U.S. patent application number 15/921371 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-20 for method of identifying transmembrane protein-interacting compounds.
The applicant listed for this patent is Omeros Corporation. Invention is credited to Susan R. George, Brian F. O'Dowd.
Application Number | 20180267051 15/921371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29255685 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180267051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Dowd; Brian F. ; et
al. |
September 20, 2018 |
Method of Identifying Transmembrane Protein-interacting
Compounds
Abstract
A method for screening compounds for their ability to interact
with transmembrane proteins is provided. Also provided is a method
for determining whether proteins such as transmembrane proteins are
able to oligomerise.
Inventors: |
O'Dowd; Brian F.;
(Scarborough, CA) ; George; Susan R.; (Thornhill,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Omeros Corporation |
Seattle |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
29255685 |
Appl. No.: |
15/921371 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15452502 |
Mar 7, 2017 |
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15921371 |
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14657754 |
Mar 13, 2015 |
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15452502 |
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13626294 |
Sep 25, 2012 |
9005905 |
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14657754 |
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12834351 |
Jul 12, 2010 |
8298777 |
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13626294 |
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11937275 |
Nov 8, 2007 |
7794955 |
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12834351 |
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10509787 |
May 23, 2005 |
7309576 |
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PCT/CA03/00542 |
Apr 11, 2003 |
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11937275 |
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60371704 |
Apr 12, 2002 |
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60379419 |
May 13, 2002 |
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60387570 |
Jun 12, 2002 |
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60422891 |
Nov 1, 2002 |
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60442556 |
Jan 27, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2333/726 20130101;
C07K 2319/09 20130101; G01N 2333/71 20130101; C07K 2319/60
20130101; G01N 33/5008 20130101; G01N 33/5035 20130101; G01N
33/6863 20130101; G01N 33/5044 20130101; C07K 14/705 20130101; G01N
33/6803 20130101; G01N 33/5058 20130101; G01N 33/68 20130101; C07K
14/71 20130101; G01N 2500/00 20130101; C07K 14/70571 20130101; C07K
14/723 20130101; G01N 33/92 20130101; G01N 2333/72 20130101; G01N
2458/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/68 20060101
G01N033/68; G01N 33/50 20060101 G01N033/50; C07K 14/705 20060101
C07K014/705; C07K 14/71 20060101 C07K014/71; C07K 14/72 20060101
C07K014/72; G01N 33/92 20060101 G01N033/92 |
Claims
1. A method for screening a candidate compound for its ability to
interact with at least one transmembrane protein comprising: (a)
contacting a eukaryotic cell with a candidate compound, wherein the
eukaryotic cell comprises at least one nucleotide sequence encoding
a protein comprising a transmembrane protein modified to alter
trafficking of the ligand-bound transmembrane protein to the cell
membrane and a detectable moiety, and the encoded protein is
expressed in the cell; and (b) determining the distribution of the
expressed protein in the eukaryotic cell by detecting the
distribution of the detectable moiety in the cell; wherein
detection of an altered distribution of the detectable moiety in
the cell relative to the distribution of the detectable moiety in a
control cell not contacted with the candidate compound indicates
that the compound interacts with the transmembrane protein.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmembrane protein is
modified to facilitate ligand-independent trafficking of the
transmembrane protein away from the cell membrane.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmembrane protein is
modified to contain an amino acid sequence that facilitates
ligand-independent trafficking of the transmembrane protein away
from the cell membrane.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the eukaryotic cell is selected
from the group consisting of a mammalian cell, a yeast cell, an
insect cell, a nematode cell, a plant cell and a fungal cell.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detectable moiety is a
detectable peptide comprising an antigenic portion of the amino
acid sequence of the transmembrane protein.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the detectable moiety is an
antigenic peptide and the distribution of the antigenic peptide in
the cell is determined by allowing it to bind to an antibody-based
detection system comprising an antibody specific for the antigenic
peptide.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the antibody-based detection
system comprises a first antibody specific for the antigenic
peptide and a second antibody carrying a detectable label and
specific for the first antibody.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the antibody-based detection
system comprises a first antibody specific for the antigenic
peptide comprising a detectable label.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detectable moiety is at least
one of an optically detectable label, a luminescent label, or a
fluorescent label.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the detectable moiety is an
enzyme which can be reacted to give a detectable end point.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the enzyme is
.beta.-galactosidase.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the detectable moiety is a
polypeptide selected from the group consisting of green fluorescent
protein, red fluorescent protein and modified variants thereof.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmembrane protein is
selected from the group consisting of a G protein-coupled receptor
(GPCR), a transporter, a cytokine receptor, a tyrosine kinase
receptor and a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmembrane protein is a
GPCR.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the GPCR is selected from the
group consisting of a dopamine D1 receptor, a dopamine D2 receptor,
a dopamine D3 receptor, a dopamine D5 receptor, a histamine 1
receptor, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1, a cysteinyl
leukotriene receptor 2, an opioid receptor, a muscarinic receptor,
a serotonin receptor, a beta2-adrenergic receptor and a
metabotropic glutamate 4 receptor.
16. The method of claim 3, wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding
the transmembrane protein is modified within a region encoding an
intracellular domain of the protein to contain an amino acid
sequence that facilitates ligand-independent transfer of the
transmembrane protein away from the cell membrane.
17. The method of claim 3, wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding
the transmembrane protein is modified within a region encoding the
proximal carboxyl tail to contain an amino acid sequence that
facilitates ligand-independent transfer of the transmembrane
protein away from the cell membrane.
18. The method of claim 3, wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding
the transmembrane protein is modified within a region encoding
helix 8 to contain an amino acid sequence that facilitates
ligand-independent transfer of the transmembrane protein away from
the cell membrane.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is contacted with a
compound known to interact with the at least one transmembrane
protein prior to contacting the cell with the candidate compound
and wherein detection of an altered distribution of the detectable
moiety in the cell relative to the distribution of the detectable
moiety in a control cell contacted with the compound known to
interact with the transmembrane protein but not contacted with the
candidate compound indicates that the candidate compound interacts
with the transmembrane protein.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/452,502, filed Mar. 7, 2017, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/657,754, filed Mar.
13, 2015, now abandoned, which is a divisional of U.S. application
Ser. No. 13/626,294, filed Sep. 25, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.
9,005,905, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
12/834,351, filed Jul. 12, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,298,777, which
is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/937,275, filed on
Nov. 8, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,794,955, which is a divisional
application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/509,787, filed May 23,
2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,576, which is 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371
National Phase Application of International Application Serial No.
PCT/CA03/00542, filed on Apr. 11, 2003, and published in English as
PCT Publication No. WO 03/087836, which claims benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/371,704, filed Apr. 12, 2002,
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/379,419, Filed May 13,
2002, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/387,570, filed Jun.
12, 2002, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/422,891, filed
Nov. 1, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/442,556,
filed Jan. 27, 2003, the disclosures of each of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] The sequence listing associated with this application is
provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy and is hereby
incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the
text file containing the sequence listing is
NG_1_0095_US7_SequenceListing_20180314_ST25.txt. The text file is
47 KB; was created on Mar. 14, 2018; and is being submitted via
EFS-Web with the filing of the specification.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to methods for screening compounds
for their ability to interact with transmembrane proteins. The
invention further relates to methods for screening transmembrane
proteins for their ability to dimerise or oligomerise into groups
of two or more proteins.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In the description which follows, references are made to
certain literature citations which are listed at the end of the
specification and all of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0005] Transmembrane proteins have been classified in several major
classes, including G protein coupled receptors, transporters,
tyrosine kinase receptors, cytokine receptors and LDL receptors. G
protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be grouped on the basis of
structure and sequence homology into several families. Family 1
(also referred to as family A or the rhodopsin-like family) is by
far the largest subgroup and contains receptors for small molecules
such as the catecholamines, dopamine and noradrenaline, peptides
such as the opioids, somatostatin and vasopressin, glycoprotein
hormones such as thyrotropin stimulating hormone and the entire
class of odorant molecules (George et al, 2002). Family 2 or family
B contains the receptors such as for glucagon, parathyroid hormone
and secretin. These GPCRs are characterised by a long amino
terminus that contains several cysteines, which may form disulphide
bridges. Family 3 or family C contains receptors such as the
metabotropic glutamate, the Ca2+-sensing and the gamma-amino
butyric acid (GABA)B receptors. These receptors are also
characterised by a complex amino terminus. Although all GPCRs share
the seven membrane-spanning helices, the various GPCR families show
no sequence homology to one another.
[0006] GPCRs are the largest known group of cell-surface mediators
of signal transduction and are present in every cell in the body.
GPCR action regulates the entire spectrum of physiological
functions, such as those involving the brain, heart, kidney, lung,
immune and endocrine systems. Extensive efforts during the past
decade has identified a large number of novel GPCRs, including
multiple receptor subtypes for previously known ligands, and
numerous receptors for which the endogenous ligands are as yet
unidentified, termed `orphan` receptors or oGPCRs (Lee et al.,
2001; Lee et al., 2002; Bailey et al., 2001).
[0007] GPCRs have been the successful targets of numerous drugs for
diverse disorders in clinical use today, with an estimated 50% of
the current drug market targeting these molecules. Among the known
GPCRs, .about.335 receptors are potential drug development targets,
of which 195 have known ligands, and the remaining 140 being
oGPCRs, awaiting identification of their ligands. Although various
methodological advances have accelerated the pace of novel receptor
discovery, the pace of ligand and drug discovery lags far behind.
Conventional, small-scale pharmacological screening assay methods
were initially used to discover the ligands and drugs for many of
the GPCRs, but newer assay procedures are continually being
sought.
[0008] Since GPCRs form over 80% of cell surface receptors, they
represent a substantial resource and constitute a highly relevant
group of protein targets for novel drug discovery. Drugs
interacting with GPCRs have the potential to be highly selective,
as the interactions will be confined to the cell surface and to
tissues bearing the receptors exclusively. The convergence of the
discovery of GPCRs with the realisation that they are important
drug targets, has led to intense pharmaceutical interest in
devising better ways to detect and screen for compounds interacting
with GPCRs. Therefore, creating improved assay methods is an urgent
requirement towards the goal of more rapid drug screening and
discovery. There is a need to optimise the ability to detect an
interaction between test compounds and the receptors, which is the
fundamental initial step in the process of drug development.
[0009] Improved ligand-identification strategies to accelerate the
characterisation of all GPCRs will define their physiological
functions and realise their potential in discovering novel drugs.
Even with the identified GPCRs, there is a paucity of highly
selective subtype specific drugs being discovered and
pharmaceutical houses are experiencing a dearth of promising lead
compounds, in spite of the wealth of drug targets defined. The list
of new drug product approvals by the top 20 pharmaceutical
companies has declined considerably over the period 1999-2001,
compared to the preceding three year period (Smith, 2002). Thus
there is a real need to have improved, versatile assay systems,
where not just endogenous ligands, but novel compounds interacting
with receptors can be tested and identified in a quick and
efficient manner that is amenable to automation.
[0010] As the signal transduction pathway required to activate an
oGPCR cannot be predicted, an assay system for interacting
compounds which is independent of prior predictions of which
effector system (such as adenylyl cyclase, PLC, cGMP,
phosphodiesterase activity) is employed by the receptor is
required. Assigning ligands to GPCRs and oGPCRs is an important
task; however the diversity of both GPCR ligands and effector
systems can limit the utility of some existing
ligand-identification assays, requiring novel approaches to drug
discovery.
[0011] Recently, several methods utilising refined assay systems
testing tissue extracts, large ligand libraries and specific
ligands of interest have successfully discovered the endogenous
ligands for a number of these oGPCRs. Such methods have been
collectively referred to as "Reverse Pharmacology" (Howard et al.,
2001). Various methods have been used to assay induced cell
activity in response to an agonist compound, including the
Fluorescence Imaging Plate Reader assay (FLIPR, Molecular Devices
Corp., Sunnyvale, Calif.) and Barak et al., (1997), and U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,891,646 and 6,110,693 which disclose the use of a
.beta.-arrestin-green fluorescent fusion protein for imaging
arrestin translocation to the cell surface upon stimulation of a
GPCR.
[0012] The potential disadvantages of such methods are as follows:
1) visualisation is not of the receptor; 2) the protein
translocation requires complex computerised analytical
technologies; 3) prior identification of agonist is necessary to
screen for antagonists; and 4) specific G protein coupling is
necessary to generate a signal.
[0013] Mechanisms of ligand binding and signal transduction by
GPCRs traditionally have been modelled on the assumption that
monomeric receptors participate in the process, and a monomeric
model for GPCRs has been generally accepted. Since the mid-1990s,
however, numerous reports have demonstrated oligomerisation of many
GPCRs (reviewed by George et al., 2002), and it is now realised
that oligomerisation is an inherent aspect of GPCR structure and
biology. Also certain receptor subtypes formed hetero-oligomers,
and these receptors have functional characteristics that differ
from homogeneous receptor populations. At present, studies of GPCR
oligomerisation do not make a distinction between dimers and larger
complexes, and the term dimer is used interchangeably with the
terms oligomer and multimer. There are no conclusive data to
indicate how large the oligomers of functional GPCRs are.
Importantly, generation of new properties through
hetero-oligomerisation suggested a mechanism for generating
diversity of function among GPCRs. Homooligomerisation of GPCRs is
accepted as a universal occurrence and a number of GPCRs are known
to assemble as heterooligomeric receptor complexes (George et al.,
2002). For example, the GABA-B1 and GABA-B2 receptors are not
functional individually and only form a functional receptor when
co-expressed (White et al., 1998). The assembly of heterooligomer
receptor complexes can result in novel receptor-ligand binding,
signalling or intracellular trafficking properties. For example,
co-transfection of the mu and delta opioid receptors resulted in
the formation of oligomers with functional properties that were
distinct from each of the receptors individually (George et al.,
(2000)). The interaction of mu and delta opioid receptors to form
oligomers generated novel pharmacological and G protein coupling
properties. When mu and delta opioid receptors were co-expressed,
the highly selective agonists (DAMGO, DPDPE, and morphine) had
reduced potency and altered rank order, whereas certain endogenous
ligands endomorphin-1 and Leu-enkephalin had enhanced affinity,
suggesting the formation of a novel ligand binding pocket (George
et al., 2000). In contrast to the individually expressed mu and
delta receptors, the coexpressed receptors showed pertussis toxin
insensitive signal transduction, likely due to interaction with a
different subtype of G protein. It would therefore be very useful,
from the point of view of identification of potential drug targets,
to have a means of determining whether a particular pair of GPCRs
are able to form heterooligomers.
[0014] In many reports, heterooligomers have been tentatively
identified by the ability to co-immunoprecipitate. When two GPCRs
are shown to co-immunoprecipitate, however, there are two possible
interpretations; either the receptors are directly physically
interacting, or both are interacting through contact with a common
third protein (or proteins). An alternative approach to detecting
receptor oligomers has been the development of energy transfer
assays using bioluminescent resonance energy transfer (BRET) or
fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Although these
methods detect energy transfer between two receptor molecules
labelled by fluorophores at proximities of less than 100 angstroms,
it is unclear whether receptor conformational changes can be
reliably distinguished from de novo oligomerisation.
[0015] Transporters are protein pumps that move molecules, ions and
other chemicals in and out of cells and exist in virtually all
cells. The transporters can be grouped into families on the basis
of structure, sequence homology and the molecules they transport.
Separate transporters exist for monoamine neurotransmitters such as
dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and GABA, for amino acids such
as glycine, taurine, proline and glutamate, for vesicular
monoamines, acetylcholine and GABA/glycine, for sugars such as
glucose and disaccharides, for organic cations and organic anions,
for oligopeptides and peptides, for fatty acids, bile acids,
nucleosides, for water and for creatine. Pumps that export large
molecules such as drugs, toxins and antibiotics from the cell are
exemplified by the P-glycoprotein (multidrug resistance protein)
family. There are also several related transporters the function of
which remains unknown (Masson et al., 1999). These transporters are
membrane proteins consisting of a polypeptide generally with 12
transmembrane domains. The glutamate and aspartate transporters
belong to a separate family whose members have 6 to 10 TM domains
and share no homology to the other transporters (Masson et al.,
1999). Both the amino and carboxyl termini are located on the
intracellular side of the membrane.
[0016] A large number of neurological and psychiatric disorders
including depression, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, drug
addiction, Tourette's syndrome, and attention deficit disorders are
considered to involve the monoamine transporters. The dopamine
transporter (DAT) is the major target for psychostimulants such as
cocaine and methylphenidate. The transporters have been the
successful targets of numerous drugs for diverse disorders in
clinical use today, particularly antidepressant drugs, including
fluoxetine, sertraline and the other related serotonin selective
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although methodological molecular
advances have identified the known transporters, the pace of ligand
and drug discovery lags behind. Conventional, pharmacological
screening assay methods were used to discover the ligands and drugs
for some of the transporters, but newer assay procedures are
urgently being sought. Improved ligand-identification strategies to
accelerate the characterisation of all the transporters will
further define their physiological functions and realise their
potential in discovering novel drugs. Even with the identified
transporters, there is a paucity of highly selective specific drugs
being discovered.
[0017] The tyrosine kinase receptor family members are
characterised by their structural similarity, with an extracellular
ligand binding domain, a single transmembrane domain and an
intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity for signal
transduction. There are many subfamilies of receptor tyrosine
kinases, exemplified by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor
(also called HER1 or erbB1), which is one of four members of such a
subfamily, which also includes HER2, HER3 and HER4. The principal
EGF-R ligands are EGF, TGF-.alpha., heparin binding EGF,
amphiregulin, betacellulin and epiregulin (Shawver et al., 2002).
Activation of the EGF-R causes the receptor to dimerise with either
another EGF-R monomer or another member of the HER subfamily.
