Understanding the structural and functional differences between mouse thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors 1 and 2

Francesca Deflorian, Stanislav Engel, Anny Odile Colson, Bruce M. Raaka, Marvin C. Gershengorn, Stefano Costanzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multiple computational methods have been employed in a comparative study of thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors 1 and 2 (TRH-R1 and TRH-R2) to explore the structural bases for the different functional properties of these G protein-coupled receptors. Three-dimensional models of both murine TRH receptors have been built and optimized by means of homology modeling based on the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin, molecular dynamics simulations, and energy minimizations in a membrane-aqueous environment. The comparison between the two modeb showed a correlation between the higher flexibility and higher basal activity of TRH-R2 versus the lesser flexibility and lower basal activity of TRH-R1 and supported the involvement of the highly conserved W6.48 in the signaling process. A correlation between the level of basal activity and conformational changes of TM5 was detected also. Comparison between modeb of the wild type receptors and their W6.48A mutants, which have reversed basal activities compared with their respective wild types, further supported these correlations. A flexible molecular docking procedure revealed that TRH establishes a direct interaction with W6.48 in TRH-R2 but not in TRH-R1. We designed and performed new mutagenesis experiments that strongly supported these observations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)783-794
Number of pages12
JournalProteins: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Activation
  • Conformational changes
  • Docking
  • GPCR
  • Homology modeling
  • Molecular dynamics
  • Monte Carlo search
  • Mutagenesis
  • TM5 rotation
  • TRH receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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