimulate PLC- via the action of liberated G![]() subunits (5, 6).
To regulate the levels of signaling necessary for an appropriate cellular response, activated GPCRs are uncoupled from heterotrimeric G proteins through a process termed desensitization. Desensitization is initiated when activated receptors undergo phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues within the intracellular loops and carboxyl tail by members of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family (7). GRK phosphorylation promotes subsequent binding by
GRK2 was one of the first GRK family members identified for its ability to induce phosphorylation of agonist-stimulated Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs), members of the betaherpesvirus family, establish lifelong infection in multiple tissues within a restricted host range, inducing characteristic nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions within infected cells (21). Cytomegalovirus infection is typically asymptomatic within the healthy host; however, congenital CMV infection or infection of immunocompromised hosts can result in a variety of disease syndromes including mental retardation, retinitis, and rejection of transplanted organs (21).
Recently, GPCR homologs have been identified within the genomes of several herpesviruses including CMV. These virally encoded GPCRs are speculated to have been "pirated" from the genome of the infected host throughout the evolution of the virus to alter host cell signaling pathways for the benefit of viral replication, dissemination, and/or immune evasion (22). The mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) encodes two GPCRs, M33 and M78, which, based on genome organization, are homologs of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) GPCRs UL33 and UL78, respectively (23, 24). Although M33 appears to be homologous to UL33, it retains signaling properties more similar to that of another HCMV GPCR termed US28 (25). Early studies showed that M33 and US28 signal in an agonist-independent manner to induce accumulation of inositol phosphates, suggesting that US28 and M33 can couple to the Gq/11 signaling pathway (26). Additionally, both US28 and M33 were shown to stimulate the transcriptional activity of NF-
Because of the strict species specificity of CMV, no in vivo model is available to study the role of US28 in HCMV pathogenesis. However, the importance of M33 in MCMV pathogenesis was emphasized in studies where recombinant MCMV deleted for M33 displayed decreased viral dissemination to and replication within the salivary gland in vivo (29). The parallels in activated intracellular signaling pathways between M33 and US28 suggest that the latter may play a similar role in HCMV pathogenesis in vivo. In the present study, we sought to determine the membrane-proximal events involved in M33 signaling and regulation. We utilized mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from wild-type and G
Cell Lines and TransfectionHuman embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and HEK293T cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (CRL-1573 and CRL-11268, respectively) and maintained at 37 °C in 5% CO2 in minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and penicillin-streptomycin. Wild-type (WT) and G q/11 knock-out (KO) MEFs were kindly provided by Dr. S. Offermanns (University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany) and maintained at 37 °C in 5% CO2 in Dulbecco's modified essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and penicillin-streptomycin (30). For all of the transient transfections, the cells were transfected using Mirus Trans-IT® LT-1 according to the manufacturer's instructions (Mirus Bio Corp.).
PlasmidsThe M33 cDNA was cloned from DNA isolated from NIH3T3 cells infected with the MCMV strain K181+ (kind gift from Dr. R. Cardin, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio) and inserted into the EcoRV site within the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3 (Invitrogen). M33HA and M33FLAG were created by PCR from M33 cDNA using a 3' oligonucleotide encoding for the HA epitope (YPYDVPDYA) or FLAG epitope (DYKDDDDK), respectively. The resulting M33HA and M33FLAG sequences were cloned into the HindIII and XhoI restriction sites of pcDNA3 and verified by DNA sequencing. M33
Fluorescent MicroscopyHEK293 cells were plated onto collagen-coated 25-mm glass coverslips and transfected with 1.0 µg of pEGFPN-2, pEGFPN-2 M33 (M33GFP) or pEGFPN-2 M33
