@phdthesis{AlonsoCanizal2020,
  author    = {Alonso Ca{\~n}izal, Maria Consuelo},
  title     = {Detection of ligand dependent Frizzled conformational changes},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-17833},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-178335},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Frizzled (FZD) are highly conserved receptors that belong to class F of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. They are involved in a great variety of processes during embryonic development, organogenesis, and adult tissue homeostasis. In particular, FZD5 is an important therapeutic target due to its involvement in several pathologies, such as tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the activation of FZD receptors and the signal initiation, and their GPCR nature has been debated. In order to investigate the activation mechanism of these receptors, FRET (F{\"o}rster Resonance Energy Transfer)-based biosensors for FZD5 have been developed and characterized. A cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) was fused to the C-terminus of the receptor and the specific FlAsH-binding sequence (CCPGCC) was inserted within the 2nd or the 3rd intracellular loop. Single-cell FRET experiments performed using one of these sensors, V5-mFZD5-FlAsH436-CFP, reported structural rearrangements in FZD5 upon stimulation with the endogenous ligand WNT-5A. These movements are similar to those observed in other GPCRs using the same technique, which suggests an activation mechanism for FZD reminiscent of GPCRs. Furthermore, stimulation of the FZD5 FRET-based sensor with various recombinant WNT proteins in a microplate FRET reader allowed to obtain concentration-response curves for several ligands, being possible to distinguish between full and partial agonists. This technology allowed to address the selectivity between WNTs and FZD5 using a full-length receptor in living cells. In addition, G protein FRET-based sensors revealed that WNT-5A specifically induced Gαq activation mediated by FZD5, but not Gαi activation. Other WNT proteins were also able to induce Gαq activation, but with lower efficacy than WNT-5A. In addition, a dual DAG/calcium sensor further showed that WNT-5A stimulation led to the activation of the Gαq-dependent signaling pathway mediated by FZD5, which outcome was the activation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) and the release of intracellular calcium. Altogether, these data provide evidence that the activation process of FZD5 resembles the general characteristics of class A and B GPCR activation, and this receptor also mediates the activation of the heterotrimeric Gαq protein and its downstream signaling pathway. In addition, the FZD5 receptor FRET-based sensor provides a valuable tool to characterize the pharmacological properties of WNTs and other potential ligands for this receptor.},
  subject      = {Fluoreszenz-Resonanz-Energie-Transfer},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Stumpf2015,
  author    = {Stumpf, Anette D.},
  title     = {Development of fluorescent FRET receptor sensors for investigation of conformational changes in adenosine A1 and A2A receptors},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125469},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Adenosine receptors that belong to the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in a lot of regulatory processes and are widely distributed throughout the body which makes them an attractive target for drugs. However, pharmacological knowledge of these receptors is still limited. A big advance regarding the structural knowledge of adenosine receptors was the development of the first crystal structure of the adenosine A2A receptor in 2008. The crystal structure revealed the amino acids that form the ligand binding pocket of the receptor and depicted the endpoint of receptor movement in the ligand binding process. Within the scope of this work two members of the adenosine receptor family were investigated, namely the adenosine A1 and the A2A receptor (A1R, A2AR). A1R was generated on base of the previously developed A2AR. Receptors were tagged with fluorophores, with the cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) at