Marked diversity of ligand binding and signalling is generated by
the formation of heterodimers among family members (Yarden and
Sliwkowski, 2001). The EGF-R is widely expressed in a variety of
tissues and mediates important functions such as cell growth and
tissue repair. Overexpression of EGF-R occurs in many types of
cancer, such as head and neck, lung, laryngeal, esophageal,
gastric, pancreatic, colon, renal, bladder, breast, ovarian,
cervical, prostate, thyroid, melanoma and glioma, and correlates
with a poor outcome (Nicholson et al., 2001). Therefore there is
great interest and need for developing drugs targeting the EGF-R
and for methods which assist in identifying such drugs.
[0018] Other subfamilies of receptor tyrosine kinases are
exemplified by the receptors for vascular endothelial factor (four
members) and fibroblast growth factor (four members). These have
important roles in angiogenesis and also have significant roles in
the uncontrolled proliferation of vessels characterizing
carcinogenesis (Hanahan and Folkman. 1996).
[0019] The cytokine receptors are proteins spanning the membrane
with an extracellular ligand binding domain and an intracellular
domain with intrinsic kinase activity or adapter regions able to
interact with intracellular kinases. The receptors are divided into
subclasses based on their structural complexity. The `simple`
receptors are those including receptors for growth hormone,
erythropoietin and interleukins, and the `complex` receptors
include the tumour necrosis factor receptor family, the 4-helical
cytokine receptor family, the insulin/insulin-like receptor family
and granulocyte colony stimulating receptor (Grotzinger, 2002).
[0020] The insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor
family controls metabolism, reproduction and growth (Nakae et al.,
2001). There are nine different insulin-like peptides known and
there are three known receptors that interact with them, IR, IGF-1R
and IGF-2R, and an orphan member IR-related receptor. Each receptor
exists as homodimers on the cell surface or heterodimers. The IR
subfamily is also related to the EGF-R family.
[0021] IR, produced from a single mRNA, undergoes cleavage and
dimerisation and translocation to the plasma membrane. Each monomer
component contains a single transmembrane domain; the complete
receptor comprised two .alpha. and two .beta. subunits, linked by
disulphide bridges. The .beta. subunit contains the single TM and
the intracellular region. This receptor is a tyrosine kinase that
catalyzes the phosphorylation of several intracellular
substrates.
[0022] The low density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor family act as
cargo transporters, regulating the levels of lipoproteins and
proteases (Strickland et al., 2002). There are nine recognised
members of the family, all of which share structural similarity,
including an extracellular region, a single transmembrane domain
region and a cytoplasmic tail. The LDL receptor plays a major role
in the clearance of lipoproteins, and genetic defects in the LDL
receptor can result in the accumulation of LDL in the
bloodstream.
[0023] The first characterised motif shown to be able to direct
protein nuclear importation was exemplified by the amino acid
sequence (PKKKRKV: SEQ ID NO: 129) contained in the SV40 large T
antigen protein. The nuclear localisation sequence (NLS) motifs are
recognised by the importin .alpha.-.beta. receptor complex, which
binds the NLS (Gorlich et al., 1996). These are cytosolic proteins,
which recognise NLS containing proteins and transport these
proteins to dock at the nuclear pore. The entire complex
subsequently docks at the nuclear pore complex (Weis et al., 1998,
Schlenstedt et al., 1996), contained at the nuclear envelope. The
nuclear envelope is a boundary containing pores that mediate the
nuclear transport process (Weis et al., 1998).
[0024] There have been very few and rare reports of GPCRs
localising in the nucleus. One such example is the GPCR angiotensin
type 1 (AT.sub.1) receptor, which contains an endogenous NLS which
serves to direct the GPCR into the nucleus (Lu et al., 1998),
providing evidence that this NLS sequence was involved in the
nuclear targeting of the AT1 receptor. These authors and Chen et
al., (2000) reported that AT1 receptors increased in the nucleus in
response to agonist. The nuclear localisation of the parathyroid
hormone receptor has been reported (Watson et al, 2000). However
very few of the superfamily of GPCRs contain an endogenous NLS
mediating translocation of the receptor to the nucleus.
[0025] There therefore remains a need for new, more convenient
methods for identifying compounds which interact with transmembrane
proteins such as GPCRs, transporters, etc. There also remains a
need for improved, less ambiguous methods for detecting
oligomerisation of transmembrane proteins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The inventors have shown that the incorporation of a nuclear
localisation sequence (NLS) into a transmembrane protein (not
containing an endogenous functional NLS) routes the protein from
the cell surface into the nucleus of a cell in a time-dependent and
ligand-independent manner. In order to visualise this trafficking
of transmembrane proteins from the cell surface, they carry a
detectable moiety for visualisation by a variety of means. It has
been demonstrated that membrane proteins from diverse protein
families containing a synthetically incorporated NLS are
redistributed under basal conditions from the cell surface to and
towards the nucleus.
[0027] This process can be exploited to identify compounds which
interact with transmembrane proteins by determining whether
candidate compounds are able to modulate this ligand-independent
transfer of a transmembrane protein away from the cell
membrane.
[0028] It is also now possible, using methods based on this
process, to determine whether protein molecules are able to
oligomerise.
[0029] In accordance with one embodiment, the invention provides a
method for screening a candidate compound for its ability to
interact with at least one transmembrane protein comprising:
[0030] transfecting a cell with at least one nucleotide sequence
encoding a protein comprising a transmembrane protein containing at
least one nuclear localisation sequence (NLS) and a detectable
moiety and permitting expression of the encoded protein in the
cell;
[0031] contacting the cell with a candidate compound; and
[0032] determining the distribution of the expressed protein in the
cell by detecting the distribution of the detectable moiety in the
cell;
[0033] wherein detection of an altered distribution of the
detectable moiety in the cell relative to the distribution of the
detectable moiety in a control cell not contacted with the
candidate compound indicates that the compound interacts with the
transmembrane protein.
[0034] In accordance with a further embodiment of this method, the
cell is contacted with a compound known to interact with the at
least one transmembrane protein prior to contacting the cell with
the candidate compound and
[0035] wherein detection of an altered distribution of the
detectable moiety in the cell relative to the distribution of the
detectable moiety in a control cell contacted with the compound
known to interact with the transmembrane protein but not contacted
with the candidate compound indicates that the candidate compound
interacts with the transmembrane protein.
[0036] In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention
provides a method for screening a candidate compound for its
ability to interact with at least one transmembrane protein
comprising:
[0037] transfecting a cell with at least one nucleotide sequence
encoding an NLS-containing transmembrane protein and permitting
expression of the encoded protein in the cell;
[0038] contacting the cell with a candidate compound; and
[0039] determining the level of NLS-containing transmembrane
protein remaining at the cell membrane by isolating the cell
membrane fraction of the cell, contacting the fraction with a
labelled ligand of the transmembrane protein and determining the
level of binding of the ligand to the fraction;
[0040] wherein detection of an altered level of the transmembrane
protein at the cell membrane relative to the level at the cell
membrane in a control cell not contacted with the candidate
compound indicates that the compound interacts with the
transmembrane protein.
[0041] In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention
provides an isolated cell transfected with at least one nucleotide
sequence encoding a protein comprising a transmembrane protein
containing at least one NLS and a detectable moiety.
[0042] In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention
provides a method for determining whether a first protein and a
second protein are able to oligomerise comprising:
[0043] transfecting a cell with a first nucleotide sequence
encoding a first protein containing an NLS and a second nucleotide
sequence encoding a second protein comprising a detectable moiety
and permitting expression of the encoded first and second proteins
in the cell; and
[0044] determining the distribution of the detectable moiety in the
cell;
[0045] wherein detection of the detectable moiety in or adjacent to
the nucleus of the cell or detection of a reduced level of the
detectable moiety at the cell surface, relative to a control cell,
indicates that the first and second proteins interact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] Certain embodiments of the invention are described,
reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0047] FIG. 1 shows in diagrammatic form the structure of a typical
GPCR, the dopamine D1 receptor, modified to contain an NLS (SEQ ID
NO: 159).
[0048] FIG. 2 shows fluorescence (Relative fluorescence units) at
surface of HEK cells transfected with dopamine D1 receptor-NLS and
treated with various concentrations of butaclamol.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows cell surface fluorescence of HEK cells
transfected with HA-dopamine D1 receptor-NLS and treated with
various concentrations of SCH23390 alone or with SKF81297 (100
nM).
[0050] FIG. 4 shows cell surface fluorescence of HEK cells
transfected with HA-dopamine D1 receptor-NLS and treated with 0.5
.mu.M SCH23390 alone or together with various concentrations of
SKF81297.
[0051] FIG. 5 shows the amount of .sup.3H-SCH 23390 bound to the
cell membrane fraction of HEK cells transfected with dopamine D1
receptor-NLS and treated with butaclamol (.tangle-solidup.) or
control untreated cells (.box-solid.).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0052] The invention provides, in one embodiment, a new and
convenient method for screening candidate compounds for their
ability to interact with a transmembrane protein.
[0053] As used herein, when a candidate compound and a
transmembrane protein "interact", this means that the compound is a
ligand of the transmembrane protein and binds to the protein or is
able to modulate the trafficking of the transmembrane protein away
from the cell membrane described herein.
[0054] Identification of compounds which interact with a
transmembrane protein is the first important step in the process of
identifying lead compounds for drug development.
[0055] Working initially with GPCRs, the inventors have found that
when a nucleated eukaryotic cell is transfected with a nucleotide
sequence which encodes a GPCR containing a synthetically
incorporated NLS, or a naturally occurring NLS, and the cell is
permitted to express the nucleotide sequence, the expressed GPCR
travels first to the cell membrane and then is transferred to the
cell nucleus. This process is independent of ligand activation and
takes from about 6 to about 72 hours, depending on the
transmembrane protein involved, with an average of 24 to 48 hours.
This is in contrast to the situation when a GPCR not containing an
NLS is expressed in a cell, when the expressed GPCR remains
predominantly at the cell surface, with small amounts occurring in
the cytoplasm but no detectable amounts in the nucleus.
[0056] The inventors have also found that the transfer or
trafficking of the expressed NLS-containing GPCR from the cell
membrane to or towards the nucleus can be modulated by treating the
transfected cell with a compound which interacts with the GPCR.
Screening of candidate compounds for their ability to interact with
a GPCR can therefore be carried out by detecting this modulation of
transfer of the expressed GPCR from the cell membrane to the
nucleus.
[0057] The inventors have further found that these observations are
widely applicable to transmembrane proteins generally, and are not
limited to GPCRs.
[0058] "Transmembrane protein" as used herein means a single chain
protein found in the cell membrane and having at least one domain
that spans the cell membrane.
[0059] The inventors have shown that a wide variety of
transmembrane proteins from several families of the GPCR group,
from the transporter group, from the cytokine receptor group, from
the tyrosine kinase group and from the low density lipoprotein
receptor group, if expressed in a nucleated cell so that they
contain an NLS group, all show initial accumulation of the
expressed protein at the cell membrane, followed by ligand
activation-independent transfer of the expressed protein away from
the cell membrane and into the cell nucleus.
[0060] The wide applicability of the methods of the invention is
indicated by the immense variety of transmembrane protein
structures represented by the exemplified transmembrane proteins
used in the method; NLS insertion into a transmembrane protein
resulting in translocation of the protein off the cell surface and
to the nucleus has been shown to be effective with membrane
proteins having one transmembrane (TM) domain, seven TM domains and
twelve TM domains and sharing little or no sequence homology.
[0061] It has been found that the method of the invention is widely
applicable to identifying compounds which interact with
transmembrane proteins.
[0062] Compounds which interact with transmembrane proteins have
been found to modulate their transfer from cell membrane to nucleus
in different ways, including inhibition of the transfer,
acceleration of the transfer and interference with the modulation
produced by other compounds. Any interacting compound is of
interest as a potential drug candidate.
[0063] Modulation of the transfer of expressed transmembrane
protein is determined by comparing the distribution of the
transmembrane protein within the cell in control cells and cells
treated with a candidate compound.
[0064] In one embodiment, the method provides a convenient tool for
screening candidate compounds for their ability to interact with a
GPCR and modulate its trafficking. Compounds that specifically
interact with the GPCR may inhibit or prevent transfer of the GPCR
from the cell surface to the nucleus and may be antagonists to the
GPCR, whereas other compounds can accelerate the transfer of GPCR
to the nucleus, relative to a control cell and may be agonists to
the GPCR.
[0065] To allow determination of the distribution of the expressed
transmembrane protein within the cell, with and without exposure to
a test compound, the expressed transmembrane protein must carry a
detectable moiety, which can be detected in the cell. The
detectable moiety may be any moiety which will remain associated
with transmembrane protein throughout its expression and
trafficking within the cell and can be directly or indirectly
detected to determine its distribution within the cell and to
determine an altered distribution resulting from exposure to a
candidate compound.
[0066] In a first embodiment, the cell is transfected with a
nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising a
transmembrane protein containing at least one NLS linked to a
detectable moiety comprising a detectable peptide or polypeptide.
As used herein, a peptide means a sequence of two to 20 amino acid
residues, preferably a sequence of about 5 to about 15 amino acid
residues, and a polypeptide means a sequence of more than 20 amino
acid residues, including full proteins of any length. The
detectable peptide or polypeptide may be directly detectable or may
be reactable to give a detectable signal. The detectable peptide
may be, for example, an antigenic peptide or epitope which is
expressed, for example, at the amino terminus of the transmembrane
protein. The distribution of the transmembrane protein within the
cell is detected by detection of the epitope using a detectable
antibody specific for the epitope. A number of suitable epitope
antibody systems are available commercially. Examples are the HA
(Roche Diagnostics), FLAG (Sigma Chemical Co.), c-myc (Santa Cruz),
Histidine hexamer (BD Biosciences Clontech), GST (ABR Affinity
BioReagents), V5 (Abcam) and Xpress (Invitrogen) epitope/antibody
systems.
[0067] Nucleotide sequences encoding these epitopes can be
purchased, as well as antibodies specific for the epitopes. These
antibodies may carry a detectable label (e.g. fluorescein
isothiocyanate (FITC)) or may themselves be detected by use of a
second antibody carrying a detectable label, as will be understood
by those of skill in the art. This embodiment of the invention is
particularly adaptable to an automated or semi-automated method,
for example by examining antibody-treated plates of cells in an
automated plate reader, allowing for high through put
screening.
[0068] The detectable polypeptide may be an optically detectable
polypeptide such as green fluorescent protein (GFP), red
fluorescent protein (RFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and or
cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), or any of the modified variants of
these proteins, which are commercially available. The detectable
polypeptide may also be an enzyme such as luciferase or
.beta.-galactosidase, which can be reacted to give a detectable end
point such as light emission or colour change. Nucleotide sequences
encoding such polypeptides are readily available, for example from
Clontech, and are linked to the nucleotide sequence encoding the
NLS-containing transmembrane protein, preferably at the C-terminal
end of that protein.
[0069] In a further embodiment, the detectable moiety is an
antigenic peptide comprising a portion of the amino acid sequence
of the transmembrane protein itself, preferably a portion of an
extracellular region of the protein. As described above, the
distribution of the transmembrane protein within the cell is
determined using a detectable antibody specific for the epitope.
Suitable antibodies are available commercially, e.g. anti-D1
antibody directed to amino terminal amino acids 9-21 of the human
D1 dopamine receptor, or may be prepared by conventional
methods.
[0070] In a further embodiment, applicable to transmembrane
proteins with known ligands, the cell is transfected with a
nucleotide sequence encoding a transmembrane protein containing at
least one NLS. The cells are contacted with a candidate compound
and incubated as described above. The cells are then harvested and
the cell membrane fraction is isolated and contacted with a
detectably labelled ligand of the transmembrane protein, for
example a radio-labelled ligand. Determination of the amount of
labelled ligand bound to the membrane fraction of treated cells,
relative to the amount bound to the membrane fraction of control
cells not contacted with the candidate compound, can be used to
quantitate the transmembrane protein remaining at the cell surface
and indicate interaction of the candidate compound with the
transmembrane protein.
[0071] Transmembrane protein-encoding nucleotide sequences can be
obtained from public databases such as Genbank or from commercial
databases. Suitable constructs may be synthesised by conventional
methods, as described in the examples herein, or obtained
commercially.
[0072] "An NLS-containing transmembrane protein" includes a
transmembrane protein which contains an NLS in its wild type
sequence and a transmembrane protein whose amino acid sequence has
been modified to contain an NLS.
[0073] Conventional NLSs are short peptide sequences that
facilitate nuclear localisation of the proteins containing them
(see for example, Table 1 which lists NLSs and Jans et al., 2000).
There are three major classes of NLSs; two of these classes consist
of basic amino acid residues, the monopartite NLSs, exemplified by
the SV40 large tumor antigen, PKKKRKV (SEQ ID NO: 129), consisting
of a single stretch of basic amino acids, and the bipartite NLSs
which contain two stretches of basic amino acids separated by 10 to
22 (sometimes up to hundreds) amino acids. Other types of NLSs are
exemplified by those of the yeast protein Mata2 NLS where
charged/polar residues are contained within the stretch of
non-polar residues, or the protooncogene c-myc NLS, where proline
and aspartic acid residues flanking the basic residues are required
(PAAKRVKLD: SEQ ID NO: 135) for nuclear targeting. All classes of
NLS are recognized specifically by the
.alpha.-.beta.-importins.
[0074] Any NLS may be employed in the methods of the invention.
Nucleotide sequences encoding a selected NLS may be derived from
the amino acid sequence of the NLS and are synthesised and
incorporated into the nucleotide sequence encoding the
transmembrane protein by conventional methods, as described herein.