Inositol Phosphate Accumulation AssayTransiently transfected HEK293 cells or retrovirally transduced MEFs were radiolabeled with 1.0 µCi/ml [3H]myoinositol overnight. The cells were then treated with 20 mM LiCl for 3 h, after which cell lysates were prepared in 0.4 M perchloric acid and neutralized in 0.72 M KOH and 0.6 M KHCO3. For AlF4 stimulation of G
Co-immunoprecipitations and Western BlotForty-eight hours after transfection, HEK293 cell lysates were prepared in 1.0 ml of Nonidet P-40 lysis buffer (50 mM HEPES, 0.5% Nonidet P-40, 250 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 2.5 µg/ml aprotinin, 5.0 µg/ml leupeptin, 100 µM sodium orthovanadate, and 1 mM sodium fluoride). The cell lysates were precleared by incubating with 50 µl of glutathione-Sepharose® beads (Amersham Biosciences) and tumbling for 30 min at 4 °C. The lysates were then incubated with 50 µl of anti-FLAG® M2-agarose beads (Sigma), anti-HA.11-Sepharose beads (Covance), or anti-Myc agarose beads (Sigma) and tumbled for 3 h at 4 °C. Immunoprecipitated complexes were washed three times with lysis buffer and then solubilized in 3x Laemmli sample buffer. The samples were then subjected to SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and blotted with primary anti-HA (1:2000) (Santa Cruz), anti-Myc (1:2000) (Sigma), or anti-G
Receptor DeglycosylationForty-eight hours post-transfection, HEK293T cells expressing M33FLAG or M33
Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting (FACS)Forty-eight hours after transduction, WT and G
Retroviral Production and TransductionM33 cDNA was blunt cloned into the HpaI site within the MigR1 retroviral vector to generate MigR1-M33. MigR1 is a bicistronic retroviral vector containing a multiple cloning site upstream of an internal ribosome entry site followed by the cDNA encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) (31). MigR1 or MigR1-M33 (3 µg) was then transiently co-transfected with 1 µg of pVSV-G into the packaging cell line HEK GP2293 (Clontech). Supernatants containing VSV-G pseudotyped MigR1 or MigR1-M33 retroviruses were collected at 48 and 72 h post-transfection. For transduction of WT and G In Vivo Kinase AssayForty-eight hours after transfection, HEK293 cells were washed and incubated in phosphate-free Dulbecco's modified essential medium for 30 min. The cells were then labeled with 500 µCi/ml [32P]H3PO4 (MP Biomedicals) for 3 h, washed with cold phosphate-buffered saline, and lysed in 1.0 ml of Nonidet P-40 lysis buffer for 20 min at 4 °C. The cell lysates were precleared by incubating with 50 µl of glutathione-Sepharose® beads and tumbling for 30 min at 4 °C. The lysates were then incubated with 50 µl of anti-FLAG® M2-agarose beads and tumbled for 3 h at 4 °C. Immunoprecipitated complexes were washed three times with lysis buffer and then solubilized in 3x Laemmli sample buffer. The samples were then subjected to SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. M33FLAG phosphorylation was analyzed by ImageQuant software, and the data were plotted using GraphPad Prism 4 software.
The M33 Amino Terminus and NRY Motif Are Required for Stimulation of Inositol Phosphate AccumulationIn this study we investigated the G protein coupling and GRK regulation employed by the viral M33 GPCR during signal transduction. M33 was cloned from NIH3T3 cells infected with the K181+ strain of MCMV and inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3. Similar to other members of the UL33 family, M33 has been predicted to contain an alternative start site in the amino terminus, generating a truncated transcript lacking the first 10 amino acids (29). An expression construct for this truncated M33 protein (termed M33 N) was similarly cloned into pcDNA3. To assess signaling of M33, HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with pcDNA3 (mock) or increasing amounts of M33 (0.01, 0.05, 0.25, and 1.25 µg), and inositol phosphate accumulation was assessed. HEK293 cells transfected with M33 showed a dose-dependent increase in inositol phosphates measured in the absence of agonist in agreement with previous studies using full-length M33 in COS-7 cells (Fig. 1A). Similar signaling activity was observed with carboxyl-terminal epitope-tagged versions of M33 (data not shown). Previous reports indicated that M33-mediated stimulation of smooth muscle cell migration was enhanced in the presence of the -chemokine RANTES, suggesting that M33 signaling could be facilitated by agonist (28). However, we observed no significant increase in M33-induced inositol phosphate accumulation in the presence of up to 500 ng/ml of mouse RANTES (data not shown), further supporting the idea that M33 signals in an agonist-independent manner.
