N-Glycosylation of Asparagine 130 in the Extracellular Domain of the Human Calcitonin Receptor Significantly Increases Peptide Hormone Affinity

Biochemistry. 2017 Jul 5;56(26):3380-3393. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00256. Epub 2017 Jun 26.

Abstract

The calcitonin receptor (CTR) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor that is activated by the peptide hormones calcitonin and amylin. Calcitonin regulates bone remodeling through CTR, whereas amylin regulates blood glucose and food intake by activating CTR in complex with receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). These receptors are targeted clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis and diabetes. Here, we define the role of CTR N-glycosylation in hormone binding using purified calcitonin and amylin receptor extracellular domain (ECD) glycoforms and fluorescence polarization/anisotropy and isothermal titration calorimetry peptide-binding assays. N-Glycan-free CTR ECD produced in Escherichia coli exhibited ∼10-fold lower peptide affinity than CTR ECD produced in HEK293T cells, which yield complex N-glycans, or in HEK293S GnTI- cells, which yield core N-glycans (Man5GlcNAc2). PNGase F-catalyzed removal of N-glycans at N73, N125, and N130 in the CTR ECD decreased peptide affinity ∼10-fold, whereas Endo H-catalyzed trimming of the N-glycans to single GlcNAc residues had no effect on peptide binding. Similar results were observed for an amylin receptor RAMP2-CTR ECD complex. Characterization of peptide-binding affinities of purified N → Q CTR ECD glycan site mutants combined with PNGase F and Endo H treatment strategies and mass spectrometry to define the glycan species indicated that a single GlcNAc residue at CTR N130 was responsible for the peptide affinity enhancement. Molecular modeling suggested that this GlcNAc functions through an allosteric mechanism rather than by directly contacting the peptide. These results reveal an important role for N-linked glycosylation in the peptide hormone binding of a clinically relevant class B GPCR.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / chemistry
  • Acetylglucosamine / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Asparagine / chemistry
  • Asparagine / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Calcitonin / chemistry
  • Calcitonin / metabolism*
  • Glycosylation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide / chemistry
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase / genetics
  • Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Mutation
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase / metabolism
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 / agonists
  • Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 / chemistry
  • Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 / genetics
  • Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Calcitonin / agonists
  • Receptors, Calcitonin / chemistry
  • Receptors, Calcitonin / genetics
  • Receptors, Calcitonin / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
  • Ligands
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RAMP2 protein, human
  • Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2
  • Receptors, Calcitonin
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Asparagine
  • Calcitonin
  • Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase
  • Acetylglucosamine