Many different locations within any of the intracellular loops or
intracellular termini of the transmembrane protein are suitable for
insertion of the NLS. Insertion of the NLS within an intracellular
domain of the protein is preferred. For example, in a GPCR, the NLS
could be placed in any of the intracellular loops or intracellular
carboxyl tail. In a 12 TM transporter, the NLS could be placed in
the intracellular amino or carboxyl termini or any of the
intracellular loops.
[0075] When an NLS is inserted into a transmembrane protein for use
in the methods of the invention, the efficacy of the insertion can
be screened by confirming that the NLS-containing transmembrane
protein is substantially translocated from the cell membrane to the
cell nucleus within 24 to 48 hours and that ligands of the
transmembrane protein interfere with the translocation.
[0076] Nucleotide sequences encoding NLS-containing transmembrane
proteins are linked to sequences encoding detectable peptides or
polypeptides by conventional methods.
[0077] A nucleotide sequence encoding a selected NLS-containing
transmembrane protein containing or linked to a detectable moiety,
is transfected into a nucleated cell by cloning the sequence into a
vector system containing a suitable promoter, using conventional
techniques as described in the scientific literature, for example
in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (1987). Suitable vectors
include the pEGF-N1 (Clontech) which contains the human
cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, and the vector pcDNA.
[0078] Any cell may be used which is capable of expressing the
transfected nucleotide sequences and in which an NLS facilitates
transfer of a transmembrane protein away from the cell membrane.
Suitable cells include prokaryotic cells, including bacterial
cells, and eukaryotic cells. Suitable eukaryotic cells include
isolated mammalian cells, yeast cells, plant cells, insect cells,
nematode cells and fungal cells. Suitable mammalian cells include
human cell lines, rodent cell lines, hamster cell lines, non-human
primate cell lines.
[0079] In one embodiment, the cell is transfected with a number of
nucleotide sequences, each encoding a different NLS-containing
transmembrane protein and a different detectable moiety.
Interference with trafficking of the transmembrane protein away
from the cell membrane by a test compound can be related to
interaction of the compound with a particular transmembrane protein
by the identity of the detectable moiety whose movement from the
cell surface is interrupted.
[0080] In a further embodiment, for higher throughput initial
screening, the cell is transfected with a greater number of
nucleotide sequences, each encoding a different NLS-containing
transmembrane protein and a detectable moiety, some of the
detectable moieties being common to more than one transmembrane
protein. If initial screening indicates that a candidate compound
is interacting with one or more of the transmembrane proteins, the
compound is rescreened using a cell expressing fewer transmembrane
proteins, or only one, until the specific interacting transmembrane
protein is identified.
[0081] In cells transfected with more than one transmembrane
protein, there may be oligomerisation between pairs of proteins as
discussed herein, and this may affect the interpretation of the
effect of a candidate compound. Subsequent rescreening of the
compound using cells transfected with only one transmembrane
protein allows clarification of the interaction of the compound
with a particular protein.
[0082] Alternatively, for multiply transfected cells, transmembrane
proteins may be selected which have been shown not to oligomerise
with each other.
Identification of Interacting Compounds
[0083] In one embodiment of the invention, nucleated cells are
transfected with a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein
comprising a transmembrane protein containing an NLS and a
detectable moiety and incubated for a suitable period of time to
allow expression of the NLS-transmembrane protein and commencement
of its accumulation at the cell membrane. For GPCRs and
transporters, for example, a time period of about 6 to 24 hours is
suitable. One of skill in the art can readily determine a suitable
incubation time for other transmembrane proteins by observation of
the accumulation of the protein at the cell membrane. All of the
expressed transmembrane protein need not have reached the cell
membrane when the candidate compound is added. Test cells are then
contacted with a candidate compound which is to be tested for
interaction with the transmembrane protein for a period of time
which is sufficient to allow translocation of a substantial portion
of the NLS-transmembrane protein, preferably at least 20%, more
preferably at least 50%, and still more preferably at least 90%,
away from the cell membrane and into or towards the nucleus in a
control cell not treated with compound.
[0084] Depending on the transmembrane protein, this period of time
may be from about 6 hours to about 72 hours; a time period of about
24 to about 48 hours is suitable for most transmembrane proteins
examined. One of skill in the art can readily determine a suitable
time by observation of control cells.
[0085] Test compounds are initially tested generally at a
concentration of about 1 to 10 micromolar.
[0086] Test and control cells are then examined to determine the
distribution of the detectable moiety and thereby the distribution
of the NLS-transmembrane protein. The distribution of the
detectable moiety may be determined by various methods. For
example, when the detectable moiety is an optically detectable
protein, the cells may be examined by direct microscopy and the
amount of protein in the nucleus compared between test and control
cells. In another embodiment, the amounts of detectable protein or
peptide remaining in the membrane of control and test cells are
compared. In several microscopic fields (5-10), each containing
30-100 cells, the location of the detectable moiety in these cells
is determined and counted for each location. The percentage of
cells having cell surface, or nuclear labelling and the sum of all
the fields is then calculated for the treated and control
cells.
[0087] In a further example, when the detectable moiety is an
antigenic epitope, the cells are contacted with a detectable
antibody system containing an antibody specific for the epitope, as
described above. For example, a first antibody specific for the
epitope may be used, followed by a fluorescently labelled second
antibody specific for the first antibody, the fluorescent signal
being quantified by fluorometer.
[0088] Where control cells show a substantial portion, preferably
at least 50%, of the transmembrane protein translocated away from
the cell membrane and test cells show retention of the
transmembrane protein at the cell membrane, relative to control
cells, this indicates interaction of the test compound with the
transmembrane protein. In a preferred embodiment, interaction is
indicated when the level of protein at the cell membrane is higher
in the test cells by at least 10%, preferably by at least 15%, and
more preferably by at least 20%.
[0089] The proportion of the detectable moiety remaining at the
cell membrane on exposure to the interacting compound is related to
the concentration and potency of the compound. For example, the use
of a known potent GPCR antagonist in micromolar concentration
typically resulted in about 50 to 100% of the protein remaining at
the cell surface, 0 to 15% in the nucleus and the remainder in the
cytoplasm. Lower nanomolar concentrations of the same antagonist
resulted in retention of 20 to 40% of the protein at the cell
surface, with the rest of the protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus.
In the untreated control cells, 0-15% of the protein was detectable
at the cell surface, with the remainder in the cytoplasm and
nucleus.
[0090] In a variant of this method, used where the transmembrane
protein has known ligands, an expressed NLS-containing
transmembrane protein without a detectable moiety is used and
distribution of the protein in the cell after treatment with a test
compound is determined by isolation of the cell membrane fraction
and determination of its transmembrane protein component using
detectably labelled ligand, as discussed above.
[0091] In a further embodiment of the invention, a similar method
is used to identify compounds which interact with an
NLS-transmembrane protein to promote its translocation away from
the cell surface and into or towards the nucleus. Cells are
transfected and incubated to permit expression of the
NLS-transmembrane protein and its accumulation at the cell surface.
Preferably, the cells are incubated until at least about 70 to 90%
of the expressed transmembrane protein has accumulated at the cell
surface. For many transmembrane proteins, a time period of about 12
to about 24 hours from transfection is suitable.
[0092] Test cells are then contacted with a candidate compound, and
individual test and control cells are immediately observed in real
time for up to 4 hours to observe the distribution of the
detectable moiety. An increased accumulation of detectable moiety
in the nucleus of test cells compared with control cells indicates
that the test compound has promoted translocation of the
transmembrane protein. In a preferred embodiment, interaction is
indicated when test cells show nuclear accumulation increased by at
least 5%, preferably by at least 10%, and more preferably by at
least 20%.
[0093] A further embodiment of the invention is a method for
identifying compounds which, although they do not themselves
prevent translocation of an NLS-containing transmembrane protein
away from the cell membrane, nevertheless can interfere with the
interaction of the transmembrane protein with an interacting
compound.
[0094] Compounds which have proved negative in the first screening
method described above may be tested by this further method for
their ability to compete with a known interacting compound.
[0095] In this method, cells are transfected as described above and
incubated for a suitable period of time to allow expression and
accumulation of the transmembrane protein at the cell surface, for
example for about 24 to about 48 hours.
[0096] Test cells and control cells are then contacted with a
compound known to interact with the transmembrane protein, either a
known ligand or an interacting compound identified by the method
described above, for about 24 to about 48 hours. Test cells are
then contacted with a candidate compound and test cells and control
cells are observed after 1 hour, at one or more time points, up to
24 hours, to determine distribution of the NLS-transmembrane
protein within the cells as described above. In control cells, the
known interacting compound causes the transmembrane protein to be
retained at the cell membrane. If the candidate compound competes
with the interacting compound, test cells show a reduction of
transmembrane protein at the cell surface and increased
translocation of the protein away from the cell surface. In a
preferred embodiment, interaction is indicated when test cells show
a reduction of at least 10%, preferably 15%, and more preferably
20%.
[0097] In a further embodiment, a cell which endogenously expresses
an NLS-containing transmembrane protein may be employed, in
conjunction with a first compound which has been demonstrated to
interact with the protein and inhibit its transfer from the cell
membrane, thus retaining the protein at the cell membrane. When
such a system is contacted with a candidate compound, if that
compound interacts with the transmembrane protein and competes with
the first compound, an increased transfer of the protein away from
the cell membrane is observed.
Identifying Transmembrane Protein Interactions with Other
Proteins
[0098] A number of transmembrane proteins, including GPCRs,
transporters, tyrosine kinase receptors, the cytokine receptors for
insulin, insulin-like growth factors, the epidermal growth factor
and vascular endothelial growth factor, are capable of both homo-
and heterooligomerisation (see, for example, review of GPCRs in
George et al., 2002). As used herein, "oligomerisation" of a
protein means association of two or more molecules of the
protein.
[0099] For hypothetical receptors A and B, the cell surface may
contain dimers AA, BB and AB and it is believed that these may
represent three different functional complexes and therefore three
different drug targets. It is therefore important to identify which
transmembrane proteins can interact with each other or with other
proteins by oligomerisation.
[0100] In further embodiments, the invention provides methods for
determining whether two transmembrane proteins are capable of
oligomerisation or whether a transmembrane protein and a
non-transmembrane protein are capable of oligomerisation.
[0101] In one embodiment, a nucleated cell is co-transfected with a
first nucleotide sequence encoding a first transmembrane protein
containing an NLS and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a
second transmembrane protein lacking an NLS but carrying or linked
to a detectable moiety. Creation of these nucleotide sequences is
as described above. After a suitable time interval to allow for
expression of the encoded proteins, accumulation at the cell
membrane and subsequent translocation of the NLS-containing protein
away from the cell membrane to or towards the nucleus, the
distribution of the detectable moiety in the cell is determined,
for example by determining an increase of detectable moiety in the
nucleus or by a decrease of detectable moiety at the cell
surface.
[0102] It has been found that when cells are doubly transfected,
and the first and second transmembrane protein are the same, except
that one transmembrane protein contains an inserted NLS and the
other does not, there is a slowing of the transfer of the
NLS-containing transmembrane protein to the cell nucleus compared
with transfer in a cell transfected only with the NLS-containing
protein. The process of protein translocation to the nucleus now
may take about 24 to 48 hours. In this method, therefore, the cells
are incubated for about 24 to 48 hours before examination of the
distribution of protein in the cell.
[0103] Translocation of the detectable moiety from the cell surface
to or towards the nucleus indicates that the first transmembrane
protein has carried the second transmembrane protein away from the
cell surface, indicating oligomerisation of the first and second
proteins. Retention of the detectable moiety at the cell surface
indicates a lack of interaction between the proteins.
[0104] When the first and second transmembrane proteins are the
same protein, the method allows the identification of the ability
of the protein to homodimerise. When the first and second
transmembrane proteins are different, the method allows the
identification of the ability of two different proteins to
heterodimerise and permits the determination of the specificity of
interaction between two transmembrane proteins.
[0105] The method may be carried out either in the absence of
ligand activation or in the presence of a ligand of either
protein.
[0106] Using this method, oligomerisation has been demonstrated
both within and between different classes of GPCRs and within and
between other classes of transmembrane proteins.
[0107] In addition, interactions have been detected between GPCRs
and non-GPCR transmembrane proteins, for example between the D5
dopamine receptor and the GABA-A receptor, and between
transmembrane proteins and non-transmembrane proteins.
[0108] The invention therefore generally provides a method for
detecting oligomerisation between two proteins by the method
described above, where a cell is co-transfected with one of the
proteins containing an NLS and the other protein carrying a
detectable signal.
[0109] Co-transfection of a cell with a first transmembrane protein
containing an NLS and a second detectably labelled protein, such as
a transmembrane protein from a different group, which has been
shown by the method of the invention to oligomerise with the first
protein, provides a cell which can be used to screen candidate
compounds for interaction with either the first or second protein.
A compound which interacts with either protein will influence
oligomerisation or translocation of the oligomerised proteins away
from the cell membrane. Compounds which interact with one member of
the protein pair or with the oligomer to cause retention of the
detectable protein at the cell surface or to cause accelerated
translocation of the detectable protein away from the cell surface
may be identified by this method.
[0110] In a further embodiment, a cell which endogenously expresses
an NLS-containing transmembrane protein is transfected with a
nucleotide sequence encoding a second transmembrane protein
carrying a detectable moiety but lacking an NLS. Oligomerisation of
the two proteins is indicated by trafficking of the detectable
moiety away from the cell membrane and into or towards the
nucleus.
[0111] In a further embodiment, a membrane protein containing an
NLS may be used to identify novel interacting proteins. In this
method, an NLS-containing transmembrane protein is expressed in a
cell and is allowed to translocate to the nucleus. The nuclei are
then harvested and assayed for newly appeared protein bands by
Coomassie staining or silver staining and then identification by
mass spectroscopy. The control will be nuclei from cells expressing
the membrane protein without a NLS.
Use of FRET for Detection of Nuclear Translocation.
[0112] In a further aspect of the invention, involving fluorescence
resonance energy transfer (FRET) (Hailey et al., 2002), a nucleated
cell is co-transfected with a first nucleotide sequence encoding a
first NLS-containing transmembrane protein linked to a first
optically detectable protein and a second nucleotide sequence
encoding a second non-NLS-containing transmembrane protein linked
to a second optically detectable protein, whose fluorescence can be
activated by the emission of the first optically detectable protein
when these are in close proximity. For example, the first protein
may be linked to GFP and the second any other optically detectable
moiety that can be activated by the laser activated emission
spectrum of GFP. This second optically detectable moiety, after
activation by the GFP, emits at a different wavelength. Where
oligomers are formed between the two transmembrane proteins, the
two labels are in close proximity to each other and their FRET
interaction can be detected. The physical interaction is detected
by selective fluorescence activation of the donor and detection of
emission by the acceptor, using the FRET method or its variants
such as photobleaching FRET, FRAP or FLIM. Lack of a FRET
interaction indicates lack of oligomerisation.
[0113] Confocal microscopy with FRET between two fluorescent
molecules may be performed (e.g. the spectral pairs GFP and DsRed2,
or CFP and YFP) to obtain a quantifiable signal indicating
translocation to the nucleus. FRET requires an overlap between the
emission and excitation spectra of donor and acceptor molecules and
a proximity of under 100 angstroms (10-100), making FRET a highly
suitable system to assay for specific close protein-protein
interactions in cells. The fluorescent proteins listed above are
excellent spectral partners. A resident fluorophore in the nucleus
would enable FRET to occur when a transmembrane protein tagged with
second fluorophore is translocated to the nucleus. This will
facilitate an easy readout, using a FRET plate reader. This method
is useful for detecting interactions between two transmembrane
proteins or between a transmembrane protein and another protein and
provides a signal readout more amenable to automation.
[0114] This method can also be used in GPCR agonist and antagonist
screening procedures. In the antagonist screening method, a
reduction of a FRET signal between a GPCR-NLS-GFP trafficked to the
nucleus with a fluorophore in the nucleus of treated cells compared
to non treated cells would indicate an antagonist effect. In the
agonist screening method, the increase in the FRET signal between a
GPCR-NLS-GFP trafficked to the nucleus with a fluorophore in the
nucleus of treated cells compared to non treated cells would
indicate an agonist effect. In a further embodiment, the doubly
transfected cells may be treated with an agonist before examination
for evidence of oligomerisation, since this may be enhanced in the
presence of agonist. In the measurement of receptor:receptor
interactions, a GPCR-NLS-GFP is co-expressed with a second
GPCR-DsRED. If these receptors interact with each other and traffic
together to the nucleus a nuclear FRET signal will be detected. If
the receptors do not interact then no FRET signal will be obtained
in the nucleus. FRET may also be measured between two
fluorophore-conjugated antibodies recognising incorporated of
native epitopes on the GPCRs.
EXAMPLES
[0115] The examples are described for the purposes of illustration
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0116] Methods of chemistry, molecular biology, protein and peptide
biochemistry and immunology referred to but not explicitly
described in this disclosure and examples are reported in the
scientific literature and are well known to those skilled in the
art.
[0117] Materials and Methods
[0118] Green fluorescent protein: a DNA sequence encoding the
Aequoria victoria green fluorescent protein (Prasher et al., 1992)
was obtained from Clontech, U.S.A.
[0119] Red fluorescent protein: a DNA sequence encoding the red
fluorescent proteins (Matz et al., 1999) pDsRed2 and pDsRed2-nuc
were obtained from Clontech, U.S.A. This construct encodes a
protein derived from Discosoma sp.
[0120] COS cells and HEK cells were obtained from American Type
Culture Collection, Washington, D.C. The cell culture media were
prepared by laboratory services at the University of Toronto.
[0121] Antagonist and agonist compounds were obtained from various
commercial sources such as Sigma Chemical Company U.S.A.
