@article{NeuschaeferRubeOppermannMoelleretal.1999,
  author    = {Neusch{\"a}fer-Rube, Frank and Oppermann, Martin and M{\"o}ller, Ulrike and B{\"o}er, Ulrike and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul},
  title     = {Agonist-induced phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinases of the EP4 receptor carboxyl-terminal domain in an EP3/EP4 prostaglandin E(2) receptor hybrid},
  issn      = {1521-0111},
  year      = {1999},
  abstract  = {Prostaglandin E(2) receptors (EP-Rs) belong to the family of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled ectoreceptors with seven transmembrane domains. They can be subdivided into four subtypes according to their ligand-binding and G protein-coupling specificity: EP1 couple to G(q), EP2 and EP4 to G(s), and EP3 to G(i). The EP4-R, in contrast to the EP3beta-R, shows rapid agonist-induced desensitization. The agonist-induced desensitization depends on the presence of the EP4-R carboxyl-terminal domain, which also confers desensitization in a G(i)-coupled rEP3hEP4 carboxyl-terminal domain receptor hybrid (rEP3hEP4-Ct-R). To elucidate the possible mechanism of this desensitization, in vivo phosphorylation stimulated by activators of second messenger kinases, by prostaglandin E(2), or by the EP3-R agonist M\&B28767 was investigated in COS-7 cells expressing FLAG-epitope-tagged rat EP3beta-R (rEP3beta-R), hEP4-R, or rEP3hEP4- Ct-R. Stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate led to a slight phosphorylation of the FLAG- rEP3beta-R but to a strong phosphorylation of the FLAG-hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R, which was suppressed by the protein kinase A and protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. Prostaglandin E(2) stimulated phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R in its carboxyl-terminal receptor domain. The EP3-R agonist M\&B28767 induced a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R but not of the FLAG-rEP3beta-R. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R were not inhibited by staurosporine, which implies a role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation. Overexpression of GRKs in FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R- expressing COS-7 cells augmented the M\&B28767-induced receptor phosphorylation and receptor sequestration. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal hEP4-R domain possibly by GRKs but not by second messenger kinases may be involved in rapid agonist-induced desensitization of the hEP4-R and the rEP3hEP4-Ct-R.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoeerNeuschaeferRubeMoelleretal.2000,
  author    = {B{\"o}er, Ulrike and Neusch{\"a}fer-Rube, Frank and M{\"o}ller, Ulrike and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul},
  title     = {Requirement of N-glycosylation of the prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3beta for correct sorting to the plasma membrane but not for correct folding},
  year      = {2000},
  abstract  = {Eight heptahelical receptors have been characterized for prostaglandin (PG) D(2), PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2). They share a sequence identity of 40\%. All of them have potential N-glycosylation sites. The current study analysed the role of the two N-glycosylation sites in the rat EP3beta-subtype PGE(2) receptor for protein folding and sorting. The N-glycosylation consensus sequences were eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis and receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells. Both potential N-glycosylation sites were used. Their joint elimination resulted in the synthesis of a receptor protein with full binding competence, biological activity and no reduction of affinity; however, the half-life of the non-glycosylated receptor was slightly reduced. Ligand binding to intact stably transfected cells and confocal laser microscopic immunocytochemistry showed that the glycosylated receptor was correctly inserted into the plasma membrane to a much larger extent than the non-glycosylated receptor, which tended to accumulate in the perinuclear zone of the endoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition of N-glycosylation with tunicamycin resulted in a similar perinuclear distribution of the wild-type receptor. Therefore, glycosylation of the EP3beta receptor seems not to be necessary for correct folding of the receptor protein but for the efficient transport of the receptor protein to the plasma membrane. This contrasts with a previous finding which described a reduction of the affinity for PGE(2) of the EP3alpha receptor by elimination of the distal glycosylation site when the receptor protein was expressed in insect cells.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeuschaeferRubeEngemaierKochetal.2003,
  author    = {Neusch{\"a}fer-Rube, Frank and Engemaier, Eva and Koch, Sina and B{\"o}er, Ulrike and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul},
  title     = {Identification by site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids contributing to ligand-binding specificity or signal transduction properties of the human FP prostanoid receptor},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {Prostanoid receptors belong to the class of heptahelical plasma membrane receptors. For the five prostanoids, eight receptor subtypes have been identified. They display an overall sequence similarity of roughly 30\%. Based on sequence comparison, single amino acids in different subtypes of different species have previously been identified by site-directed mutagenesis or in hybrid receptors that appear to be essential for ligand binding or G-protein coupling. Based on this information, a series of mutants of the human FP receptor was generated and characterized in ligand- binding and second-messenger-formation studies. It was found that mutation of His-81 to Ala in transmembrane domain 2 and of Arg-291 to Leu in transmembrane domain 7, which are putative interaction partners for the prostanoid's carboxyl group, abolished ligand binding. Mutants in which Ser-263 in transmembrane domain 6 or Asp-300 in transmembrane domain 7 had been replaced by Ala or Gln, respectively, no longer discriminated between prostaglandins PGF(2alpha) and PGD(2). Thus distortion of the topology of transmembrane domains 6 and 7 appears to interfere with the cyclopentane ring selectivity of the receptor. PGF(2alpha)-induced inositol formation was strongly reduced in the mutant Asp-300Gln, inferring a role for this residue in agonist-induced G-protein activation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoeerFennekohlPueschel2003,
  author    = {B{\"o}er, Ulrike and Fennekohl, Alexandra and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul},
  title     = {Sensitization by interleukin-6 of rat hepatocytes to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis},
  year      = {2003},
  abstract  = {BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) elicits hepatocyte apoptosis in toxic liver injury and is also central in hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy. In both circumstances interleukin (IL)-6 levels are also elevated. In mouse liver IL-6 attenuated Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis indicating its interference with pro-apoptotic signal chains. It was, therefore, the aim to examine the modulation by IL-6 of TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes. METHODS: Primary rat hepatocytes were treated with IL-6 prior to induction of apoptosis with TNFalpha/ actinomycin D or anti-Fas antibody M-20. Apoptosis was detected by determination of caspase-3 activation and bisbenzimide staining of condensed nuclei. Expression of TNFalpha receptors was analyzed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ligand binding studies with [125I]-TNFalpha. RESULTS: IL-6 treatment doubled TNFalpha/actinomycin D- induced caspase-3 activity and significantly enhanced chromatin condensation. By contrast IL-6 inhibited Fas-induced increase in caspase-3 activity by 45\% and significantly reduced chromatin condensation. IL-6 increased the mRNA level of TNF-R1 1.35-fold and augmented cell surface binding of [125I]-TNFalpha 3-fold. The latter and TNFalpha-mediated caspase activation was attenuated by prostaglandin E(2). CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 - in contrast to its anti-apoptotic modulation of the Fas-induced pathway - exerted a pro-apoptotic effect on the TNFalpha/actinomycin D-induced apoptosis by increasing the number of TNF-R on hepatocytes.},
  language  = {en}
}