the C-terminal end of receptor and the Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin binder (FlAsH) binding sequence within the third intracellular loop of receptors. Resulting fluorescent receptor sensors A1 Fl3 CFP and A2A Fl3 CFP were investigated with help of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) measurements within living cells. FRET experiments enable the examination of alteration in the distance of two fluorophores and thus the observation of receptor dynamical movements. For comparison of A1R and A2AR regarding receptor dynamical movement upon ligand binding, fluorescent receptor sensors A1 Fl3 CFP and A2A Fl3 CFP were superfused with various ligands and the outcomes of FRET experiments were compared regarding signal height of FRET ratio evoked by the distinct ligand that is correlated to the conformational change of receptor upon ligand binding. Beside the different direction of FRET ratio upon ligand binding at A1R and A2AR sensor, there were differences observable when signal height and association and dissociation kinetics of the various ligands investigated were compared to each other. Differences between the adenosine receptor subtypes were especially remarkable for the A1R subtype selective agonist CPA and the A2AR subtype selective agonist CGS 21680. Another part of the project was to investigate the influence of single amino acids in the ligand binding process within the fluorescent A1R sensor. Amino acid positions were derived from the crystal structure of the A2AR forming the ligand binding pocket and these amino acids were mutated in the A1R structure. Investigation of the A1R sensor and its mutants regarding confocal analysis showed involvement of some amino acids in receptor localization. When these amino acids were mutated receptors were not expressed in the plasma membrane of cells. Some amino acids investigated were found to be involved in the ligand binding process in general whereas other amino acids were found to have an influence on the binding of distinct structural groups of the ligands investigated. In a further step, A1R and A2AR were N-terminally tagged with SNAP or CLIP which allowed to label receptor sensors with multiple fluorophores. With this technique receptor distribution in cells could be investigated with help of confocal analysis. Furthermore, ligand binding with fluorescent adenosine receptor ligands and their competition with help of a non-fluorescent antagonist was examined at the SNAP tagged A1R and A2AR. Finally the previously developed receptor sensors were combined to the triple labeled receptor sensors SNAP A1 Fl3 CFP and SNAP A2A Fl3 CFP which were functional regarding FRET experiments and plasma membrane expression was confirmed via confocal analysis. In the future, with the help of this technique, interaction between fluorescent ligand and SNAP tagged receptor can be monitored simultaneously with the receptor movement that is indicated by the distance alteration between FlAsH and CFP. This can lead to a better understanding of receptor function and its dynamical movement upon ligand binding which may contribute to the development of new and more specific drugs for the A1R and A2AR in the future.},
  subject      = {Adenosinrezeptor},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Pollinger2012,
  author    = {Pollinger, Thomas},
  title     = {Spatiotemporale Organisation der Interaktion von Gq Protein-Untereinheiten und der Phospholipase Cβ3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-71884},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Die G-Protein vermittelte Aktivierung der Phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) stellt einen prim{\"a}ren Mechanismus dar, um eine Vielzahl von physiologischen Ereignissen zu regulieren, z.B. die Kontraktion glatter Muskelzellen, Sekretion oder die Modulation der synaptischen Transmission. Sowohl Gαq- als auch Gβγ-Untereinheiten sind daf{\"u}r bekannt mit PLCβ Enzymen zu interagieren und diese zu aktivieren. {\"U}ber die Dynamik dieser Interaktion und den relative Beitrag der G-Protein Untereinheiten ist jedoch nur wenig bekannt. Unter Verwendung Fluoreszenz Resonanz Energie Transfer (FRET)- basierter Methoden in lebenden Zellen, wurde die Kinetik der Rezeptor-induzierten Interaktion zwischen Gβγ und Gαq Untereinheiten, die Interaktion von sowohl der Gαq als auch der Gβγ-Untereinheit mit der PLCβ3 und die Interaktion des regulator of G-Protein signaling 2 (RGS2) mit Gαq-Untereinheiten untersucht. Um die Untersuchung der Protein-Protein-Interaktion auf die Zellmembran zu beschr{\"a}nken, wurde die Total-Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Mikroskopie angewandt. Zeitlich hoch aufl{\"o}sendes, ratiometrisches FRET-Imaging offenbarte eine deutlich schnellere Dissoziation von Gαq und PLCβ3 nach Entzug purinerger Agonisten verglichen mit der Deaktivierung von Gq Proteinen in der Abwesenheit der PLCβ3. Dieser offensichtliche Unterschied in der Kinetik kann durch die GTPase-aktivierende Eigenschaft der PLCβ3 in lebenden Zellen erkl{\"a}rt werden. Weiterhin zeigte es sich, dass PLCβ3 die Gq Protein Kinetik in einem {\"a}hnlich Ausmaß beeinflusst wie RGS2, welches in vitro deutlich effizienter darin ist, die intrinsische GTPase Aktivit{\"a}t der Gαq-Untereinheit zu beschleunigen. Als Antwort auf die Rezeptorstimulation wurde sowohl eine Interaktion von Gαq-Untereinheiten als auch von Gq-abstammende Gβγ-Untereinheiten mit der PLCβ3 beobachtet. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus zeigte sich auch eine Agonist-abh{\"a}ngige Interaktion von Gαq und RGS2. In Abwesenheit einer Rezeptorstimulation konnte kein spezifisches FRET-Signal zwischen Gq Proteinen und der PLCβ3 oder RGS2 detektiert werden. Zusammengefasst erm{\"o}glichte das ratiometrische FRET-Imaging in der TIRF Mikroskopie neue Einsichten in die Dynamik und Interaktionsmuster des Gq-Signalwegs.},
  subject      = {TIRF},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Schickinger2008,
  author    = {Schickinger, Stefanie},
  title     = {Funktionsanalyse alpha2-adrenerger Rezeptoren auf molekularer und transgener Ebene},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-31667},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {alpha2-adrenerge Rezeptoren, von denen drei verschiedene Subtypen (alpha2A, alpha2B, alpha2C) kloniert wurden, geh{\"o}ren zur Familie der G-Protein-gekoppelten Rezeptoren und vermitteln vielf{\"a}ltige physiologische Funktionen der Transmitter Adrenalin und Noradrenalin. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit sollte untersucht werden, inwieweit Rezeptorsubtypen, die subzellul{\"a}re Lokalisation von Rezeptoren oder der Differenzierungsstatus einer Zelle f{\"u}r die funktionelle Diversit{\"a}t der alpha2-Rezeptor-Effekte in vivo verantwortlich sind. Im ersten Teil des Projektes wurde ein transgenes Mausmodell untersucht, bei dem selektiv alpha2A-Rezeptoren unter Kontrolle des Dopamin-beta-Hydroxylase Promotors in adrenergen Neuronen exprimiert wurden. In diesem Modell sollte getestet werden, ob ein einzelner Rezeptorsubtyp in den verschiedenen Neuronen des sympathischen Nervensystems in vivo identische Funktionen hat. Transgene alpha2A-Rezeptoren hemmten in vivo zwar die Freisetzung von Noradrenalin aus sympathischen Nervenfasern nicht aber die Exozytose von Adrenalin aus dem Nebennierenmark. Deshalb stellte sich die Frage, ob die Rezeptorfunktion von der Morphologie, dem Differenzierungsstatus der Zellen oder von der subzellul{\"a}ren Lokalisation der Rezeptoren abh{\"a}ngt. Hierf{\"u}r wurden alpha2A-Rezeptoren durch Varianten des gr{\"u}n fluoreszierenden Proteins markiert und mittels FRET-Fluoreszenzmikroskopie untersucht. In PC12 Ph{\"a}ochromozytomzellen, die durch NGF zum Auswachsen neuronaler Forts{\"a}tze stimuliert wurden, waren die Agonist-bedingten Konformations{\"a}nderungen von alpha2A-Rezeptoren jedoch weder vom Differenzierungsstatus der Zellen noch von deren subzellul{\"a}rer Lokalisation abh{\"a}ngig. Lediglich in transient transfizierten Zellen waren im Vergleich zu stabil transfizierten Zellen h{\"o}here Agonist-Konzentrationen zur Rezeptoraktivierung erforderlich. Diese Befunde zeigen, dass zus{\"a}tzlich zur Diversit{\"a}t der Rezeptorsubtypen auf Proteinebene der zellul{\"a}re Kontext, in dem ein Rezeptor exprimiert wird, eine ganz wesentliche Rolle f{\"u}r dessen Funktion spielt.},
  subject      = {Fluoreszenz-Resonanz-Energie-Transfer},
  language  = {de}
}