[0122] Antibodies used for immunodetection of epitope tags were
obtained from the following sources: Anti-HA monoclonal antibody
was obtained from Roche Diagnostics, U.S.A. Anti-FLAG monoclonal
antibody was obtained from Sigma Chemical Company, U.S.A.
Anti-c-myc monoclonal antibody was obtained from Santa Cruz,
U.S.A.
[0123] Radioligand .sup.3H-SCH 23390 used in the receptor binding
assay was obtained from NEN Perkin Elmer, U.S.A.
[0124] Creation of DNA Constructs
[0125] Nucleotide sequences encoding GPCR's or transporters were
obtained from the Genbank web site, established by the National
Library of Science. A nucleotide sequence encoding a selected
transmembrane protein was attached to a nucleotide sequence
encoding a selected detectable signal protein. The constructs were
cloned into the vector system, pEGFP (Clontech) or the pDsRed2-N1
vector or the vector pcDNA3.
[0126] 1a. Construction of the Human D1 Dopamine Receptor with a
NLS in the Proximal Carboxyl Tail (Helix 8) and Fused to GFP
(D1-GFP and D1-NLS-GFP).
[0127] Using the PCR method with the following experimental
conditions, DNA encoding the human D1 dopamine receptor in the
vector pcDNA3, was subjected to PCR. The reaction mixture contained
water (32 microlitres), 10.times.Pfu buffer (Stratagene) (5
microlitres), dNTP (2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate, 10 mM) (5
microlitres), DMSO (5 microlitres), oligonucleotide primers (100
ng) (1 microlitre each), DNA template (100 ng), Pfu enzyme (5
units). Total volume was 50 microlitres. The following PCR
conditions were used, one cycle at 94.degree. C. for 2 mins, 30-35
cycles at 94.degree. C. for 30 secs, 55.degree. C. for 30 secs,
72.degree. C. for 1 min, per cycle, and then one cycle at
72.degree. C. for 5 mins.
[0128] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
D1-dopamine receptor:
TABLE-US-00001 HD1-P1: (SEQ ID NO: 1) 5'
GAGGACTCTGAACACCGAATTCGCCGCCATGGACGG GACTGGGCTGGTG 3' HD1-P2: (SEQ
ID NO: 2) 5' GTGTGGCAGGATTCATCTGGGTACCGCGGTTGGGTG CTGACCGTT 3'
[0129] The restriction site EcoR1 was incorporated in the primer
HD1-P1, and restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into the primer
HD1-P2. The PCR product, which contained no stop codon was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (from Clontech) at
EcoR1 and Kpn1 and inframe with the start codon of the GFP
protein.
[0130] The NLS sequence, KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) from the human AT1
receptor was inserted into DNA encoding the base of TM7 (helix 8)
of the D1 dopamine receptor by PCR, replacing the natural sequence
coding for DFRKA (SEQ ID NO:175).
[0131] The primer set for the construction of DNA encoding
D1-NLS:
TABLE-US-00002 HD1-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 3) 5'
CCTAAGAGGGTTGAAAATCTTTTAAATTTTTTAGCA TTAAAGGCATAAATG 3' HD1-NLSR:
(SEQ ID NO: 4) 5' GCCTTTAATGCTAAAAAATTTAAAAGATTTTCAACC CTCTTAGGATGC
3'
[0132] Using the DNA encoding D1-GFP as template, PCR with the
primers HD1-P1 and HD1-NLSF resulted in a product of 1000 bp
(PCR#1). Using DNA encoding D1-GFP PCR with primers HD1-P2 and
HD1-NLSR resulted in a product of 300 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent PCR
carried out with HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 primers resulted in a product of
1300 bp using the product from PCR#1 and the product from PCR#2 as
templates. The resulting DNA encoding D1-NLS was subcloned into
vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0133] All the additional constructs described below were made
using the same PCR method and experimental conditions as described
above for the D1 dopamine receptor, but with specific primers as
described below.
[0134] 1b. Constructing the Human Dopamine D1 Receptor Containing a
NLS and Fused to RFP (D1-NLS-RFP)
[0135] The NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted
into the helix 8 segment of the intracellular carboxyl tail of the
human D1 receptor by PCR method as follows. Using the DNA encoding
the human D1 in pcDNA3 vector as template, the first PCR was
carried out with HD1-P1 and HD1-NLSR primers resulting in a 1 kb
product. A second PCR was done using HD1-P2 and HD1-NLSF primers
resulting in a 300 bp product. Using PCR#1 and PCR#2 products as
templates, the final PCR was done with HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 primers
which generated a 1.3 kp product.
[0136] D1NLS was subcloned into vector pDsRed (Clontech) at EcoRI
and KpnI and fused to RFP.
Primer sequences:
TABLE-US-00003 HD1-P1: (SEQ ID NO: 1) 5'
GAGGACTCTGAACACCGAATTCGCCGCCATGGACGGGACTG GGCTGGTG 3' HD1-P2: (SEQ
ID NO: 2) 5' GTGTGGCAGGATTCATCTGGGTACCGCGGTTGGGTGCTGAC CGTT 3'
HD1-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 4) 5'
GCCTTTAATGCTAAAAAATTTAAAAGATTTTCAACCCTCTT AGGATGC 3' HD1-NLSR: (SEQ
ID NO: 3) 5' CCTAAGAGGGTTGAAAATCTTTTAAATTTTTTAGCATTAAA GGCATAAATG
3' D1-wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 5) N P I I Y A F N A D F R K A F S T L
L D1NLS-Helix8: (SEQ ID NO: 6) N P I I Y A F N A K K F K R F S T L
L
[0137] 1c. Construction of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with a
Hemagglutinin (HA) Epitope Tag in the Amino Terminus
[0138] The HA-Tag is as follows:
TABLE-US-00004 Nucleotide sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 7)
TACCCTTACGACGTGCCGGATTACGCC HA amino acid sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 8)
Y P Y D V P D Y A
[0139] The HA epitope tag was inserted into the amino terminal of
the human D1 receptor using D1-pcDNA3 as template with the
following primers:
TABLE-US-00005 P1HA-BamH: (SEQ ID NO: 9)
5'ggatccactagtaacggccgccagaccaccATGGGATACCCGTACGA
CGTCCCCGACTACGCAAGGACTCTGAACACCTCTGCC 3' P2-NotI: (SEQ ID NO: 10)
5' ggccgccagctgcgagTTCAGGTTGGGTGCTGACCG 3'
The resulting amplified cDNA (1.3 kb) was subcloned into pcDNA3
vector at BamH I and Not I.
TABLE-US-00006 D1 wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 11) M R T L N T S A M D G T
G L V V D1-HA tag: (SEQ ID NO: 12) M G Y P Y D V P D Y A R T L N T
S A M D G T G L V V
[0140] 1d. Construction of the Human Dopamine D1 Receptor with a HA
Epitope and NLS in the Proximal Carboxyl Tail (Helix 8)
(D1HA-NLS)
[0141] Primer set for the PCR amplification of DNA encoding D1-NLS
(helix 8), using DNA encoding D1-HA as template. Using DNA D1-HA as
template with primers T7 and HD1-NLSR primers the resulting
amplified DNA was 1000 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA D1-HA as template with
primers Sp6 and HD1-NLSR primers the resulting DNA was 300 bp,
(PCR#2). Using primers T7 and Sp6 primers and the product of PCR#1
and PCR#2 as templates the resulting DNA was 1300 bp (PCR#3).
TABLE-US-00007 HD1-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 3) 5'
CCTAAGAGGGTTGAAAATCTTTTAAATTTTTTAGCA TTAAAGGCATAAATG 3' HD1-NLSF:
(SEQ ID NO: 4) 5' GCCTTTAATGCTAAAAAATTTAAAAGATTTTCAACC CTCTTAGGATGC
3'
[0142] The result D1HA-NLS (helix 8) PCR was blunt-ended into
pcDNA3 at EcorV. The correct orientation clone was sequenced.
TABLE-US-00008 D1-HA wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 5) N P I I Y A F N A D F
R K A F S T L L D1HA-NLS (helix 8): (SEQ ID NO: 6) N P I I Y A F N
A K K F K R F S T L L
[0143] 1e. Construction the Dopamine D1 Receptor with a NLS in
Intracellular Loop 3, Fused to GFP (D1-NLS-IC3-GFP)
[0144] Primer set for the construction of D1-NLS-IC3-GFP:
TABLE-US-00009 D1NLSF-IC3: (SEQ ID NO: 13) 5'
GGAAAGTTCTTTTAAGAAGAAGTTCAAAAGAGAAAC 3' D1-NLSR-IC3: (SEQ ID NO:
14) 5' GTTTCTCTTTTGAACTTCTTCTTAAAAGAACTTTCC 3'
[0145] Using D1 pcDNA3 template:
PCR#1: HD1-P1 and D1NLSR-IC3 primers PCR#2: HD1-P2 and D1NLSF-IC3
primers (500 bp) PCR#3: HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 primers using PCR#1 and
PCR#2 as templates (1.3 kb) The resulting DNA fragment encoding
D1-NLS-IC3 was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1.
TABLE-US-00010 D1-wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 15) Q P E S S F K M S F K R
E T K V L D1-NLS-IC3: (SEQ ID NO: 16) Q P E S S F K K K F K R E T K
V L
[0146] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the IC loop 3 segment of the D1 receptor replacing the sequence
MFSKR SEQ ID NO: 172), using D1 pcDNA3 as template.
[0147] Using the DNA encoding D1 in pcDNA3 as template, PCR was
carried out with the following primers HD1-P1 and D1-NLSR-IC3
resulting in a product of 800 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding D1 in
pcDNA3 with primers HD1-P2 and HD1-NLSF-IC3 resulted in a product
of 500 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with HD1-P1 and
HD1-P2 primers resulted in a product of 1300 bp using the product
from PCR#1 and the product from PCR#2 as templates. The resulting
construct encoding D1-NLS was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1
and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0148] 1f. Construction of Human D1 Dopamine Receptor with a NLS in
Intracellular Loop 2 Fused with GFP (D1-NLS-IC2-GFP)
[0149] The primer set for the construction of DNA encoding
D1NLS-IC2
TABLE-US-00011 D1NLSF-IC2: (SEQ ID NO: 17) 5'
CCGGTATGAGAAAAAGTTTAAACGCAAGGCAGCCTTC 3' D1-NLSR-IC2: (SEQ ID NO:
18) 5' GGCTGCCTTGCGTTTAAACTTTTTCTCATACCGGAAAG G 3'
[0150] Using DNA encoding D1 dopamine receptor in pcDNA3 as
template, PCR with the primers HD1-P1 and D1NLSR-IC2 (PCR#1),
resulted in a product of 500 bp. Using DNA encoding D1 dopamine
receptor in pcDNA3 as a template with primers HD1-P2 and D1NLSF-IC2
(PCR#2) resulted in a product of 800 bp. A subsequent PCR carried
out with primers HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 using PCR#1 and PCR#2 as
templates resulted in a product of 1300 bp.
[0151] The resulting DNA encoding D1NLS-IC2 PCR was subcloned into
vector EGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1.
TABLE-US-00012 D1-wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 19) N P F R Y E R K M T P K
A A F I L I D1-NLS-IC2: (SEQ ID NO: 20) N P F R Y E K K F K R K A A
F I L I
[0152] 1g. Construction of the Human D1 Dopamine Receptor with a
NLS in Intracellular Loop 1 Fused with GFP (D1-NLS-IC1-GFP)
[0153] The primer set for the construction of DNA encoding
D1-NLS-IC1.
TABLE-US-00013 D1-NLSF-IC1: (SEQ ID NO: 21) 5'
GTGCTGCCGTTAAAAAGTTCAAACGCCTGCGGTCCAAGG 3' D1-NLSR-IC1: (SEQ ID NO:
22) 5' GGACCGCAGGCGTTTGAACTTTTTAACGGCAGCACAGACC 3'
[0154] Using the DNA encoding D1 dopamine receptor in pcDNA3 as
template, PCR with the primers HD1-P1 and D1-NLSR-IC1 (PCR#1),
resulted in a product of 300 bp. Using DNA encoding D1 dopamine
receptor in pcDNA3 as template PCR with primers HD1-P2 and
D1NLSF-IC1 resulted in a product of 1000 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent
PCR carried out with primers HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 using PCR#1 and
PCR#2 as templates resulted in a product of 1300 bp.
[0155] The resulting DNA encoding D1-NLS-IC1 was subcloned into
vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1.
TABLE-US-00014 D1-wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 23) L V C A A V I R F R H L
R S K V T N D1-NLS-IC1: (SEQ ID NO: 24) L V C A A V K K F K R L R S
K V T N
[0156] 1h. Construction of Human Dopamine D1 Receptor with an
Alternate NLS in the Proximal Carboxyl Tail and Fused to GFP
(D1-NLS2-GFP)
[0157] The PCR method was used to introduce the NLS sequence
PKKKRKV (SEQ ID NO: 129) in replacement of the natural sequence
ADFRKAF SEQ ID NO: 173) in the D1 receptor. The DNA encoding the D1
dopamine receptor in pcDNA3 was subjected to PCR with the primers
HD1-P1 and HD1-NLS2R, resulting in a product of 1 kb (PCR#1).
Another PCR using D1 in pcDNA3 with primers HD1-P2 and HD1-NLS2F
resulted in a product of 300 bp (PCR#2). The third PCR using PCR#1
and PCR#2 as templates HD1-P1 and HD1-P2 primers resulted in a
product of 1.3 kb, and was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and
Kpn1.
TABLE-US-00015 HD1-NLS2F: (SEQ ID NO: 25) 5'
GCCTTTAATCCTAAAAAAAAAAGAAAGGTTTCAACCCTCT TAGG 3' HD1-NLS2R: (SEQ ID
NO: 26) 5' CCTAAGAGGGTTGAAACCTTTCTTTTTTTTTTAGGATTAA AGGC 3'
D1-wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 27) N P I I Y A F N A D F R K A F S T L L
D1-NLS2: (SEQ ID NO: 28) N P I I Y A F N P K K K R K V S T L L
[0158] 2. Construction the Dopamine D2 and D2-NLS Dopamine
Receptors Fused to GFP (D2-GFP and D2-NLS-GFP)
[0159] Primer set for amplification of the DNA in pcDNA3 encoding
the D2-dopamine receptor.
TABLE-US-00016 HD2-P1: (SEQ ID NO: 29) 5'
GGCCGTGGCTCCACCGAATTCGCCGCCATGGATCCACTGA ATCTG 3' HD2-P2: (SEQ ID
NO: 30) 5' CTGTGCGGGCAGGCAGGGTACCGCGCAGTGGAGGATCTT CAGG 3'
[0160] The restriction site EcoR1 was incorporated into primer
HD2-P1, and the restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into primer
HD2-P2. The D2-PCR product, which contained no stop codon, was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at EcoR1
and Kpn1 and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0161] Primer set for the construction of D2-NLS-GFP
TABLE-US-00017 HD2-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 31) 5'
CACCACCTTCAACAAAAAATTCAAAAGAGCCTTCCTGAA GATCC 3' HD2-NLSR: (SEQ ID
NO: 32) 5' GGATCTTCAGGAAGGCTCTTTTGAATTTTTTGTTGAAGG TGGTG 3'
[0162] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the base of TM7 segment of the D2 receptor replacing the sequence
IEFRK (SEQ ID NO: 174), using D2-GFP DNA construct as template.
[0163] Using the DNA encoding D2-GFP as template, PCR was carried
out with the following primers HD2-P1 and HD2-NLSR resulting in a
product of 1300 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding D2-GFP PCR with
primers HD2-P2 and HD1-NLSF resulted in a product of 100 bp
(PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with HD2-P1 and HD2-P2
primers resulted in a product of 1400 bp using the product from
PCR#1 and the product from PCR#2 as templates. The resulting
construct encoding D2-NLS was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1
and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0164] 3. Construction of DNA Encoding the D3 and D5 Dopamine
Receptors Fused to GFP (D3-GFP and D5-GFP)
[0165] Primer set for amplification of the DNA in pcDNA3 encoding
the D3-dopamine receptor.
TABLE-US-00018 HD3-Hind: (SEQ ID NO: 33) 5'
GGCATCACGCACCTCAAGCTTGCCGCCATGGCATCTCTG AGTCAGC 3' HD3-Kpn: (SEQ ID
NO: 34) 5' GAGTGTTCCCTCTTCTGCGGTACCGCGCAAGACAGGATCT TGAGG 3'
[0166] The restriction site HindIII was incorporated into primer
HD3-Hind, and the restriction site KpnI and was incorporated into
primer HD3-Kpn. The D3-PCR product, which contained no stop codon,
was unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at HindIII and
KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0167] Primer set for amplification of the DNA in pcDNA3 encoding
the D5 dopamine receptor.
TABLE-US-00019 T7: (SEQ ID NO: 35) 5' AATACGACTCACTATAG 3' HD5-Kpn:
(SEQ ID NO: 36) 5' CGCCAGTGTGATGGATAATGGTACCGCATGGAATCCATTC GGGGTG
3'
[0168] The restriction site KpnI and was incorporated into primer
HD5-Kpn. The D5-PCR product, which contained no stop codon, was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoRI and KpnI and
inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0169] 4. Construction of the Histamine1 and Histamine1-NLS
Receptors Fused to GFP (H1-GFP and H1-NLS-GFP)
[0170] Primer set for amplification of the DNA, from human genomic
DNA, encoding the encoding the H1 histamine receptor.
TABLE-US-00020 H1-MET: (SEQ ID NO: 37) 5' GCGCCAATGAGCCTCCCCAATTCC
3' H1-STOP: (SEQ ID NO: 38) 5' GAGCCTCCCTTAGGAGCGAATATGC 3'
[0171] This H1-PCR product was used as a template for the
subsequent PCR experiment.
