The long-term goal of the proposed research is to understand how a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), called adhesion GPCRs, transduces signals. Adhesion GPCRs have been recognized in recent years as critical regulators of diverse biological processes, but the mechanisms of their regulation remain unclear. A unique feature of adhesion GPCRs is that they are typically cleaved into two fragments. How these fragments contribute to their functions is not known. Substantial preliminary data have showed that the two cleaved fragments (GPRN and GPRC) of GPR56, a member of adhesion GPCRs, interact to regulate downstream signaling events, including the secretion of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the activation of protein kinase C? (PKC?) in melanoma cells. The goal of the proposed research is to use this system to further dissect the activation mechanisms of GPR56 and its signaling components.
Three specific aims are proposed: 1) Investigate whether GPRN regulates activities of GPRC. ELISA, co-immunoprecipitation, cell surface labeling, and mutagenesis analyses will be performed. 2) Examine whether GPRC regulates PKC? activity through G proteins. Minigene construct expression, small GTPase activity assay, reporter assays, and PKC membrane translocation analyses will be performed. 3) Investigate the desensitization mechanisms of GPRC. Mutagenesis analyses, radiolabeling assay, and expression analyses of shRNAs and mutant arrestins will be performed. Taken together;the outcome of the research will help to establish a paradigm on the signal transduction of adhesion GPCRs, a group of receptors that play essential roles in human development and diseases. Thus the proposed research is highly relevant to the mission of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of NIH.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM098591-02
Application #
8470666
Study Section
Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction Study Section (MIST)
Program Officer
Dunsmore, Sarah
Project Start
2012-06-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$283,276
Indirect Cost
$99,926
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
041294109
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627
Millar, Michelle W; Corson, Nancy; Xu, Lei (2018) The Adhesion G-Protein-Coupled Receptor, GPR56/ADGRG1, Inhibits Cell-Extracellular Matrix Signaling to Prevent Metastatic Melanoma Growth. Front Oncol 8:8
Aust, Gabriela; Zhu, Dan; Van Meir, Erwin G et al. (2016) Adhesion GPCRs in Tumorigenesis. Handb Exp Pharmacol 234:369-396
Chandrasekaran, Siddarth; Giang, Ut-Binh T; Xu, Lei et al. (2016) In vitro assays for determining the metastatic potential of melanoma cell lines with characterized in vivo invasiveness. Biomed Microdevices 18:89
Stoveken, Hannah M; Hajduczok, Alexander G; Xu, Lei et al. (2015) Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors are activated by exposure of a cryptic tethered agonist. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:6194-9
Hamann, Jörg; Aust, Gabriela; Araç, Demet et al. (2015) International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCIV. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors. Pharmacol Rev 67:338-67
Yang, Liquan; Friedland, Scott; Corson, Nancy et al. (2014) GPR56 inhibits melanoma growth by internalizing and degrading its ligand TG2. Cancer Res 74:1022-31
Liebscher, Ines; Ackley, Brian; Araç, Demet et al. (2014) New functions and signaling mechanisms for the class of adhesion G protein-coupled receptors. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1333:43-64