A unique melanocortin-4-receptor signaling profile for obesity-associated constitutively active variants

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Abstract

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays a critical role in regulating energy homeostasis. Studies on obesogenic human MC4R (hMC4R) variants have not yet revealed how hMC4R maintains body weight. Here, we identified a signaling profile for obesogenic constitutively active H76R and L250Q hMC4R variants transfected in HEK293 cells that included constitutive activity for adenylyl cyclase (AC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element (CRE)-driven transcription, and calcium mobilization but not phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) activity. Importantly, the signaling profile included impaired α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced CRE-driven transcription but not impaired α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced AC, calcium, or pERK1/2. This profile was not observed for transfected H158R, a constitutively active hMC4R variant associated with overweight but not obesity. We concluded that there is potential for α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced CRE-driven transcription in HEK293 cells transfected with obesogenic hMC4R variants to be the key predictive tool for determining whether they exhibit loss of function. Furthermore, in vivo, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced hMC4R CRE-driven transcription may be key for maintaining body weight.

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Human Gain-of-Function MC4R Variants Show Signaling Bias and Protect against Obesity

Luca A. Lotta, Jacek Mokrosinski, Edson Mendes de Oliveira … (2019)

Summary The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor whose disruption causes obesity. We functionally characterized 61 MC4R variants identified in 0.5 million people from UK Biobank and examined their associations with body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases. We found that the maximal efficacy of β-arrestin recruitment to MC4R, rather than canonical Gαs-mediated cyclic adenosine-monophosphate production, explained 88% of the variance in the association of MC4R variants with BMI. While most MC4R variants caused loss of function, a subset caused gain of function; these variants were associated with significantly lower BMI and lower odds of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Protective associations were driven by MC4R variants exhibiting signaling bias toward β-arrestin recruitment and increased mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation. Harnessing β-arrestin-biased MC4R signaling may represent an effective strategy for weight loss and the treatment of obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases.

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Spatial encoding of cyclic AMP signalling specificity by GPCR endocytosis

Nikoleta G. Tsvetanova, Mark von Zastrow (2014)

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are well known to signal via cyclic AMP (cAMP) production at the plasma membrane, but it is now clear that various GPCRs also signal after internalization. Apart from its temporal impact through prolonging the cellular response, does the endosome-initiated signal encode any discrete spatial information? Using the beta2-adrenoceptor (β2-AR) as a model, we show that endocytosis is required for the full repertoire of downstream cAMP-dependent transcriptional control. Next, we describe an orthogonal optogenetic approach to definitively establish that the location of cAMP production is indeed the critical variable determining the transcriptional response. Finally, our results suggest that this spatial encoding scheme helps cells functionally discriminate chemically distinct β2-AR ligands according to differences in their ability to promote receptor endocytosis. These findings reveal a discrete principle for achieving cellular signalling specificity, based on endosome-mediated spatial encoding of intracellular second messenger production and ‘location aware’ downstream transcriptional control.

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The melanocortin-4 receptor: physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology.

Ya-Xiong Tao (2010)

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) was cloned in 1993 by degenerate PCR; however, its function was unknown. Subsequent studies suggest that the MC4R might be involved in regulating energy homeostasis. This hypothesis was confirmed in 1997 by a series of seminal studies in mice. In 1998, human genetic studies demonstrated that mutations in the MC4R gene can cause monogenic obesity. We now know that mutations in the MC4R are the most common monogenic form of obesity, with more than 150 distinct mutations reported thus far. This review will summarize the studies on the MC4R, from its cloning and tissue distribution to its physiological roles in regulating energy homeostasis, cachexia, cardiovascular function, glucose and lipid homeostasis, reproduction and sexual function, drug abuse, pain perception, brain inflammation, and anxiety. I will then review the studies on the pharmacology of the receptor, including ligand binding and receptor activation, signaling pathways, as well as its regulation. Finally, the pathophysiology of the MC4R in obesity pathogenesis will be reviewed. Functional studies of the mutant MC4Rs and the therapeutic implications, including small molecules in correcting binding and signaling defect, and their potential as pharmacological chaperones in rescuing intracellularly retained mutants, will be highlighted.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Mol Endocrinol

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Mol Endocrinol

Journal ID (hwp): JME

Title: Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

Publisher: Bioscientifica Ltd (Bristol )

ISSN (Print): 0952-5041

ISSN (Electronic): 1479-6813

Publication date (Electronic): 11 April 2023

Publication date (Electronic preprint): 11 April 2023

Publication date Collection: 01 July 2023

Volume: 71

Issue: 1

Electronic Location Identifier: e230008

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Physiology , Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

[2 ]Department of Pharmacology , Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

[3 ]Centre for Brain Research , Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

[4 ]Maurice Wilkins Centre for Biodiscovery , Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand

[5 ]Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology , Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand