Journal of Biological Chemistry
Volume 273, Issue 33, 14 August 1998, Pages 21416-21422
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PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURE
The Cytoplasmic Tail of the Human Somatostatin Receptor Type 5 Is Crucial for Interaction with Adenylyl Cyclase and in Mediating Desensitization and Internalization*

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We have investigated the role of the cytoplasmic tail (C-tail) of the human somatostatin receptor type 5 (hSSTR5) in regulating receptor coupling to adenylyl cyclase (AC) and in mediating agonist-dependent desensitization and internalization responses. Mutant receptors with progressive C-tail truncation (Δ347, Δ338, Δ328, Δ318), Cys320→ Ala substitution (to block palmitoylation), or Tyr304→ Ala substitution of a putative NPXXY internalization motif were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. Except for the Tyr304 → Ala mutant, which showed no binding, all other mutant receptors exhibited binding characteristics (Kd and Bmax) and G protein coupling comparable with wild type (wt) hSSTR5. The C-tail truncation mutants displayed progressive reduction in coupling to AC, with the Δ318 mutant showing complete loss of effector coupling. Agonist pretreatment of wt hSSTR5 led to uncoupling of AC inhibition, whereas the desensitization response of the C-tail deletion mutants was variably impaired. Compared with internalization (66% at 60 min) of wt hSSTR5, truncation of the C-tail to 318, 328, and 338 residues reduced receptor internalization to 46, 46, and 23%, respectively, whereas truncation to 347 residues slightly improved internalization (72%). Mutation of Cys320 → Ala induced a reduction in AC coupling, desensitization, and internalization. These studies show that the C-tail of hSSTR5 serves a multifunctional role in mediating effector coupling, desensitization, and internalization. Whereas coupling to AC is dependent on the length of the C-tail, desensitization and internalization require specific structural domains. Furthermore, internalization is regulated through both positive and negative molecular signals in the C-tail and can be dissociated from the signaling and acute desensitization responses of the receptor.

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*

This work was supported by Medical Research Council of Canada Grant MT-10411 and grants from the National Institutes of Health, the U. S. Department of Defense, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Contributed equally to this work.

§

Supported by a fellowship from the Fonds De La Recherche En Sante Du Quebec.

Recipient of studentship support from the Royal Victoria Hospital Research Institute.