[0172] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the H1-GFP
construct.
TABLE-US-00021 H1-PST: (SEQ ID NO: 39) 5'
CGCCTGCAGGCCGCCATGAGCCTCCCCAATTCCTCC 3' H1-APA: (SEQ ID NO: 40) 5'
CCGGTGGATCCCGGGCCCCGGAGCGAATATGCAG 3'
[0173] The restriction site PstI was incorporated into primer
H1-PST, and the restriction site ApaI was incorporated into primer
H1-APA. This H1-PCR product, which contained no stop codon, was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at PstI and ApaI and
inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0174] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
H1-NLS-GFP
TABLE-US-00022 H1-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 41) 5'
GGGCCCCGGAGCGAATATGCAGAATTCTCTTGAATGTCC TCTTGAATTTTTTATTGCACAAGG
3'
[0175] The NLS sequence: KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the DNA encoding the TM7 segment of the H1 receptor by the PCR
method, using the H1-GFP template, replacing the sequence ENFKK
(SEQ ID NO: 160). PCR with H1-PST and H1-NLSR primers gave a
product of 1500 bp. The resulting fragment encoding H1-NLS was
subcloned into vector pEGFP at PstI and ApaI restriction sites.
[0176] 5. Construction the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 and
CysLT1-NLS Fused to GFP (CysLT1-GFP and CysLT1-NLS-GFP).
[0177] Primer set for amplification of the DNA in pcDNA3 encoding
the CysLT1 receptor.
TABLE-US-00023 LT1-EcorI: (SEQ ID NO: 42) 5'
AAGAATTCGCCACCATGGATGAAACAGGAAATCTG 3' LT1-KpnI: (SEQ ID NO: 43) 5'
GGGTACCGCTACTTTACATATTTCTTCTCC 3'
[0178] The restriction site EcoR1 was incorporated into primer
LT1-EcoRI and the restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into
primer LT1-KpnI. The CysLT1-PCR DNA product, which contained no
stop codon, was unidirectionally subcloned into vector PGFP at
EcoR1 and Kpn1 and inframe with the start codon of the GFP
protein.
[0179] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
CysLT1-NLS-GFP
TABLE-US-00024 LT1-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 44) 5'
TTCTTTTCTGGGAAAAAATTTAAGAGAAGGCTGTCTAC 3' LT1-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 45)
5' TGTAGACAGCCTTCTCTTAAATTTTTTCCCAGAAAAG 3'
[0180] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the DNA encoding the TM7 segment of the CysLT1 by PCR, using DNA
encoding the CysLT1-GFP as template, replacing the sequence GNFRK
(SEQ ID NO: 161). Using the DNA encoding CysLT1-GFP as template,
PCR with the following primers LT1-EcoRI and LT1-NLSR resulted in a
fragment of 900 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding CysLT1-GFP PCR with
primers LT1-KpnI and LT1-NLSF resulted in a fragment of 100 bp
(PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with LT1-EcoRI and LT1-KpnI
primers resulted in a product of 1000 bp using the product from
PCR#1 and the product from PCR#2 as templates. The resulting DNA
encoding CysLT1-NLS was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and
Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0181] 6. Construction of the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor CysLT2
and CysLT2-NLS Fused to GFP (CysLT2-GFP and CysLT2-NLS-GFP)
[0182] Primer set for amplification of the DNA in pcDNA3 encoding
the CysLT2 receptor.
TABLE-US-00025 LT2-EcoRI: (SEQ ID NO: 46) 5'
CTTTTTGTGTCTGTTTCTGAATTCGCCACCATGGAGAGAA AATTTATG 3' LT2-KpnI: (SEQ
ID NO: 47) 5' GAACAGGTCTCATCTAAGAGGTACCGCTACTCTTGTTTCC TTTCTC
3'
[0183] The restriction site EcoR1 was incorporated into primer
LT2-EcoRI, and the restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into
primer LT2-KpnI. The CysLT2 product, which contained no stop codon,
was unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1
and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0184] Primer set for the amplification of the CysLT2-NLS-GFP
TABLE-US-00026 LT2-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 48) 5'
GCTGGGAAAAAATTTAAAAGAAGACTAAAGTCTGCAC 3' LT2-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 49)
5' GTCTTCTTTTAAATTTTTTCCCAGCAAAGTAATAGAGC 3'
[0185] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the TM7 segment of the CysLT2 by PCR method replacing the sequence
ENFKD (SEQ ID NO: 162). Using the DNA encoding CysLT2-EGFP as
template, a PCR with the following primers LT2-EcoR1 and LT2-NLSR
primers resulted in a fragment of 900 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA
encoding LT2-KpnI and LT2-NLSF primers a PCR resulted in a fragment
of 200 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with LT2-EcoR1 and
LT2-KpnI primers using the product of PCR#1 and the product of
PCR#2 as templates resulted in a product of 1100 bp. The resulting
DNA encoding CysLT2-NLS was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1
and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0186] 7. Construction of the M1 Muscarinic Receptor and the
Muscarinic NLS Receptor Fused to GFP (M1-GFP and M1-NLS-GFP)
[0187] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
muscarinic receptor (M1) from human genomic DNA.
TABLE-US-00027 M1-MET: (SEQ ID NO: 50) 5'
CCCCACCTAGCCACCATGAACACTTC 3' M1-STOP: (SEQ ID NO: 51) 5'
GGGGACTATCAGCATTGGCGGGAGG 3'
[0188] Primer set for MR1-EGFP
TABLE-US-00028 M1-PST: (SEQ ID NO: 52) 5'
CCCCACCTGCAGCCACCATGAACACTTCAGCC 3' M1-BAMH: (SEQ ID NO: 53) 5'
GGGGAGGATCCGCGCATTGGCGGGAGGGAGTGC 3'
[0189] The restriction site PstI was incorporated into primer
M1-PST, and the restriction site BamHI was incorporated into primer
M1-BAMH. The M1 PCR product, which contained no stop codon, was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at PstI and BamHI and
inframe with the start codon of the EGFP protein.
[0190] Primer set for M1-NLS EGFP
TABLE-US-00029 M1-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 54) 5'
CGCACTCTGCAACAAAAAATTCAAACGCACCTTTCGCC 3' M1-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 55)
5' GGCGAAAGGTGCGTTTGAATTTTTTGTTGCAGAGTGCG 3'
[0191] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the TM7 segment of the M1 by PCR, using the MR1 template, replacing
the sequence KAFRD (SEQ ID NO: 163). Using the DNA encoding MR1 as
template, PCR with the following primers using M1-PST and M1-NLSR
resulted in a product of 1200 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding MR1 a
PCR with primers reaction using M1-BAMH and M1-NLSF primers
resulted in a product of 100 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried
out with M1-PST and M1-BAMH primers resulted in a product of 1300
bp using the product from PCR#1 and the product from PCR#2 as
templates. This fragment encoding MR1-NLS was subcloned into vector
pEGFP at PstI and BamHI restriction sites.
[0192] 8. Construction of the Serotonin (5HT1B) and the Serotonin
NLS Receptors Fused to GFP (5HT1B-GFP and 5HT1B-NLS-GFP)
[0193] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the 5HT1B
receptor from the plasmid pcDNA3 encoding the 5HT1B receptor.
TABLE-US-00030 5HT1B-E1: (SEQ ID NO: 56) 5'
GGGGCGAATTCGCCGCCATGGAGGAACCGGGTGC 3' 5HT1B-KPN: (SEQ ID NO: 57) 5'
GCAAACGGTACCGCACTTGTGCACTTAAAACGTA 3'
[0194] The restriction site EcoR1 was incorporated into primer
5HT1B-E1 and the restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into primer
5HT1B-KPN. The 5HT1B-PCR product, which contained no stop codon,
was unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1
and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0195] Primer set for 5HT1B-NLS EGFP
TABLE-US-00031 5HT1B-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 58) 5'
ATGTCCAATAAAAAATTTAAAAGAGCATTCCATAAACTG 3' 5HT1B-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO:
59) 5' GGAATGCTCTTTTAAATTTTTTATTGGACATGGTATAG 3'
[0196] The NLS sequence: KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the TM7 segment of the 5HT1B by PCR using 5HT1B-EGFP template,
replacing the sequence EDFKQ (SEQ ID NO: 164). Using the DNA
encoding 5HT1B-EGFP as template, a PCR with the following primers
with 5HT1B-Eland HD1-NLSF primers gave a product of 1100 bp
(PCR#1). Using DNA encoding 5HT1B-EGFP with 5HT1B-KPN and HD1-NLSR
primers resulted in a product of 100 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent PCR
carried out with 5HT1B-E1 and 5HT1B-KPN primers resulted in a
product of 1200 bp using the product from PCR#1 and the product
from PCR#2 as templates. The resulting DNA encoding 5HT1B-NLS was
subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction
sites.
[0197] 9. Construction of the Beta2-Adrenergic (Beta2-AR) and the
Beta2-AR-NLS1 Receptors Fused to GFP (Beta2-AR-GFP and
beta2AR-NLS1-GFP)
[0198] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
beta2-AR receptor from pcDNA3.
TABLE-US-00032 T7: (SEQ ID NO: 60) 5' AATACGACTCACTATAG 3'
Beta2-Kpn: (SEQ ID NO: 61) 5'
GCCGCCAGTGTGATGGATACTGGTACCGCTAGCAGTGA GTCATTTGTAC 3'
[0199] The restriction site Kpn1 was incorporated into primer
beta2-Kpn. The beta 2-AR product, which contained no stop codon,
was unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1
and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0200] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the TM7 segment of the beta2-AR by PCR using beta2-AR-EGFP
template, replacing the sequence PDFRI (SEQ ID NO: 165). Using the
DNA encoding beta2-AR-EGFP as template, a PCR with the following
primers with T7 and B2-NLSR primers resulted in a product of 1100
bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding beta2-AR-EGFP with beta2-Kpn and
B2-NLSF primers resulted in a product of 300 bp (PCR#2). A
subsequent PCR carried out with primers T7 and beta2-Kpn resulted
in a product of 1300 bp using the product from PCR#1 and the
product from PCR#2 as templates. The resulting DNA encoding
beta2-NLS was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1
restriction sites.
[0201] 10. Construction of the Beta 2-Adrenergic Receptor with an
Alternate NLS and Fused to GFP (Beta2-NLS2-GFP)
[0202] Primer set for amplification of the DNA encoding the
beta2-NLS2 receptor from pcDNA3.
TABLE-US-00033 B2D1NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 62) 5'
CCCCTTATCTACGCCTTTAGCGCAAAGAAGTTCAA GCGC 3' B2D1NLSR: (SEQ ID NO:
63) 5' GCGCTTGAACTTCTTTGCGCTAAAGGCGTAGATA AGGGG 3'
[0203] Using the DNA encoding beta2-AR-GFP as template, a PCR with
the following primers with T7 and B2D1NLSR primers resulted in a
product of 1000 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding beta2-AR-GFP with
beta2-Kpn and B2D1NLSF primers resulted in a product of 300 bp
(PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with primers T7 and beta2-Kpn
primers using PCR#1 and PCR#2 as templates resulted in a product of
1300 bp. The resulting DNA encoding beta2-NLS2 was subcloned into
vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0204] The NLS sequence AFSAKKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 158) was inserted
into the TM7 segment of the beta2-AR by PCR using beta2-GFP
template, replacing the sequence CRSPDFRIA (SEQ ID NO: 176).
[0205] The resulting DNA encoding beta2-NLS2 was subcloned into
vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction sites.
[0206] 11. Construction of the Beta 2-Adrenergic Receptor with an
Alternate NLS and Fused to GFP (Beta2-NLS3-GFP)
[0207] The NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted
into another location of the proximal segment of the carboxyl tail
of the beta2-AR. Using the DNA encoding the beta2AR in pcDNA3
vector as template, PCR was carried out with T7 and r B2-NLS3R
primers resulting a 1000 bp product. PCR using primers Beta2-Kpn
and B2-NLS3F resulted in a 300 bp product. Using PCR#1 and PCR#2
products as templates PCR with T7 and Beta2-Kpn primers generated a
1300 bp product (beta2AR-NLS3) which was subcloned into vector
pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1.
[0208] Primer set for Beta2-NLS3-GFP
TABLE-US-00034 B2-NLS3F: (SEQ ID NO: 64) 5'
CTGCCGGAGCAAAAAATTCAAAAGAGCCTTCCAGGAGC 3' B2-NLS3R: (SEQ ID NO: 65)
5' CCTGGAAGGCTCTTTTGAATTTTTTGCTCCGGCAGTAG 3' Wildtype Beta2: (SEQ
ID NO: 66) N P L I Y C R S P D F I R A F Q E L L Beta2AR-NLS3: (SEQ
ID NO: 67) N P L I YC R S K K F K R A F Q E L L
[0209] 12. Construction of the Dopamine Transporter Fused to GFP
(DAT-GFP)
[0210] The full length cDNA encoding the human dopamine transporter
(hDAT) was amplified using DAT in pcDNA3 as template by PCR with
primer T7 and primer DT-1 (5'
CGTCTCTGCTCCCTGGTACCGCCACCTTGAGCCAGTGG 3': SEQ ID NO: 68). This PCR
product contained no stop codon and was unidirectionally subcloned
into vector pEGFP (from Clontech) at the EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction
sites and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0211] 13a. Construction of the Human Dopamine Transporter
Containing a NLS and Fused to RFP (DAT-NLS-RFP)
[0212] The cDNA encoding the human dopamine transporter (hDAT) was
amplified by PCR with 1718 and hDAT-NLSF primers, producing a
fragment of 100 bp. The cDNA encoding the human dopamine
transporter (hDAT) was also amplified by PCR with T7 and hDAT-NLSR
primers, producing a fragment of 1.7 kB. These two PCR fragments
were used as templates with T7 and 1718 primers, resulting in a
fragment of 1.8 kB.
TABLE-US-00035 Primer T7: (SEQ ID NO: 69) 5' TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG
3' Primer 1718: (SEQ ID NO: 70) 5'
CGTCTCTGCTCCCTGGTACCGCCACCTTGAGCCAGTGG 3' hDAT-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO:
71) 5' CTATGCGGCCAAAAAGTTCAAAAGACTGCCTGGGTCC 3' hDAT-NLSR: (SEQ ID
NO: 72) 5' CAGGCAGTCTTTTGAACTTTTTGGCCGCATAGATGGGC 3'
[0213] This PCR product was unidirectionally subcloned into vector
pRFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 and inframe with the start codon of the RFP
protein.
[0214] The resulting PCR fragment encoded the NLS sequence K K F K
R (SEQ ID NO: 157) after TM12 as follows:
TABLE-US-00036 DAT-wild type: (SEQ ID NO: 73) S S M A M V P I Y A A
Y K F C S L P G S F R E K DAT-NLS: (SEQ ID NO: 74) S S M A M V P I
Y A A K K F K R L P G S F R E K
[0215] 13b. Construction of the Human Dopamine Transporter with a
NLS and Fused to GFP (DAT-NLS-GFP)
[0216] The NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted
into the proximal carboxyl tail following the transmembrane 12
segment of the human DAT. Using the DNA encoding the human DAT-cDNA
in pcDNA3, as template, the first PCR was carried out with T7 and
hDAT-NLSR primers resulting a 1.7 kb product. A second PCR was done
using 1718 and hDAT-NLSF primers resulting in a 100 bp product,
then using PCR#1 and PCR#2 products as templates the final PCR was
done with T7 and 1718 primers which generated a 1.8 kp product
(DAT-NLS) which was subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at EcoR1
and Kpn1 and fused GFP.
Sequences of the primers:
TABLE-US-00037 hDAT-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 75) 5'
CTATGCGGCCAAAAAGTTCAAAAGACTGCCTGGGTCC 3' hDAT-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 76)
5' CAGGCAGTCTTTTGAACTTTTTGGCCGCATAGATGGGC 3' Human DAT wildtype:
(SEQ ID NO: 77) S S M A M V P I Y A A Y K F C S L P G S F R E K
Human DAT-NLS: (SEQ ID NO: 78) S S M A M V P I Y A A K K F K R L P
G S F R E K
[0217] 14. Construction of the Human Serotonin Transporter Fused to
GFP (SERT-GFP)
[0218] The full length human SERT cDNA was isolated by PCR from
pcDNA3 containing the SERT cDNA, using the two following
primers:
TABLE-US-00038 SERT-HIND: (SEQ ID NO: 79) 5'
GTCATTTACTAAGCTTGCCACCATGGAGACGACGCCCTT G 3' SERT-KPN: (SEQ ID NO:
80) 5' CCTCTCGGTGAGTGGTACCGCCACAGCATTCAAGCGG 3'
[0219] This PCR product contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII
and KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0220] 15. Construction of the Human Low Density Lipoprotein
Receptor Fused to GFP (LDL-R-GFP)
[0221] The full length cDNA encoding LDL was subjected to PCR with
LDLR-HIND and LDLR-KPN primers:
TABLE-US-00039 LDLR-HIND: (SEQ ID NO: 81) 5'
GGACACTGCCTGGCAAAGCTTGCGAGCATGGGGCCCTG G 3' LDLR-KPN: (SEQ ID NO:
82) 5' GGCGGGACTCCAGGCAGGTACCGCCGCCACGTCATCCT CC 3'
[0222] This PCR product (2600 bp) contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII
and KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0223] 16. Construction of the Human Low Density Lipoprotein
Receptor with a NLS and Fused to GFP (LDLR-NLS-GFP)
[0224] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
DNA encoding the LDL receptor by PCR, replacing the natural
sequence coding for RLKNI (SEQ ID NO: 166).
