Preassembled GPCR signaling complexes mediate distinct cellular responses to ultralow ligand concentrations

Civciristov, Srgjan; Ellisdon, Andrew M.; Suderman, Ryan; Pon, Cindy K.; Evans, Bronwyn A.; Kleifeld, Oded; Charlton, Steven J.; Hlavacek, William S.; Canals, Meritxell; Halls, Michelle L.

Abstract

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest class of cell surface signaling proteins, participate in nearly all physiological processes, and are the targets of 30% of marketed drugs. Typically, nanomolar to micromolar concentrations of ligand are used to activate GPCRs in experimental systems. We detected GPCR responses to a wide range of ligand concentrations, from attomolar to millimolar, by measuring GPCR-stimulated production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) with high spatial and temporal resolution. Mathematical modeling showed that femtomolar concentrations of ligand activated, on average, 40% of the cells in a population provided that a cell was activated by one to two binding events. Furthermore, activation of the endogenous β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) and muscarinic acetylcholine M3 receptor (M3R) by femtomolar concentrations of ligand in cell lines and human cardiac fibroblasts caused sustained increases in nuclear translocation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) activity, respectively. These responses were spatially and temporally distinct from those that occurred in response to higher concentrations of ligand and resulted in a distinct cellular proteomic profile. This highly sensitive signaling depended on the GPCRs forming preassembled, higher-order signaling complexes at the plasma membrane. Recognizing that GPCRs respond to ultralow concentrations of neurotransmitters and hormones challenges established paradigms of drug action and provides a previously unappreciated aspect of GPCR activation that is quite distinct from that typically observed with higher ligand concentrations.

Citation

Civciristov, S., Ellisdon, A. M., Suderman, R., Pon, C. K., Evans, B. A., Kleifeld, O., Charlton, S. J., Hlavacek, W. S., Canals, M., & Halls, M. L. (2018). Preassembled GPCR signaling complexes mediate distinct cellular responses to ultralow ligand concentrations. Science Signaling, 11(551), Article eaan1188. https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aan1188

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 12, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Oct 9, 2018
• Publication Date: Oct 9, 2018
• Deposit Date: Oct 31, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2019
• Journal: Science Signaling
• Print ISSN: 1945-0877
• Electronic ISSN: 1937-9145
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 551
• Article Number: eaan1188
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aan1188
• Keywords: Cell Biology; Biochemistry; Molecular Biology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1213528
• Publisher URL: http://stke.sciencemag.org/content/11/551/eaan1188
• Contract Date: Oct 31, 2018