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Biochim Biophys Acta

Title:		Structural and functional differences between pheromonotropic and melanotropic PK/PBAN receptors
Author(s):		Hariton-Shalev A; Shalev M; Adir N; Belausov E; Altstein M;
Address:		"Department of Entomology, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel"
Journal Title:		Biochim Biophys Acta
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130710
Issue:		11
Page Number:		5036 - 5048
DOI:		10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.06.041
ISSN/ISBN:		0006-3002 (Print) 0006-3002 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: The pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PK/PBAN) plays a major role in regulating a wide range of physiological processes in insects. The ubiquitous and multifunctional nature of the PK/PBAN peptide family raises many questions regarding the mechanisms by which these neuropeptides elicit their effects and the nature of the receptors that mediate their functions. METHODS: A sex pheromone gland receptor of the PK/PBAN family from Heliothis peltigera female moth and a Spodoptera littoralis larval receptor were cloned and stably expressed, and their structural models, electrostatic potentials and cellular functional properties were evaluated. RESULTS: Homology modeling indicated highly conserved amino-acid residues in appropriate structural positions as experimentally shown for class A G-protein coupled receptors. Structural differences could be proposed and electrostatic potentials of the two receptor models revealed net charge differences. Calcium mobilization assays demonstrated that both receptors were fully functional and could initiate extracellular calcium influx to start PK/PBAN signal transduction. Evaluation of the signaling response of both receptors to PBAN and diapause hormone (DH) revealed a highly sensitive, though differential response. Both receptors responded to PBAN whereas only Spl-PK/PBAN-R exhibited a high response toward DH. CONCLUSIONS: The structural, electrostatic and cellular functional differences indicate that different PK/PBAN in vivo functions may be mediated by different PK/PBAN receptors and elicited by different peptide(s). GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results advance our understanding of the mode of action of the PK/PBAN family, and might help in exploring novel high-affinity receptor-specific antagonists that can serve as a basis for the development of new families of insect-control agents"
Keywords:		"Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Calcium/metabolism Cell Line Cloning, Molecular Female Male Models, Molecular Molecular Sequence Data Moths/genetics/*metabolism Neuropeptides/genetics/*metabolism Protein Structure, Secondary Receptors, Cell Surf;"
Notes:		"MedlineHariton-Shalev, Aliza Shalev, Moran Adir, Noam Belausov, Edurad Altstein, Miriam eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Netherlands 2013/07/16 Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Nov; 1830(11):5036-48. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.06.041. Epub 2013 Jul 10"