To assess the signaling activity of M33
The altered membrane localization of M33
Cellular GPCRs contain specific motifs necessary for G protein coupling. The DRY (Asp-Arg-Tyr) motif, a conserved feature located between the third transmembrane domain and the second intracellular loop, has been shown to be essential for G protein coupling and signaling activity (34). However, many constitutively active GPCRs, including mutant cellular GPCRs and those encoded by herpesviruses, have been shown to contain other amino acids within the DRY motif, which appear to promote agonist-independent G protein signaling activity (3538). In the case of M33, the Asp of the conserved DRY motif is replaced with an Asn, creating a NRY motif. To test the significance of this motif in M33 signaling activity, we replaced Arg131 with Ala to create M33-R131A and compared inositol phosphate accumulation with wild-type M33 in HEK293 cells. As shown in Fig. 2A (upper panel), M33-R131A is defective in its ability to generate inositol phosphates compared with wild-type M33 (
Cellular GPCRs capable of inducing inositol phosphate accumulation have been shown to be coupled either to Gq/11 (mediated by GTP-bound G subunits) or Gi/o (mediated by liberated G![]() subunits) signaling pathways (5, 6). To begin to determine the pathway to which M33 is coupled and to determine whether M33 does in fact interact with cellular G proteins, we performed co-immunoprecipitation studies in HEK293 cells co-transfected with epitope-tagged M33HA or M33HA-R131A and G q. We observed strong interaction between M33 and G q, suggesting that M33 directly interacts with heterotrimeric G proteins of the Gq/11 class (Fig. 2B). This interaction was also observed between G q and the M33-R131A mutant, indicating that although Arg131 in the M33 NRY motif is required for induction of inositol phosphate accumulation (Fig. 2A), it is not required for interaction with G proteins. To further explore the inability of M33-R131A to induce inositol phosphate accumulation, we used AlF4 to directly activate G proteins coupled to phospholipase C in cells transfected with empty vector, M33-WT or M33-R131A. AlF4 directly binds G subunits, and the resulting G -GDP-AlF4 assumes an active conformation resembling that of G -GTP (3941). We observed similar levels of AlF4-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in all three cell types demonstrating that the lack of signaling in M33-R131A expressing cells is not due to defective G protein-dependent signaling (Fig. 2A, lower panel). Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrates that endogenous Gq/11 expression is equivalent in all cell types (Fig. 2C). Taken together, these results indicate that the ability to activate G proteins and stimulate downstream signaling events is uncompromised in cells expressing M33-R131A. Thus, we can infer that the failure of M33-R131A to induce inositol phosphate accumulation is due to an inability to productively engage G proteins. This is consistent with structural and functional studies suggesting that the Arg residue within the DRY motif of other GPCRs is important in stabilizing receptor conformation, and thus GDP to GTP exchange on G subunits, rather than facilitating G protein interaction (34, 42).
G
GRK2 Regulation of M33 Gq/11 Signaling Requires Both the GRK2 RH and Catalytic DomainsGRKs play an important regulatory role in GPCR signaling by dampening the response of an activated receptor. This desensitization is necessary for an appropriate level of cellular response and is often initiated by GRK-mediated phosphorylation of the activated receptor. However, a number of Gq/11-coupled GPCRs regulated by GRKs, specifically GRK2, have been shown to be regulated through both phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent mechanisms (18, 20, 43, 44). GRK2 contains an amino-terminal RH domain, a central kinase (CAT) domain, and a carboxyl-terminal pleckstrin homology domain (Fig. 4A). Previous studies have shown that a D110A point mutation within the RH domain abrogates GRK2 sequestration of activated GTP-bound G q/11 (45). Similarly, a K220R point mutation within the kinase domain inhibits GRK2 catalytic activity (46). To determine whether GRK2 regulates M33-induced formation of inositol phosphates and to investigate the contribution of the GRK2 RH and kinase domains, HEK293 cells were co-transfected with pcDNA3 (mock) or M33 and WT GRK2 (Fig. 4B). In the absence of exogenous GRK2, M33 induces high levels of inositol phosphate accumulation compared with mock treated cells ( 14-fold over basal). This induction, however, is significantly attenuated when GRK2 is co-expressed, suggesting GRK2 regulates M33 coupling to the Gq/11 pathway. Interestingly, when co-expressed with the D110A or K220R point mutants, M33-induced inositol phosphate accumulation was also significantly diminished, although not to the same degree as observed with WT GRK2. In contrast, the D110A/K220R mutant (which exhibits no RH or kinase activity) was completely defective in its ability to attenuate M33 signaling. These data indicate that regulation of M33 signaling through the Gq/11 pathway is dependent on both the catalytic activity of the GRK2 kinase domain and the G q/11 binding activity of the GRK2 RH domain. GRK2 Interacts with and Phosphorylates M33To ensure that the effects of the various GRK2 point mutants on M33 signaling are not due to defects in interactions with M33, we performed co-immunoprecipitation studies in HEK293 cells transfected with pcDNA3 (mock) or M33FLAG co-expressed with Myc-tagged WT GRK2, GRK2 D110A, GRK2 K220R, or GRK2 D110A/K220R. As shown in Fig. 5A, each of the GRK2 mutants interacted with M33 to similar levels, suggesting that our results in Fig. 4B are not due to altered GRK2 interaction with M33. As suggested in the results from Fig. 4B, the catalytic activity of the GRK2 kinase domain appears to play an important role in the regulation of M33 signaling. To determine whether GRK2 phosphorylation of M33 plays a role in the regulation of signaling, we performed in vivo kinase assays in HEK293 cells expressing M33 and WT GRK2, GRK2 D110A, or GRK2 K220R (Fig. 5B, upper panel). When expressed alone in HEK293 cells, M33 displays a basal amount of phosphorylation, potentially resulting from endogenous GRKs or from other endogenous cellular kinases. This basal phosphorylation state is significantly increased when M33 is co-expressed with either WT GRK2 or the D110A mutant by 51 and 69%, respectively (Fig. 5, B and C). However, this increase is not observed when M33 is co-expressed with the catalytically inactive K220R point mutant. These results show that catalytically active GRK2 phosphorylates M33 and suggest that this increase in the phospho-content of the receptor leads to the attenuated M33 signaling observed in Fig. 4B.
