scholarly journals Structural basis for activation and allosteric modulation of full-length calcium-sensing receptor

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (23) ◽  
pp. eabg1483
Author(s):  
Tianlei Wen ◽  
Ziyu Wang ◽  
Xiaozhe Chen ◽  
Yue Ren ◽  
Xuhang Lu ◽  
...  

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a class C G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and parathyroid hormone secretion. Here, we present multiple cryo–electron microscopy structures of full-length CaSR in distinct ligand-bound states. Ligands (Ca2+ and l-tryptophan) bind to the extracellular domain of CaSR and induce large-scale conformational changes, leading to the closure of two heptahelical transmembrane domains (7TMDs) for activation. The positive modulator (evocalcet) and the negative allosteric modulator (NPS-2143) occupy the similar binding pocket in 7TMD. The binding of NPS-2143 causes a considerable rearrangement of two 7TMDs, forming an inactivated TM6/TM6 interface. Moreover, a total of 305 disease-causing missense mutations of CaSR have been mapped to the structure in the active state, creating hotspot maps of five clinical endocrine disorders. Our results provide a structural framework for understanding the activation, allosteric modulation mechanism, and disease therapy for class C GPCRs.

Cell Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenglong Ling ◽  
Pan Shi ◽  
Sanling Liu ◽  
Xianyu Meng ◽  
Yingxin Zhou ◽  
...  

AbstractThe human calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) responsible for maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis in the blood. The general consensus is that extracellular Ca2+ is the principal agonist of CaSR. Aliphatic and aromatic L-amino acids, such as L-Phe and L-Trp, increase the sensitivity of CaSR towards Ca2+ and are considered allosteric activators. Crystal structures of the extracellular domain (ECD) of CaSR dimer have demonstrated Ca2+ and L-Trp binding sites and conformational changes of the ECD upon Ca2+/L-Trp binding. However, it remains to be understood at the structural level how Ca2+/L-Trp binding to the ECD leads to conformational changes in transmembrane domains (TMDs) and consequent CaSR activation. Here, we determined the structures of full-length human CaSR in the inactive state, Ca2+- or L-Trp-bound states, and Ca2+/L-Trp-bound active state using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. Structural studies demonstrate that L-Trp binding induces the closure of the Venus flytrap (VFT) domain of CaSR, bringing the receptor into an intermediate active state. Ca2+ binding relays the conformational changes from the VFT domains to the TMDs, consequently inducing close contact between the two TMDs of dimeric CaSR, activating the receptor. Importantly, our structural and functional studies reveal that Ca2+ ions and L-Trp activate CaSR cooperatively. Amino acids are not able to activate CaSR alone, but can promote the receptor activation in the presence of Ca2+. Our data provide complementary insights into the activation of class C GPCRs and may aid in the development of novel drugs targeting CaSR.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Chen ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Qianqian Cui ◽  
Zhanyu Ding ◽  
Li Han ◽  
...  

Human calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that maintains Ca2+ homeostasis in serum. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the CaSR in the inactive and agonist+PAM bound states. Complemented with previously reported structures of CaSR, we show that in addition to the full inactive and active states, there are multiple intermediate states during the activation of CaSR. We used a negative allosteric nanobody to stabilize the CaSR in the fully inactive state and found a new binding site for Ca2+ ion that acts as a composite agonist with L-amino acid to stabilize the closure of active Venus flytraps. Our data show that agonist binding leads to compaction of the dimer, proximity of the cysteine-rich domains, large-scale transitions of 7-transmembrane domains, and inter- and intrasubunit conformational changes of 7-transmembrane domains to accommodate downstream transducers. Our results reveal the structural basis for activation mechanisms of CaSR and clarify the mode of action of Ca2+ ions and L-amino acid leading to the activation of the receptor.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Chen ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Zhanyu Ding ◽  
Qianqian Cui ◽  
Li Han ◽  
...  

AbstractHuman calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that maintains Ca2+ homeostasis in serum. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the CaSR in the inactive and active states. Complemented with previously reported crystal structures of CaSR extracellular domains, it suggests that there are three distinct conformations: inactive, intermediate and active state during the activation. We used a negative allosteric nanobody to stabilize the CaSR in the fully inactive state and found a new binding site for Ca2+ ion that acts as a composite agonist with L-amino acid to stabilize the closure of active Venus flytraps. Our data shows that the agonist binding leads to the compaction of the dimer, the proximity of the cysteine-rich domains, the large-scale transitions of 7-transmembrane domains, and the inter-and intrasubunit conformational changes of 7-transmembrane domains to accommodate the downstream transducers. Our results reveal the structural basis for activation mechanisms of the CaSR.


2005 ◽  
Vol 153 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takehisa Kawata ◽  
Yasuo Imanishi ◽  
Keisuke Kobayashi ◽  
Takao Kenko ◽  
Michihito Wada ◽  
...  

