G protein stoichiometry dictates biased agonism through distinct receptor-G protein partitioning

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 11;7(1):7885. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07392-5.

Abstract

Biased agonism at G protein coupled receptors emerges as an opportunity for development of drugs with enhanced benefit/risk balance making biased ligand identification a priority. However, ligand biased signature, classically inferred from ligand activity across multiple pathways, displays high variability in recombinant systems. Functional assays usually necessity receptor/effector overexpression that should be controlled among assays to allow comparison but this calibration currently fails. Herein, we demonstrate that Gα expression level dictates the biased profiling of agonists and, to a lesser extent of β-blockers, in a Gα isoform- and receptor-specific way, depending on specific G protein activity in different membrane territories. These results have major therapeutic implications since they suggest that the ligand bias phenotype is not necessarily maintained in pathological cell background characterized by fluctuations in G protein expression. Thus, we recommend implementation of G protein stoichiometry as a new parameter in biased ligand screening programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / agonists*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Ligands
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Subunits
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • GTP-Binding Proteins