GRK2 Sequestration of G q/11 Requires a Functional RH DomainPrevious studies have shown that the RH domain of GRK2 specifically interacts with activated GTP-bound G q/11, but not GDP-bound G q/11 (17, 18). This interaction is thought to result in GRK2-mediated phosphorylation-independent regulation of Gq/11-coupled GPCRs by preventing G q/11 from interacting with PLC- . To illustrate the importance of the RH domain of GRK2 in binding G q/11, we performed co-immunoprecipitation studies in HEK293 cells transfected with pcDNA3 (mock) or either Myc-tagged WT GRK2, D110A, K220R, or D110A/K220R, and G q. As shown in Fig. 6, G q co-immunoprecipitated with WT GRK2 and the K220R point mutant, but not the D110A or D110A/K220R point mutants. These data confirm previous reports identifying the RH domain of GRK2 as necessary for the sequestration of activated GTP-bound G q/11.
Schematic of M33 Signaling and DesensitizationGiven the data presented in this study, we have developed the following model for M33 signaling and regulation (Fig. 7). MCMV infection of a host cell leads to expression of M33, which localizes at the plasma membrane (Fig. 7A, inset). Once expressed at the cell surface, M33 induces high levels of inositol phosphate accumulation in an agonist-independent manner through coupling to the Gq/11 family of heterotrimeric G proteins. Our data suggest that GRK2 mediates M33 desensitization through both receptor phosphorylation and sequestration of GTP-bound G
In this study, we have identified several membrane-proximal events involved in the signaling and desensitization of the MCMV-encoded GPCR M33. Our data indicate that the 10 amino-terminal residues of M33 are required for proper glycosylation patterns as well as membrane localization and subsequent initiation of signal transduction. Moreover, using an R131A point mutant, we have shown that Arg131 within the NRY motif of M33 is necessary for M33-induced G protein activation but not interaction.
Through the use of retroviral expression of M33 in WT and G Desensitization of activated GPCRs by GRKs has largely been seen as an event initiated by GRK phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues within the intracellular loops and carboxyl tail of the receptor. This modality has been reassessed with the growing evidence of phosphorylation-independent regulation of Gq/11-coupled receptors mediated by the RH domain of GRK2. For example, inositol phosphate accumulation induced by the Gq/11-coupled H1 histamine receptor was inhibited by wild-type GRK2 or a catalytically inactive K220R mutant yet remained largely unaffected by a D110A/K220R mutant (20). Here, we show that GRK2 regulates M33 signaling and that this regulation requires both the RH domain and kinase domain of GRK2. Furthermore, we show that GRK2, but not a catalytically inactive K220R mutant, enhances basal phosphorylation levels of M33. To our knowledge, this is the first direct evidence demonstrating the function of the RH domain in phosphorylation-independent regulation of a viral GPCR. Based on the present study, we now appreciate that the similarities between the HCMV GPCR US28 and the MCMV GPCR M33 extend beyond the ability to activate signaling pathways (e.g. inositol phosphate accumulation) in an agonist-independent manner. Results from this study indicate that M33, like US28, is regulated by the cellular desensitization machinery including the GRK proteins. GRK2 was shown to dampen US28-induced inositol accumulation through receptor phosphorylation; however, the effect of the GRK2 RH domain was not analyzed (47). Given the similarities between US28 and M33, it is reasonable to suggest that the GRK2 RH domain may also function to suppress US28 signaling independent of receptor phosphorylation. Conversely, the effects of other GRKs may promote M33 desensitization through a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism because another GRK family member, GRK5, was shown to enhance the basal phosphorylation state of US28 (47). The carboxyl tail of M33 is rich in serine and threonine residues (12 amino acids of a predicted 66 total, or 18%), providing multiple potential phosphorylation sites for GRKs or other cellular kinases such as protein kinase C or protein kinase A. It would be interesting to determine which sites of GRK phosphorylation are necessary for M33 desensitization, as well as examine the effect of other GRKs, specifically GRK5, or cellular kinases on the phosphorylation state of M33.