[0225] The primer set for the construction of DNA encoding
LDL-NLS:
TABLE-US-00040 LDL-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 83) 5'
CTATGGAAGAACTGGAAAAAATTTAAAAGAAACAGCATCAA C 3' LDL-NLSR: (SEQ ID
NO: 84) 5' CAAAGTTGATGCTGTTTCTTTTAAATTTTTTCCAGTTCTTCC 3'
[0226] Using the human DNA encoding LDL cDNA in pcDV1 as template,
PCR with the primers LDLR-HIND and LDL-NLSR resulted in a product
of 2450 bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding LDL as a template with
primers LDLR-KPN and LDL-NLSF resulted in a product of 150 bp
(PCR#2). A subsequent PCR carried out with primers LDLR-HIND and
LDLR-KPN using the product of PCR#1 and PCR#2 as template resulted
in a product of 2600 bp.
[0227] The resulting PCR contained the NLS sequence K K F K R
mutation as follows:
TABLE-US-00041 Human LDL-R wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 85) F L L W K N W
R L K N I N S I N F D N P HumanLDL-R: (SEQ ID NO: 86) F L L W K N W
K K F K R N S I N F D N P
[0228] This PCR product contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII
and KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0229] 17. Construction of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Fused to GFP (EGFR-GFP)
[0230] The full length human EGFR cDNA in Prkf vector was isolated
by PCR with the two following primers:
TABLE-US-00042 HER-XHO: (SEQ ID NO: 87) 5'
GCTCTTCGGGCTCGAGCAGCGATGCGACCCTCCGGGACG G 3' HER-KPN: (SEQ ID NO:
88) 5' CTATCCTCCGTGGTACCGCTGCTCCAATAAATTCACTGC 3'
[0231] This PCR product (3600 bp) contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at XhoI and
KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0232] 18. Construction of the Human Serotonin Transporter with a
NLS and Fused to GFP (SERT-NLS-GFP)
[0233] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
DNA encoding the SERT by PCR, replacing the natural sequence coding
for GTFKE (SEQ ID NO: 167).
[0234] The primer set for the amplification of the DNA encoding
SERT-NLS.
TABLE-US-00043 SERT-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 89) 5'
GATCATCACTCCAAAGAAATTTAAAAGACGTATTATT 3' SERT-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 90)
5' TAATACGTCTTTTAAATTTCTTTGGAGTGATGATCAACCG 3'
[0235] Using the human SERT-cDNA in PcDNA3 as template, PCR with
the primers SERT-HIND and SERT-NLSR resulted in a product of 1800
bp (PCR#1). Using DNA encoding SERT as a template with primers
SERT-KPN and SERT-NLSF resulted in a product of 100 bp (PCR#2). A
subsequent PCR carried out with primers SERT-HIND and SERT-KPN
primers using the product of PCR#1 and PCR#2 as template resulted
in a product of 1900 bp.
[0236] The resulting PCR product encoded the NLS sequence K K F K R
mutation after TM12 of the SERT as follows:
TABLE-US-00044 Human SERT wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 91) R L I I T P G T
F K E R I I K S I T Human SERT: (SEQ ID NO: 92) R L I I T P K K F K
R R I I K S I T
[0237] This PCR product contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII
and KpnI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP protein.
[0238] 19. Construction of the Metabotropic Glutamate-4-Receptor
Fused to GFP, with and without NLS (mGluR4-GFP and
mGluR4-NLS-GFP)
[0239] The DNA encoding mGluR4 was isolated from a rat cDNA using
the primer set
TABLE-US-00045 GLUR4-HIND: (SEQ ID NO: 93) 5'
GGGTCTCTAAGCTTGCCGCCATGTCCGGGAAGGG 3' GLUR4-ECORI: (SEQ ID NO: 94)
5' CCGCGGCCCGGAATTCGGATGGCATGGTTGGTG 3'
[0240] A restriction site HindIII was incorporated into primer
GLUR4-HIND, and a restriction site EcoRI was incorporated into
primer GLUR4-ECORI. The mGluR4-PCR product, which contained no stop
codon, was unidirectionally subcloned into vector EGFP (Clontech)
at HindIII and EcorI and inframe with the start codon of the GFP
protein.
[0241] The NLS KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was introduced into the DNA
encoding the mGluR4 replacing the natural sequence KRKRS (SEQ ID
NO: 168).
[0242] Primer set for the amplification of the DNA to introduce the
NLS into the Rat mGluR4-EGFP
TABLE-US-00046 GLUR4-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 95) 5'
CGTGCCCAAGAAATTCAAGCGCCTCAAAGCCGTGGTC 3' GLUR4-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO:
96) 5' CGGCTTTGAGGCGCTTGAATTTCTTGGGCACGTTCTGC 3'
[0243] Using the rat DNA encoding GluR4 as template PCR with the
primers GLUR4-HIND and GLUR4-NLSR resulted in a product of 2600 bp
(PCR#1). Using DNA encoding GluR4 with primers GLUR4-ECORI and
GLUR4-NLSF resulted in a product of 160 bp (PCR#2). A subsequent
PCR carried out using the product of PCR#1 and PCR#2 as template,
with primers: GLUR4-HIND and GLUR4-ECORI, resulted in a product of
2760 bp.
[0244] The resulting PCR contained the NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ
ID NO: 157) mutation as follows:
TABLE-US-00047 Rat mGluR4 Wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 97) F H P E Q N V P
K R K R S L K A V V T A A T Rat mGluR4: (SEQ ID NO: 98) F H P E Q N
V P K K F K R L K A V V T A A T
[0245] This PCR product was unidirectionally subcloned into vector
pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII and EcoRI and inframe with the start
codon of the GFP protein.
[0246] 20. Construction of the Human Insulin Receptor Fused to GFP
(IR-GFP)
[0247] The full length IR cDNA in plasmid pRK5 was isolated with
the two PCR primers:
TABLE-US-00048 HIR-HIND: (SEQ ID NO: 99) 5'
GGAGACCCCAAGCTTCCGCAGCCATGGGCACCGGGGGCC 3' HIR-APA: (SEQ ID NO:
100) 5' CCCCGCCACGGGCCCCGGAAGGATTGGACCGAGGCAAGG 3'
The PCR product (4.2 kb) contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at HindIII
and ApaI and fused to the GFP protein.
[0248] 21. Construction of the Human Insulin Receptor with a NLS
and Fused to GFP (IR-NLS-GFP)
[0249] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was introduced into
the human insulin receptor to replace the sequence LYASS (SEQ ID
NO: 169).
[0250] Using the human insulin receptor cDNA in pRK5 vector as
template, the first PCR #1 with HIR-HIND and HIR-NLSR primers
generated a 2.9 kb product, the second PCR #2 with HIR-APA and
HIR-NLSF primers generated a 1.3 kb product, and then using the
products from PCR#1 and PCR #2 as templates, the third PCR #3
produced a fragment with HIR-HIND and HIR-APA primers (4.2 kb).
This contained no stop codon and was unidirectionally subcloned
into vector pEGFP at HindIII and ApaI and thus fused to the GFP
protein.
Primers for HIR-NLS:
TABLE-US-00049 [0251] HIR-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 101) 5'
CCGCTGGGACCGAAAAAATTTAAGAGAAACCCTGAGTATCTC 3' HIR-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO:
102) 5' GATACTCAGGGTTTCTCTTAAATTTTTTCGGTCCCAGCGGCCC 3'
[0252] 22. Construction of the Human Erythropoietin Receptor Fused
to GFP (EPO-GFP).
[0253] Using PCR method and the cDNA in pc3.1 vector encoding the
human Erythropoietin receptor (EPO) as template, the full length
cDNA was isolated with the following primers:
TABLE-US-00050 T7: (SEQ ID NO: 103) 5' TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG 3'
EPO-KPN: (SEQ ID NO: 104) 5'
GACTGCAGCCTGGTGGTACCGCAGAGCAAGCCACATAGCTGGGG 3'
This PCR product (1.6 kb) contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at HindIII and KpnI
and fused to the GFP protein.
[0254] 23. Construction of the Human Erythropoietin Receptor with a
NLS and Fused to GFP (EPO-NLS-GFP).
[0255] The NLS sequence KKFKR (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted into
the DNA encoding the EPO receptor by PCR, replacing its natural
sequence RRALK (SEQ ID NO: 170).
[0256] Using the human EPO-cDNA in pc3.1 as template, the first PCR
#1 with T7 and EPO-NLSR primers generated a 900 bp product, the
second PCR #2 with EPO-KPN and EPO-NLSF primers generated a 700 bp
product, and then using the products from PCR#1 and PCR #2 as
templates, the third PCR #3 with T7 and EPO-KPN primers produced a
1.6 kb fragment. This PCR product (1.6 kb) contained no stop codon
and was unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP at HindIII and
KpnI and thus fused to the GFP protein.
Primer sequences:
TABLE-US-00051 T7: (SEQ ID NO: 105) 5' TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG 3'
EPO-KPN: (SEQ ID NO: 106) 5'
GACTGCAGCCTGGTGGTACCGCAGAGCAAGCCACATAGCTGGGG 3' EPO-NLSF: (SEQ ID
NO: 107) 5' GCTGCTCTCCCACAAAAAGTTTAAGCGGCAGAAGATCTGG 3' EPO-NLSR:
(SEQ ID NO: 108) 5' CCAGATCTTCTGCCGCTTAAACTTTTTGTGGGAGAGCAGC 3'
Human EPO wildtype: (SEQ ID NO: 109) T V L A L L S H R R A L K O K
I W P G I P Human EPO NLS: (SEQ ID NO: 110) T V L A L L S H K K F K
R O K I W P G I P
[0257] 24. Construction of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor Fused to GFP (EGFR-GFP)
[0258] Using the human epidermal growth factor receptor cDNA in
Prk5 vector as template, the full length cDNA was isolated by PCR
with the two following primers:
TABLE-US-00052 HER-XHO (SEQ ID NO: 111) (5'
GCTCTTCGGGCTCGAGCAGCGATGCGACCCTCCGGGACGG 3') and HER-KPN (SEQ ID
NO: 112) (5' CTATCCTCCGTGGTACCGCTGCTCCAATAAATTCACTGC 3')
This PCR product (3.6 kb) contained no stop codon and was
unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at XhoI and
KpnI and fused to the GFP protein.
[0259] 25. Construction of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor with an NLS and Fused to GFP (EGFR-NLS-GFP)
[0260] The NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted
into the sequence of the human epidermal growth factor receptor by
PCR method as follows. Using the human EGFR cDNA in Prk5 vector as
template, the first PCR was carried out with HER-XHO and EGF-NLSR
primers resulting in a 2.1 kb product. A second PCR was done using
HER-KPN and EGF-NLSF primers resulting a 1.5 kb product, and then
using PCR#1 and PCR#2 products as templates, the final PCR was done
with HER-XHO and HER-KPN primers, which generated a 3.6 kp product
(EGFR-NLS) which was subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at Xho1
and Kpn1 and fused to GFP.
Primer sequences:
TABLE-US-00053 EGF-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 113) 5'
CACATCGTTCGGAAGAAGTTTAAGCGGAGGCTGCTGC 3' EGF-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 114)
5' CCTGCAGCAGCCTCCGCTTAAACTTCTTCCGAACGATGTG 3' Human EGFR wildtype:
(SEQ ID NO: 115) R R R H I V R K R T L R R L L Q E R E Human
EGFR-NLS: (SEQ ID NO: 116) R R R H I V R K K F K R R L L Q E R
E
[0261] 26. Construction of the Human D1 Dopamine Receptor
Containing 2 NLSs and Fused to RFP (D1-NLS(Helix 8 and
C-Tail)-RFP)
[0262] A second NLS sequence K K K R K (SEQ ID NO: 177) was
inserted into the carboxyl tail segment of the human D1-NLS-Helix 8
by PCR method as follows. Using the DNA encoding the human
D1-NLS-Helix 8 in pDsRed vector as template, the first PCR was
carried out with HD1-P1 and HD1-NLSCR primers resulting in a 1.2 kb
product, and a second PCR was done using HD1-P2 and HD1-NLSCF
primers resulting in a 100 bp product. Then using PCR#1 and PCR#2
products as templates, the final PCR was done with HD1-P1 and
HD1-P2 primers which generated a 1.3 kp product (D1-NLS-Helix 8 and
C-tail) which was subcloned into pDsRed vector at EcoRI and KpnI
and fused to the DsRed protein.
Primer sequences:
TABLE-US-00054 HD1-P1: (SEQ ID NO: 117) 5'
GAGGACTCTGAACACCGAATTCGCCGCCATGGACGGGACTG GGCTGGTG 3' HD1-P2: (SEQ
ID NO: 118) 5' GTGTGGCAGGATTCATCTGGGTACCGCGGTTGGGTGCTGACCGTT 3'
HD1-NLSCF: (SEQ ID NO: 119) 5'
CCTCTGAGGACCTGAAAAAGAAGAGAAAGGCTGGCATCGCC 3' HD1-NLSCR: (SEQ ID NO:
120) 5' GGCGATGCCAGCCTTTCTCTTCTTTTTCAGGTCCTCAGAGG 3'
D1-wildtype:
TABLE-US-00055 D1-NLS (Helix 8 and C-tail): (SEQ ID NO: 121) N P I
I Y A F N A D F R K A F S T L L ...........S S E D L K K E E A A G
I A (SEQ ID NO: 122) N P I I Y A F N A K K F K R F S T L L... ...
... ...S S E D L K K K R K A G I A
[0263] 27. Construction of the Mu Opioid Receptor Fused to GFP
(Mu-GFP)
[0264] Using the DNA encoding the Mu opioid receptor in pcDNA3
vector as template, PCR was carried out with the following two
primers.
TABLE-US-00056 RATMU1: (SEQ ID NO: 123) 5'
CCTAGTCCGCAGCAGGCCGAATTCGCCACCATGGACAGCA GCACC 3' RATMU-2: (SEQ ID
NO: 124) 5' GATGGTGTGAGACCGGTACCGCGGGCAATGGAGCAGTTTCTGCC 3'
Restriction site EcoRI was incorporated into primer RATMU-1.
Restriction site KpnI was incorporated into primer RATMU-2
[0265] The PCR product (1.2 kb) which contained no stop codon, was
then unidirectionally subcloned into vector pEGFP (Clontech) at
EcoR1 and Kpn1 and thus fused to GFP.
[0266] 28. Construction of the Mu Opioid Receptor Containing a NLS
and Fused to GFP (Mu-NLS-GFP)
[0267] The NLS sequence K K F K R (SEQ ID NO: 157) was inserted
into the proximal carboxyl tail segment (helix 8) of the Mu opioid
receptor by PCR as follows. Using the DNA encoding the Rat Mu in
pcDNA3 as template, the first PCR was carried out with RATMU1 and
MU-NLSR primers resulting a 1000 bp product, another second PCR was
done using RATMU-2 and MU-N LSF primers resulting a 200 bp product.
Using PCR#1 and PCR#2 products as templates the final PCR was done
with RATMU1 and RATMU2 primers generated a 1200 bp product (Mu-NLS)
which was subcloned into vector pEGFP at EcoR1 and Kpn1 and fused
to GFP.
Primer sequences:
TABLE-US-00057 RATMU-1: (SEQ ID NO: 125) 5'
CCTAGTCCGCAGCAGGCCGAATTCGCCACCATGGACAGC AGCACC 3' RATMU-2: (SEQ ID
NO: 126) 5' GGATGGTGTGAGACCGGTACCGCGGGCAATGGAGCAGTTTCTGCC 3
MU-NLSF: (SEQ ID NO: 127) 5' GCCTTCCTGGATAAAAAATTCAAGCGATGC 3'
MU-NLSR: (SEQ ID NO: 128) 5' GCATCGCTTGAATTTTTTATCCAGGAAGGCG 3'
[0268] Cell Culture and Transfection
[0269] COS-7 monkey kidney cells and HEK293T human embryonic kidney
cells (American Type Culture Collection, Manassa, Va.) were
maintained as monolayer cultures at 37.degree. C. and 5% CO.sub.2
in minimal essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine
serum and antibiotics. For cell membrane harvesting, 100 mm plates
of cells were transiently transfected at 70-80% confluency using
lipofectamine reagent (Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.). For
confocal microscopy studies, 60 mm plates of cells were transiently
transfected at 10-20% confluency using lipofectamine reagent. Six
hours after transfection, the solution was removed and fresh media
added and again replaced with fresh media 24 hours after
transfection.
[0270] Transfection medium was prepared by mixing 120 microlitres
medium without antibiotics and/or fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 15
microlitress lipofectamine in a 14 ml tube. 2 micrograms DNA
construct encoding the desired fusion protein and 120 microlitres
medium were mixed and added to the 14 ml tube, which was mixed
gently and incubated at room temperature for 25 minutes. A further
4 ml of medium was added and mixed. If multiple transmembrane
proteins are being transfected, the cDNAs are mixed and transfected
together. Growth medium was removed from a plate of cells and
replaced with the transfection mixture from the 14 ml tube. Cells
were incubated with the transfection mixture for 5-6 hours, after
which the mixture was removed and replaced with regular growth
medium containing FBS and antibiotics. Cells were incubated with a
change of regular growth medium on the second day.
Treatment with Test Compounds
[0271] Protocol for Determining Retardation of Translocation Off
Cell Surface
[0272] Test compounds were prepared in a stock solution of 1
millimolar concentration and diluted in growth medium to achieve a
final concentration ranging between 10 nanomolar and 10 micromolar
when added to cell plates. Fresh compound-containing medium was
added to cells at 6 hours, 22 hours, 30 hours and 42 hours after
transfection.
