Functional selectivity of G protein signaling by agonist peptides and thrombin for the protease-activated receptor-1

Joseph N. McLaughlin, Lixin Shen, Michael Holinstat, Joshua D. Brooks, Emmanuele DiBenedetto, Heidi E. Hamm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

170 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thrombin activates protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) by cleavage of the amino terminus to unmask a tethered ligand. Although peptide analogs can activate PAR-1, we show that the functional responses mediated via PAR-1 differ between the agonists. Thrombin caused endothelial monolayer permeability and mobilized intracellular calcium with EC50 values of 0.1 and 1.7 nM, respectively. The opposite order of activation was observed for agonist peptide (SFLLRN-CONH2 or TFLLRNKPDK) activation. The addition of inactivated thrombin did not affect agonist peptide signaling, suggesting that the differences in activation mechanisms are intramolecular in origin. Although activation of PAR-1 or PAR-2 by agonist peptides induced calcium mobilization, only PAR-1 activation affected barrier function. Induced barrier permeability is likely to be Gα12/13-mediated as chelation of Gαq-mediated intracellular calcium with BAPTA-AM, pertussis toxin inhibition of Gαi/o, or GM6001 inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase had no effect, whereas Y-27632 inhibition of the Gα12/13-mediated Rho kinase abrogated the response. Similarly, calcium mobilization is Gαq-mediated and independent of Gαi/o and Gα12/13 because pertussis toxin and Y-27632 had no effect, whereas U-73122 inhibition of phospholipase C-β blocked the response. It is therefore likely that changes in permeability reflect Gα12/13 activation, and changes in calcium reflect Gαq activation, implying that the pharmacological differences between agonists are likely caused by the ability of the receptor to activate Gα12/13 or Gαq. This functional selectivity was characterized quantitatively by a mathematical model describing each step leading to Rho activation and/or calcium mobilization. This model provides an estimate that peptide activation alters receptor/G protein binding to favor Gαq activation over Gα12/13 by ∼800-fold.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)25048-25059
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume280
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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