Regulation of GPCR signaling in general can be viewed as occurring at both the extracellular and intracellular interfaces of the receptor. First, the presence of agonist in the extracellular space and the binding of such are required by most cellular GPCRs. Second, the intracellular desensitization machinery (GRKs and arrestins) functions downstream of agonist binding to attenuate the signaling activity elicited by activated GPCRs. In terms of viral GPCRs, however, the agonist-independent nature of these receptors suggests that the initial extracellular regulation (i.e. ligand binding) is circumvented. From a viral perspective, this agonist-independent activity may provide the immediate induction of cell signaling pathways necessary for the success of the virus. However, based on findings in this study as well as in previous reports, viral GPCRs are still subject to intracellular regulation by host cell GRKs and arrestins. Consequently, this intracellular regulation can be viewed as viral "hijacking" of the host cell desensitization machinery and may potentially be necessary to regulate the levels and kinetics to which these receptors signal that are most beneficial to the virus. In this study, the dual mechanism of GRK2 regulation of M33 suggests that M33 signaling activity is tightly regulated, possibly to prevent host cell apoptosis induced by high levels of agonist-independent signaling mediated by M33. Indeed, previous studies have shown that regulation of inositol phosphate formation from the Gq/11-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a (mGluR1a) by both WT GRK2 and GRK2 K220R protected cells from mGluR1a-stimulated apoptosis (48). Perhaps MCMV utilizes GRK2 to similarly prevent toxic levels of M33-induced accumulation of second messenger molecules and allow for successful viral replication. Additionally, GRK2 phosphorylation of M33 could trigger a second wave of M33 signal transduction through the recruitment of
M33 has been shown to play important roles in viral pathogenesis by promoting cardiovascular smooth muscle cell migration, enabling viral dissemination, and facilitating viral replication within the salivary gland (28, 29). Our data demonstrating that M33 associates with GRK proteins suggest that the GRKs may play an important role in M33 activity in vivo. Previous studies have shown that GRK proteins play central roles in cardiovascular disease, and our findings suggest that M33 could potentially augment this disease process by directly interacting with GRK signaling pathways or by sequestering GRK proteins, thus interfering with their ability to regulate cellular GPCRs in the heart. MCMV has been shown to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE/ mice, and it remains to be determined whether M33 and or GRKs are important in this effect of MCMV in the heart (51, 52). Moreover, it is interesting to note that GRK proteins have been reported to regulate chemotaxis, and the ability of M33 to engage this family of cellular regulators may enable cellular migration and/or promote efficient viral dissemination throughout the host (53). A more complete identification of M33 signaling pathways will be important to ascertain what role GRKs may play in M33-directed cell migration. In conclusion, we have identified a specific G protein-signaling pathway activated by the MCMV GPCR M33. Moreover, the biochemical studies described here demonstrate that the cellular desensitization machinery functions to regulate the signaling activity of M33, providing the basis to examine the role of GRK2-mediated desensitization of M33 in the context of an active viral infection in the host. By extending this work into mouse models of MCMV infection using wild-type and transgenic animals, future studies will elucidate the impact of M33 regulation by GRKs on MCMV pathogenesis in vivo.
* This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant R01 AI058159 and March of Dimes Grant 5-FY-04-17. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: Dept. of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0524. Tel.: 513-558-0866; Fax: 513-558-8474; E-mail: william.miller{at}uc.edu.
2 The abbreviations used are: GPCR, G protein-coupled receptor; CMV, cytomegalovirus; FACS, fluorescence-activated cell sorting; GFP, green fluorescent protein; GRK, G protein-coupled receptor kinase; HCMV, human cytomegalovirus; HEK, human embryonic kidney; MCMV, mouse cytomegalovirus; MEF, mouse embryonic fibroblast; PNGase F, peptide-N-glycosidase F; PLC, phospholipase C; RANTES, regulated upon activation of normal T-cells expressed and secreted; RGS, regulator of G protein signaling; RH, regulator of G protein signaling homology; WT, wild-type; KO, knock-out; HA, hemagglutinin.
3 J. D. Sherrill and W. E. Miller, unpublished data.
We thank R. Cardin for MCMV-infected cells, R. Sterne-Marr and S. Ferguson for GRK2 constructs, and G. Dorn, II, J. Molkentin, and A. Weiss for critical review of this manuscript. We also thank N. Freedman for helpful discussions.
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