[0273] Protocol for Determining Promotion of Translocation Off Cell
Surface
[0274] Test compounds were prepared in a stock solution of 1
millimolar and diluted in growth medium at 37.degree. C. to achieve
a final concentration of 10 micromolar when added to cells. Cell
cultures were examined microscopically to focus on a single cell
and to detect the presence of surface expression of the detectable
label protein. Growth medium was replaced with compound-containing
medium and the cells were examined microscopically in real time 5,
10, 15, 20, 30 and 35 mins. after addition of compound for changes
in distribution of the detectable moiety.
[0275] Microscopy
[0276] Cells were visualised using the LSM510 Zeiss confocal laser
microscope. GFP was visualised following excitation with the argon
laser at 488 nm excitation wavelength and the DsRed was visualised
following excitation with the helium neon laser at 543 nm
wavelength for excitation. The confocal images were captured on
disk and evaluated. In each experiment, multiple fields of cells
(n=6-8 with 30-90 cells each) were counted and evaluated for
localisation of the signal on the cell surface, in the cytoplasm
and in the nucleus.
[0277] Fluorocytometry
[0278] A 96 well plate was coated with poly-L-ornithine ( 1/10 in
PBS) and incubated for one hour. 50,000 cells were added to each
well and transfected with cDNA encoding the epitope-tagged
receptor, using Lipofectamine (Invitrogen, U.S.A.). The medium
(MEM) was changed every 12 hours and contained test drug at varying
concentrations or vehicle. 48 hours later, cells were washed and
fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and incubated for 30 min on ice.
Cells were then incubated with the primary antibody directed
against the epitope and then with the secondary antibody conjugated
to FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) and kept shielded from light.
Excess antibody was washed off and the signal detected by reading
the plate in a Cytofluor 4000 (PerSpective Biosystems, U.S.A.). The
FITC was activated using light at 488 nm for excitation and the
signal read at its emission wavelength 530 nm.
[0279] Radioligand Binding
[0280] Cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS and treated
with varying concentrations of antagonist drug or left untreated.
After 48 hours, the cells were washed, harvested, lysed and
homogenised by polytron. The membrane fraction was collected by
centrifugation and then layered over 35% sucrose solution and
centrifuged at 30,000 rpm at 4 degrees C. for 90 min to collect the
heavy membrane fraction. The supernatant was again centrifuged at
35,000 rpm at 4 degrees C. for 60 min to collect the light membrane
fraction. The membranes were subjected to radioligand binding assay
using [.sup.3H]-SCH23390 with (+)butaclamol 10 micromolar used to
define specific binding. The incubation was at room temperature for
2 hours, followed by rapid filtration and quantitation by
scintillation counting.
[0281] Isolation of Nuclei from Cultured Cells
[0282] Wash cells with PBS 3 times, using 10 ml and scrape gently
off the culture dishes. Pool and spin the cells at 500 g for 5 min,
at 4 degrees C. Resuspend pelleted cells in lysis buffer (Tris HCl
10 mM, pH 7.4, NaCl 10 mM, MgCl2 3 mM) and inhibitor cocktail (0.5%
leupeptin, 1% soybean trypsin, 1% benzamidine) at a density of 50
million cells per ml. Homogenize with sterile glass Teflon pestle B
(tight clearance 20-50 mm; Bellco Glass) using 100 up and down
strokes.
[0283] Spin at 4 degrees C. for 700 g for 10 min, then sequentially
centrifuge supernatant at 10 000 g, for 15 min at 4 C (to remove
mitochondria) and 120 000 g for 60 min, 4 degrees C. (to remove
plasma membrane).
[0284] The nuclear pellet is resuspended in lysis buffer (with
inhibitors) and 0.1% of NP-40, kept on ice 5 min and then
centrifuged at 700 g for 10 min at 4 degrees C. The supernatant is
discarded and washing process repeated 3.times. with 15 ml lysis
buffer. Nuclear pellet is resuspended in 2 ml lysis buffer and
loaded on top of discontinuous sucrose gradient made by successive
layering of 4.5 ml of 2.0 and 1.6 M sucrose containing MgCl2 1 mM
and spun at 100 000 g for 60 min at 4 degrees C. The pellet at the
bottom of the tube is collected and will contain pure nuclei.
Example 1: Dopamine D1 Receptor Fused to the Red Fluorescent
Protein (D1-RFP) or Containing a NLS and Fused to the Red
Fluorescent Protein (D1-NLS-RFP)
[0285] The sequence of the dopamine D1 receptor, which does not
contain an NLS, was modified to replace the amino acids DFRKA (SEQ
ID NO: 175) at the base of TM7 domain with the NLS sequence KKFKR
(SEQ ID NO: 157) (which corresponds to the NLS of the human AT1
receptor), as described in the methods (see FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:
155)). DNA constructs were created encoding the D1 dopamine
receptor fusion proteins D1-RFP and D1-NLS-RFP. COS cells were
transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS-RFP or D1-RFP (2 micrograms)
and incubated for 24 and 48 hours. The cells were examined by
confocal microscopy at 100.times. magnification. Cells were counted
manually in 8 to 10 microscopic fields and the percentage labelling
in different subcellular compartments was calculated.
[0286] At 24 and 48 hours, cells transfected with D1-RFP showed
expression at the cell surface in the majority of cells, whereas
cells transfected with D1-NLS-RFP showed little receptor expression
at the cell surface, with nuclear localisation in 60% of the cells
at 24 hours, and in 80% of the cells at 48 hours.
Example 2: Dopamine D1 Receptor Fusion Protein Containing a NLS
(D1-NLS-RFP) Treated with Antagonist
[0287] COS cells were transfected with a construct encoding
D1-NLS-RFP and with wildtype D1 (2 micrograms) for 48 hours. At 6,
22, 30 and 42 hours after transfection, the cells were treated with
the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (final concentration
10 micromolar). Also at 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after transfection,
cells were treated with the antagonist (+)butaclamol (final
concentration 10 .mu.M). Control cells received no antagonist
treatment.
[0288] At 48 hours, the majority of control cells had detectable
D1-NLS-RFP in the nucleus. In contrast, the majority of
antagonist-treated cells had fluorescence only on the cell surface,
while 42% had fluorescence both on the surface and in the
nucleus.
Example 3: Dopamine D1 Receptor (D1-GFP) Co-Expressed with D1
Receptor Containing a NLS (D1-NLS)
[0289] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D1-NLS (3 micrograms) and/or D1-GFP (1.5 micrograms), and incubated
for 48 hours. The cells were also transfected with a plasmid
encoding DsRed-NUC to verify the localisation of the nucleus (1
microgram).
[0290] Cells were also transfected with DNA encoding D1-GFP (2
micrograms), incubated for 48 hours and examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0291] D1-GFP expressed alone revealed that 90% of the cells
demonstrated cell surface labelling and 10% showed both nuclear and
cell surface labelling. With any DNA encoding a GPCR transfection,
up to 10% of cells may be observed with a nuclear localisation.
[0292] Cells expressing D1-GFP and D1-NLS showed 35% of cells with
both nuclear and cell surface labelling and 70% with receptor
expression on cell surface only. This experiment indicated that
D1-GFP co-trafficked with D1-NLS resulting from oligomerisation of
the D1-NLS and D1-GFP.
Example 4: Dopamine D1 Receptor Containing a NLS (D1-NLS-GFP), was
Treated with an Antagonist in a Dose Response Study
[0293] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms), and D1-WT (6 micrograms) for 48 hours. These cells
were treated 6 hrs after transfection with SCH-23390 (10
micromolar), or (+)butaclamol (10 micromolar). The medium
containing antagonist was changed at 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection. Control cells received no antagonist treatment.
[0294] Following SCH-23390 treatment for 48 hours, 58% of the cells
had cell surface expression of D1-NLS-GFP, less than 10% of the
cells had receptor expression in the nucleus and 32% of the cells
had receptor expression on both the cell surface and in the
nucleus.
[0295] Following (+)butaclamol treatment for 48 hours, 62% of the
cells had cell surface expression of the D1-NLS-GFP receptor, 10%
had receptor expression in the nucleus, and 28% of the cells had
receptor expression on the cell surface and in the nucleus.
[0296] Control cells at 48 hours showed approximately 65% with
D1-NLS-GFP receptor expression in the nucleus, and 35% with
receptor expression in the cytoplasm. No receptor D1-NLS-GFP
expression was found on the cell surface of control cells.
[0297] Incorporation of an NLS into the receptor sequence caused a
very efficient removal of the D1-NLS-GFP receptor from the cell
surface and localisation in the nucleus.
[0298] Similar studies were carried out at various doses of
SCH-23390 or (+)butaclamol. Results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.
32% to 35% of control cells showed receptor in cytoplasm.
TABLE-US-00058 TABLE 2 % cells receptor on SCH-23390 receptor on
surface and in receptor in concn surface nucleus nucleus 10 .mu.M
58% 32% <10% .sup. 5 .mu.M 46% 42% 12% .sup. 1 .mu.M 39% 46% 15%
0.5 .mu.M 36% 44% 20% 0.2 .mu.M 32% 49% 19% 0.0 .mu.M 0%
62%-70%
TABLE-US-00059 TABLE 3 % cells receptor on (+)butaclamol receptor
on surface and in receptor in concn. surface nucleus nucleus 10
.mu.M 62% 28% 10% .sup. 5 .mu.M 47% 43% 10% .sup. 1 .mu.M 41% 43%
16% 0.5 .mu.M 40% 41% 19% 0.2 .mu.M 39% 21% 40% 0.0 .mu.M 0%
62%-70%
[0299] Incorporation of an NLS into the receptor sequence caused a
very efficient removal of the D1 dopamine receptor from the cell
surface and localisation in the nucleus. Treatment with D1
selective antagonists prevented this receptor translocation in a
dose-responsive manner.
Example 4a: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
NLS (D1-NLS-GFP) and Treatment with Agonists
[0300] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-NLS-GFP (1.5 micrograms), and incubated with the D1 agonist
SKF-81297 (10 micromolar) for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours
after transfection, the cells were treated with fresh medium
containing SKF-81297 (final concentration 10 micromolar). The cells
were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0301] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-NLS-GFP (1.5 micrograms of DNA), and incubated with the agonist
pergolide (10 micromolar) for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours
after transfection, the cells were treated with fresh medium
containing SKF-81297 (final concentration 10 micromolar). The cells
were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0302] Control HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct
encoding D1-NLS-GFP (1.5 micrograms of DNA) and left untreated.
[0303] In the untreated cells after 48 hrs, there was no receptor
detected at the cell surface. With cells treated with SKF-81297,
59% of cells had receptor expression at the cell surface. With
cells treated with perglolide there was receptor surface expression
in 59% of the cells. Thus long-term treatment with agonists
prevented the modified D1 receptor from trafficking to the
nucleus.
Example 5: Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(D1-NLS-RFP) Co-Expressed with the Wild Type D1 Receptor
[0304] COS cells were co-transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-NLS-RFP (1 microgram) and a DNA sequence encoding the native
dopamine D1 receptor (D1-WT, 7 microgram) and incubated for 24 or
48 hours.
[0305] At 24 hours, D1-NLS-RFP was detected only at the cell
surface, whereas at 48 hours, 80% of cells had D1-NLS-RFP in the
nucleus. The wild type receptor retarded the movement of the
D1-NLS-RFP to the nucleus by homooligomerisation.
Example 6: D1 Dopamine Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(D1-NLS-RFP) Co-Expressed with D1-GFP
[0306] COS cells were transfected with a construct encoding
D1-NLS-RFP (4 micrograms) and the dopamine D1-GFP (4 micrograms),
and incubated for 48 hours. The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0307] D1-GFP was detected at the cell surface and a yellow
florescence was detected in the nuclei, the latter indicating
co-localisation of both D1-NLS-RFP and D1-GFP in the nucleus,
confirming oligomerisation of D1-NLS-RFP and D1-GFP, leading to
importation of D1-GFP into the nucleus.
Example 6a: Expression of the D1 Dopamine Receptor with an NLS
Inserted in the Third Intracellular Cytoplasmic Loop
(D1-IC3-NLS-GFP)
[0308] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-IC3-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei
were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0309] In cells transfected with D1-IC3-NLS-GFP, the receptor was
detected in the nucleus of 85% of cells. Thus insertion of a NLS
into the third intracellular loop enabled receptor trafficking to
the nucleus.
Example 6b: Expression of the D1 Dopamine Receptor with an NLS
Inserted in the First Intracellular Cytoplasmic Loop
(D1-IC1-NLS-GFP)
[0310] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-IC1-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei
were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0311] In cells transfected with D1-IC1-NLS-GFP, the receptor was
detected in the nucleus of 85% of cells. Thus insertion of a NLS
into the first intracellular loop enabled receptor trafficking to
the nucleus.
Example 6c: Effect of the Antagonist Butaclamol or SCH-23390 on the
Trafficking of the D1 Dopamine Receptor with an NLS Inserted in the
First Cytoplasmic Loop (D1-IC1-NLS-GFP)
[0312] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-IC1-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and treated with either butaclamol
(final concentration 1 micromolar or SCH-23390 (1 micromolar), for
48 hours. Nuclei were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The
cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0313] With the butaclamol treated cells, 82% had receptor on the
cell surface or in the cytoplasm. 18% of the cells had receptor in
the nucleus. Thus treatment with butaclamol reduced D1-IC1-NLS-GFP
trafficking to the nucleus.
[0314] With the SCH-23390 treated cells, 77% of the cells had
receptor on the cells surface or in the cytoplasm. 23% of the cells
had receptor in the nucleus. Thus treatment with SCH-23390 reduced
receptor trafficking to the nucleus.
[0315] With the untreated cells 76% had receptor expression in the
nucleus and cytoplasm.
Example 6d: Effect of the Antagonist SCH-23390 on the Trafficking
of the D1 Dopamine Receptor with an NLS Inserted in the Third
Cytoplasmic Loop (D1-IC3-NLS-GFP)
[0316] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-IC3-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and treated with four different
concentrations of SCH-23390 (10 micromolar, 1 micromolar, 500
nanomolar and 100 nanomolar), for 48 hours. Nuclei were visualised
with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0317] 86% of the cells transfected with D1-IC3-NLS-GFP had the
receptor in the nucleus, and 0% had receptor on the surface. With
the SCH-23390 treated cells, 84% had receptor in the nucleus and
15% of the cells had receptor on the surface. The insertion of an
NLS at this position in the GPCR will translocate the receptor to
the nucleus efficiently but does not respond to the drug.
Example 6e: Expression of the D1 Dopamine Receptor with an NLS
Inserted in the Second Intracellular Cytoplasmic Loop
(D1-IC2-NLS-GFP)
[0318] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-IC2-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei
were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0319] In cells transfected with D1-IC2-NLS-GFP, the receptor was
detected in the nucleus of 51% of cells.
Example 6f: Ability of the Dopamine D1 Receptor to Homodimerise,
with Staggered Transfection
[0320] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
D1-RFP (2 micrograms) and after 24 hours incubation, the cells were
transfected with a second DNA construct encoding D1-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms). Control cells were transfected with the D1-RFP (2
micrograms) construct alone. The cells were incubated for 48 hours
following the second transfection and examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0321] 90% of the cells transfected with D1-RFP alone expressed
receptor on the cell surface, and 6% of the cells expressed
receptor in the nucleus. In contrast, 97% of the cells expressing
both forms of the receptor expressed both receptors (red plus green
equals yellow fluorescence) in the nucleus. Thus, the D1 receptor
without the NLS interacted with the D1 receptor with the NLS in
order to traffic to the nucleus.
Example 7: Dopamine D5 Receptor (D5-GFP)
[0322] A construct encoding the dopamine D5 receptor-GFP (D5-GFP)
was prepared and used to transfect COS cells (4 micrograms).
[0323] Cells transfected with dopamine D5-GFP, at 48 hours, showed
mainly a cytoplasmic localisation of receptor, with cell surface
localisation in only a few cells and no instances of nuclear
localisation.
Example 8: Dopamine D1 with an Incorporated NLS (D1-NLS)
Co-Expressed with the D5 Dopamine Receptor (D5-GFP)
[0324] HEK cells were transfected with two DNA constructs, one
encoding D1-NLS (7 micrograms) and the other encoding D5-GFP (1.5
micrograms), and incubated for 48 hours.
[0325] Approximately 70% of the cells transfected with D1-NLS and
D5-GFP had cell surface expression of D5-GFP, 20% of the cells had
both surface and cytoplasm expression of D5-GFP, and 10% had
nuclear expression of D5-GFP. There was no nuclear translocation of
the D5 dopamine receptor coexpressed with D1-NLS, indicating that
the D1 and D5 receptors did not oligomerise.
Example 9: D1 Dopamine Receptor Containing Two NLS Motifs
(D1-2NLS-RFP) and Treated with Antagonist
[0326] By modifying the construct encoding D1-NLS-RFP, a DNA
construct (D1-2NLS-RFP) was created to introduce a second NLS into
the carboxyl tail of the dopamine D1 receptor by replacing the
KKEEA (SEQ ID NO: 171) sequence of the wild type D1 dopamine
receptor with the NLS, KKKRK (SEQ ID NO: 177).
[0327] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding this construct
(D1-2NLS-RFP), and treated at intervals with the antagonist
SCH-23390 (10 .mu.M) as previously described. At 6, 22, 30 and 42
hours after transfection, the culture medium containing antagonist
was replaced. Control cells received no antagonist.
[0328] In both COS and HEK cells transfected with D1-2NLS-RFP, the
receptor was located in the nucleus in 100% of cells after 24
hours, indicating enhanced nuclear translocation when a second NLS
was present.