Cinacalcet HCl, an allosteric modulator of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), has recently been approved for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, due to its suppressive effect on parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Although cinacalcet’s effects in patients with primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism have been reported, the crucial relationship between the effect of calcimimetics and CaR expression on the parathyroid glands requires better understanding. To investigate its suppressive effect on PTH secretion in primary hyperparathyroidism, in which hypercalcemia may already have stimulated considerable CaR activity, we investigated the effect of cinacalcet HCl on PTH-cyclin D1 transgenic mice (PC2 mice), a model of primary hyperparathyroidism with hypo-expression of CaR on their parathyroid glands. A single administration of 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) of cinacalcet HCl significantly suppressed serum calcium (Ca) levels 2 h after administration in 65- to 85-week-old PC2 mice with chronic biochemical hyperparathyroidism. The percentage reduction in serum PTH was significantly correlated with CaR hypo-expression in the parathyroid glands. In older PC2 mice (93–99 weeks old) with advanced hyperparathyroidism, serum Ca and PTH levels were not suppressed by 30 mg cinacalcet HCl/kg. However, serum Ca and PTH levels were significantly suppressed by 100 mg/kg of cinacalcet HCl, suggesting that higher doses of this compound could overcome severe hyperparathyroidism. To conclude, cinacalcet HCl demonstrated potency in a murine model of primary hyperparathyroidism in spite of any presumed endogenous CaR activation by hypercalcemia and hypo-expression of CaR in the parathyroid glands.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (35) ◽  
pp. 21711-21722
Author(s):  
Hongkang Liu ◽  
Ping Yi ◽  
Wenjing Zhao ◽  
Yuling Wu ◽  
Francine Acher ◽  
...  

Many membrane receptors are regulated by nutrients. However, how these nutrients control a single receptor remains unknown, even in the case of the well-studied calcium-sensing receptor CaSR, which is regulated by multiple factors, including ions and amino acids. Here, we developed an innovative cell-free Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based conformational CaSR biosensor to clarify the main conformational changes associated with activation. By allowing a perfect control of ambient nutrients, this assay revealed that Ca2+alone fully stabilizes the active conformation, while amino acids behave as pure positive allosteric modulators. Based on the identification of Ca2+activation sites, we propose a molecular basis for how these different ligands cooperate to control CaSR activation. Our results provide important information on CaSR function and improve our understanding of the effects of genetic mutations responsible for human diseases. They also provide insights into how a receptor can integrate signals from various nutrients to better adapt to the cell response.


Nephron ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shozo Yano ◽  
Toshitsugu Sugimoto ◽  
Michiko Kanzawa ◽  
Tatsuo Tsukamoto ◽  
Tetsuya Hattori ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. E435-E442 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. John MacLeod ◽  
Naibedya Chattopadhyay ◽  
Edward M. Brown

Increases in extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o) stimulate from normal and malignant cells secretion of parathroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a major mediator of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. Because the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is a determinant of calcium-regulated hormone secretion, we examined whether HEK cells stably transfected with human CaR secreted PTHrP in response to CaR stimulation. Increases in [Ca2+]o or neomycin and Gd3+ all substantially increased PTHrP secretion in CaR-HEK cells but had no effect on nontransfected cells. CaR activation likewise increased PTHrP transcripts. PD-098059 and U-0126, inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MEK1/2, abolished CaR-stimulated secretion but had no effect on basal secretion. An inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, SB-203580, also attenuated CaR-stimulated secretion. Western analysis revealed that CaR activation caused a robust increase in MEK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation. A Src family kinase inhibitor, PP2, blocked both basal and CaR-stimulated secretion. We conclude that CaR specifically mediates the effect of increasing [Ca2+]o on PTHrP synthesis and secretion and that activated MEK1/2 and p38 MAP kinases are determinants of the CaR's stimulation of PTHrP secretion.


2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (5) ◽  
pp. G753-G761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur D. Conigrave ◽  
Edward M. Brown

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is a multimodal sensor for several key nutrients, notably Ca2+ions and l-amino acids, and is expressed abundantly throughout the gastrointestinal tract. While its role as a Ca2+ion sensor is well recognized, its physiological significance as an l-amino acid sensor and thus, in the gastrointestinal tract, as a sensor of protein ingestion is only now coming to light. This review focuses on the CaR’s amino acid sensing properties at both the molecular and cellular levels and considers new and putative physiological roles for the CaR in the amino acid-dependent regulation of gut hormone secretion, epithelial transport, and satiety.


2009 ◽  
Vol 204 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramanaiah Mamillapalli ◽  
John Wysolmerski

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaR or CASR as listed in the MGI Database) is a G protein-coupled receptor that binds and signals in response to extracellular calcium and other polycations. It is highly expressed on parathyroid and kidney cells, where it participates in the regulation of systemic calcium homeostasis. It is also expressed on many other cell types and is involved in a wide array of biological functions such as cell growth and differentiation, ion transport, and hormone secretion. It has been described to couple to several different G proteins including Gαi/0, Gαq/11, and Gα12/13. Recently, it has also been shown to stimulate cAMP production by coupling to Gαs in immortalized or malignant breast cells. The CaR is expressed on cells in the anterior pituitary and had previously been described to stimulate cAMP production in these cells. In this report, we examined signaling from the CaR in murine pituitary corticotroph-derived, AtT-20 cells. We found that CaR activation led to the stimulation of cAMP production, and PTH-related protein (PTHrP or PTHLH as listed in the MGI Database) and ACTH secretion from these cells. Furthermore, manipulation of cAMP levels was able to modulate PTHrP and ACTH secretion independent of changes in extracellular calcium. Finally, we demonstrated that the CaR couples to Gαs in AtT-20 cells. Therefore, in pituitary corticotroph-like cells, as in breast cancer cells, the CaR utilizes Gαs and activates cAMP production to stimulate hormone secretion.


2002 ◽  
Vol 192 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laszlo Komuves ◽  
Yuko Oda ◽  
Chia-ling Tu ◽  
Wen Han Chang ◽  
Chrystal L. Ho-Pao ◽  
...  

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