[0329] At 48 hours, 90% of cells not treated with antagonist showed
fluorescence in the nucleus and 0% of cells had fluorescence on the
cell surface. Antagonist-treated cells showed 51% of cells with
cell surface label and 49% with nuclear label.
[0330] Incorporation of a second NLS resulted in a more efficient
transport of the receptor to the nucleus, and this event was still
retarded by antagonist treatment.
Example 10: D2 Dopamine Receptor (D2-GFP)
[0331] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D2-GFP (2 micrograms) and DsRed-NUC (1 microgram), and incubated
for 48 hours. Cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0332] Approximately 90% of the cells expressing D2-GFP had cell
surface expression, and 10% had nuclear or cytoplasm expression.
The D2 dopamine receptor, having no endogenous NLS, is
predominantly expressed on the cell surface.
Example 11a: Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS (D1-NLS)
and Dopamine D2 (D2-GFP)
[0333] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D1-NLS (7 micrograms), and D2-GFP (1.5 micrograms) and incubated
for 48 hours. The cells were also transfected with Ds-Red-NUC to
verify the localisation of the nucleus (1 microgram). The cells
were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0334] In cells transfected with D1-NLS and D2-GFP, 33% of the
cells had D2-GFP expression in the nucleus, indicating transport of
both D1-NLS and D2-GFP to the nucleus, due to oligomerisation
between the D1 and D2 receptors. 67% of the cells had D2-GFP
receptors on the cell surface only or on surface and cytoplasm.
Example 11b: Ability of D2 Dopamine Receptor D2 Short (D2S) to
Dimerise with Dopamine Receptor D2 Long (D2L)
[0335] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D2S-GFP (2 micrograms) and D2L-NLS (2 micrograms) and were
incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2
micrograms). The cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0336] D2S-GFP receptor was visualised in the nuclei of 29% of
cells. This indicated that D2S dimerised with D2L and was
transported to the nucleus.
Example 11c: Ability of Dopamine Receptor D2S to Dimerise with
Dopamine Receptor D2L
[0337] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D2S-RFP (2 micrograms) and D2L-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated
for 48 hours. The cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0338] 40% of the cells had a yellow colour (red plus green
overlay) in the nucleus, indicating that D2L-NLS dimerised with
D2S-RFP and transported it to the nucleus.
Example 12: D2 Dopamine Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(D2-NLS-GFP) Treated with Antagonists
[0339] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D2-NLS-GFP and
the cells were treated with the D2 dopamine receptor antagonists,
(+)butaclamol (10 micromolar) or raclopride (10 micromolar). At 6,
22, 30 and 42 hours after transfection, the cells were treated with
the antagonists. Cells were incubated 48 hrs after drug treatment
and examined by confocal microscopy.
[0340] In the absence of antagonist, cells expressing D2-NLS-GFP
showed nuclear label in 70% of cells, and cytoplasmic labelling in
20% and cytoplasmic and surface labelling in 10% of cells. With
(+)butaclamol treatment, nuclear labelling appeared in only 5% of
cells, 5% of cells had cytoplasmic label and 90% of the cells had
cell surface labelling. With raclopride treatment, 5% of cells
showed nuclear labelling, 15% of cells had cytoplasmic labelling
and 80% of cells had cell surface labelling. Both antagonists of
the D2 receptor prevented the translocation of the receptor off the
cell surface and to the nucleus.
Example 13: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor-GFP (Beta2-AR-GFP)
[0341] A DNA construct was created encoding a fusion protein
comprising the human beta2-adrenergic receptor and GFP
(beta2-AR-GFP). Cells were transfected with the DNA construct
encoding beta2-AR-GFP (2 micrograms), and incubated for 24 hours
and examined by confocal microscopy.
[0342] In cells expressing beta2-AR-GFP, 42% of cells had receptor
expression in cytoplasm only, and 58% of the cells had receptor
expression in the cytoplasm and on the cell surface. No nuclear
localisation of the receptor was observed.
Example 14: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP)
[0343] A DNA construct was created encoding a fusion protein
comprising the human beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP. HEK cells were transfected
with DNA encoding beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP (2 microgram), and Ds-Red-NUC
(1 microgram) and the cells were incubated for 48 hours.
[0344] 45% of the cells transfected with beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP had
nuclear localisation of receptor and 55% of the cells had surface
and cytoplasmic expression. Incorporation of a NLS into the
beta2-AR induced receptor translocation to the nucleus.
Example 15: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(Beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP), Treated with Antagonist
[0345] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding
beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP (1 microgram), and Ds-Red-NUC (1 microgram) and
incubated for 48 hours. Cells were treated at intervals with
atenolol (10 micromolar), an adrenergic receptor antagonist. At 6,
22, 30 and 42 hours after transfection, the culture medium
containing the antagonist was replaced.
[0346] Control cells received no antagonist. In control cells, 60%
had receptor expression in the nucleus, 21% had receptor expression
on the cell surface, 19% had receptor expression in the
cytoplasm.
[0347] In antagonist atenolol-treated cells, 70% had receptor
expression on the cell surface, 14% had receptor expression in the
nucleus, and 16% had receptor expression in the cytoplasm.
Treatment with the antagonist atenolol prevented beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP
trafficking to the nucleus and retained the receptor on the cell
surface.
Example 16: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor (Beta2-AR-GFP) Coexpressed
with Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS (D1-NLS)
[0348] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding the
beta2-AR-GFP (1.5 microgram) and D1-NLS (3 microgram) for 48
hours.
[0349] Approximately 40% of cells showed beta2-AR-GFP receptor
expression in the nucleus, demonstrating that the beta2-AR not
containing an NLS had trafficked to the nucleus. This indicated
that oligomerisation had occurred between the beta2-AR receptor and
D1 dopamine receptor, containing the NLS. 45% of the cells showed
beta2-AR-GFP in the cytoplasm and 15% in cytoplasm and on cell
surface.
Example 17: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor (Beta2-AR-GFP) and Dopamine
D1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS (D1-NLS) Treated with
Antagonist
[0350] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
beta2-AR-GFP (1.5 micrograms) and D1-NLS (3 micrograms) and
incubated for 48 hours. These cells were treated with the
adrenergic antagonist, propranolol (5 micromolar). At 6, 22, 30 and
42 hours after transfection the culture medium containing the
antagonist was replaced. Control cells received no antagonist. The
cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0351] 25% of control cells showed beta2-AR-GFP nuclear expression
and 75% of cells showed label in cytoplasm and on cell surface.
[0352] In propranolol-treated cells, beta2-AR-GFP nuclear
expression was 10%, and 90% of the cells showed cytoplasmic and
surface label. The formation of a heterooligomer with between
beta2-AR-GFP and D1-NLS resulted in the trafficking of the
beta2-AR-GFP to the nucleus. This trafficking was attenuated by the
presence of the antagonist to the adrenergic receptor.
Example 18: Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP)
[0353] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct containing
an NLS encoding beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP (8 micrograms) for 48 hours. The
cells were also transfected Ds-Red-NUC to verify the localisation
of the nucleus (1 microgram).
[0354] 80% of cells showed beta2-AR-NLS3-GFP receptor in the
nucleus. The efficiency of the NLS was improved, resulting in a
greater localisation of receptor in the nucleus.
Example 19: Serotonin 1B Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(5HT1B-NLS-GFP) and Treatment with Antagonist
[0355] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding the
serotonin 5HT1B-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms). The cells were transfected
with Ds-red-NUC to verify the localisation of the nucleus (1
microgram). Cells were treated with methysergide (10 micromolar), a
serotonin receptor antagonist. At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection, the culture medium containing antagonist was
replaced. Control cells received no antagonist. The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0356] Control cells, not treated with antagonist, showed 55% with
receptor localised in the nucleus, and 20% with receptor localised
on the cell surface. At 48 hours, methysergide-treated cells showed
25% of the cells had receptor in the nucleus and 62% of the cells
had cell surface localisation.
[0357] The serotonin 5HT1B receptor was efficiently translocated
from the cell surface to the nucleus by insertion of the NLS.
Treatment with the serotonin antagonist methysergide prevented the
translocation of the receptor.
Example 20: Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor-2 with an Incorporated
NLS (CysLT2-NLS-GFP)
[0358] HEK cells were transfected for 48 hours with a DNA construct
encoding CysLT2-NLS-GFP (8 micrograms). The cells were also
transfected with Ds-RED-NUC to verify the localisation of the
nucleus (1 microgram). The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0359] 83% of cells expressing Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP showed receptor
expression in the nucleus and 0% of cells had receptor expression
on the cell surface, indicating Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP receptor
localisation in the nucleus.
Example 21: Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor-2 with an Incorporated
NLS (Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP) Treated with Antagonist
[0360] The DNA encoding Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP (3 micrograms) was used to
transfect HEK cells. These cells were treated with the cysteinyl
leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast (10 micromolar). At 6,
22, 30 and 42 hours after transfection the culture medium
containing antagonist was replaced. Control cells received no
antagonist. The cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0361] In the absence of antagonist, 70% of cells expressing
Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP had localisation of receptor in the nucleus and 30%
of cells showed a cytoplasmic localisation with 0% of cells showing
receptor on the cell surface. For the antagonist-treated cells,
only 10% showed nuclear localisation of the receptor, while 90%
showed cell surface expression of receptor. Thus the cysteinyl
leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast prevented the transport
of the Cys-LT2-NLS-GFP receptor off the cell surface and into the
nucleus.
Example 22: Mu Opioid Receptor with an Incorporated NLS (Mu
Opioid-NLS-GFP)
[0362] HEK cells were transfected for 48 hours with a DNA construct
encoding the mu opioid-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms). The cells were also
transfected with Ds-Red-NUC (1 microgram) to verify the
localisation of the nucleus. The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0363] 65% of the mu opioid-NLS-GFP transfected cells showed
receptor expression in the nucleus. 15% of the cells showed cell
surface localisation of receptor and 20% receptor of cells had
cytoplasmic labelling. Thus the insertion of the NLS permitted the
mu opioid receptor to traffic to the nucleus.
Example 23: Mu Opioid Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(Mu-NLS-GFP) Treated with Antagonists
[0364] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding the
mu opioid-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms). The transfected cells were
treated with the mu opioid antagonists, naloxone (10 micromolar) or
naltrexone (10 micromolar). At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection the culture medium containing the antagonist was
replaced. Control cells received no antagonist. The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0365] When untreated, 62% of cells had Mu-NLS-GFP in the nucleus
and 20% of cells had receptor detectable on the cell surface. With
naloxone treatment, 21% of cells had receptor expression in the
nucleus and 66% of cells had receptor on the cell surface. With
naltrexone treatment, 22% of cells had receptor expression in the
nucleus and 58% of cells had receptor on the cell surface. Thus the
mu opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone reduced receptor
translocation off the cell surface and to the nucleus.
Example 24: Muscarinic M1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(M1-NLS-GFP) Treated with Antagonist
[0366] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding M1-NLS-GFP (1
microgram), and Ds-Red-NUC (1 microgram) for 48 hours. These cells
were treated with iprotropium bromide (10 micromolar). The medium
containing antagonist was replaced at 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection. Control cells received no antagonist treatment. The
cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0367] Following iprotropium bromide treatment, 72% of the cells
had receptor expression on the cell surface, 17% had receptor
expression in the cytoplasm only, 11% of the cells had receptor
expression in the nucleus.
[0368] For control cells, 64% had receptor expression in the
nucleus, 23% had receptor expression on the cell surface and 13% of
the cells had receptor expression in cytoplasm.
[0369] Treatment with a muscarinic antagonist prevented the
M1-NLS-GFP from translocating off the cell surface and trafficking
to the nucleus.
Example 25: Histamine H1 Receptor with an Incorporated NLS
(H1-NLS-GFP)
[0370] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding the
histamine H1-NLS-GFP receptor (2 micrograms), and a construct
encoding Ds-Red-NUC (1 microgram) for and incubated for 48
hours.
[0371] Approximately 65% of the cells had receptor expression in
the nucleus, and 35% of the cells had receptor expression on both
surface and cytoplasm. Insertion of the NLS into the H1 histamine
receptor resulted in translocation of the receptor off the surface
and to the nucleus.
Example 26: Effect of the Antagonist Promethazine on the
Trafficking of the H1 Histamine Receptor with an NLS Inserted
(H1-NLS-GFP)
[0372] HEK cells were transfected with H1-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms)
and DsRED-Nuc (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. The cells
were treated with promethazine (10 micromolar) for 48 hours.
Nucleii were visualised with DsRED-Nuc. The cells were examined by
confocal microscopy.
[0373] With the promethazine treated cells 88% of the cells had
receptor on the cell surface, 10% of the cells had receptor in the
nucleus. With the untreated cells 85% had receptor expression in
the nucleus and cytoplasm. Thus treatment with promethazine reduced
H1-NLS-GFP trafficking to the nucleus.
Example 26: Angiotensin AT1 Receptor (AT1R)
[0374] A DNA construct (AT1R-RFP) was created encoding a fusion
protein comprising the NLS-containing human angiotensin AT1
receptor and DsRed2 (RFP).
[0375] COS cells were transfected with the DNA construct AT1R-RFP
(4 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours at 37.degree. C.
[0376] Cells were examined by confocal microscopy and the receptor
was found to be located exclusively within the nuclei of the cells,
indicating a basal agonist-independent translocation of the AT1R
into the nucleus.
Example 27: Dopamine Receptor (D1-NLS-GFP) Treated with Agonist for
a Short Term
[0377] HEK cells were transfected with the DNA constructs encoding
D1-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and D1-WT (4 micrograms), and the cells
incubated for 24 hours. The cells were treated with the dopamine D1
agonist, SKF 81297 (10 micromolar) for 35 mins. A single group of
cells were visualised by confocal microscopy in real time.
[0378] An increased expression of the receptor in the nucleus was
demonstrated, with a maximum increase occurring at 20 minutes,
indicating short term agonist effect.
Example 28: Dopamine Transporter with a NLS, Fused to GFP and RFP
(DAT-NLS-GFP and DAT-NLS-RFP)
[0379] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
DAT-GFP (2 micrograms) for 48 hours. Nuclei were visualised with
DsRED-nuc (2 micrograms) using confocal microscopy.
[0380] At 48 hours, DAT-GFP was detected on the cell surface or in
the cytoplasm in 86% of the cells. In 14% of the cells, the
transporter was in the nucleus.
[0381] HEK cells were transfected with a construct encoding
DAT-NLS-RFP (2 micrograms) and visualised by confocal microscopy at
48 hours. DAT-NLS-RFP was detected in the nuclei in 85% of the
cells. In 18% of the cells, the transporter was either at the
surface or in the cytoplasm.
[0382] HEK cells were then transfected with DNA encoding
DAT-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms) and visualised by confocal microscopy at
48 hours. Nuclei were visualised with DsRED-nuc (2 micrograms).
DAT-NLS-GFP was detected in the nucleus of 77% of cells.
Example 29: Co-Trafficking of DAT-GFP with DAT-NLS-RFP
[0383] HEK cells were transfected with DNA constructs encoding
DAT-NLS-RFP (2 micrograms) and DAT-GFP (2 micrograms), and
incubated for 48 hours. The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0384] A yellow fluorescence was detected in the nuclei in 56% of
the cells, indicating co-localisation of DAT-NLS-RFP and DAT-GFP in
the nucleus, confirming oligomerisation of DAT-NLS-RFP and
DAT-GFP.
Example 30: Effect of Cocaine on DAT-NLS-RFP Trafficking to the
Nucleus
[0385] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
DAT-NLS-RFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30
and 42 hours after transfection, the cells were treated with
cocaine or amphetamine (final concentration 10 micromolar), or left
untreated. The cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0386] In the non-treated HEK cells, 77% of the cells had
DAT-NLS-RFP expression in the nucleus.
[0387] Following cocaine treatment, 75% of the cells had cell
surface or cytoplasmic expression of DAT-NLS-RFP, whereas 25% of
the cells had transporter expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Treatment with cocaine reduced the trafficking of the DAT-NLS-RFP
to the nucleus.
[0388] Following amphetamine treatment, 34% of the cells had cell
surface/cytoplasm expression, and 66% of the cells had transporter
expression in the nucleus/cytoplasm. Treatment with an amphetamine
(which does not target DAT but targets the vesicular monoamine
transporter, VMAT) had no inhibitory effect on the trafficking of
the DAT-NLS-RFP to the nucleus.
Example 31: Expression of the Dopamine Transporter with a NLS
(DAT-NLS-GFP) and Treatment with Antagonists
[0389] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
DAT-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30
and 42 hours after transfection, the cells were treated with
GBR-12909 (final concentration 1 micromolar). The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0390] HEK cells were transfected with a construct encoding
DAT-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30
and 42 hours after transfection cells were treated with mazindol
(final concentration 1 micromolar). The cells were examined by
confocal microscopy.
[0391] Control HEK cells were transfected with DAT-NLS-GFP
incubated for 48 hours and not treated with drug.
[0392] In the untreated HEK cells transfected with DAT-NLS-GFP, 77%
of the cells had transporter expression in the nucleus and
cytoplasm, 23% in the cytoplasm only, and 0% on the cell
surface.
[0393] Following GBR-12909 treatment, 62% of the cells had
transporter expression on the cell surface and in cytoplasm, and
38% of the cells had transporter expression in the nucleus and
cytoplasm. Treatment with GBR-12909 reduced DAT-NLS-GFP
translocation off the cell surface and trafficking to the
nucleus.
[0394] Following mazindol treatment 61% of the cells had cell
surface and cytoplasm expression of transporter, and 39% of the
cells had transporter expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Treatment with mazindol reduced the DAT-NLS-GFP translocation of
the cell surface and trafficking to the nucleus.
Example 32: Ability of Dopamine Transporter to Homooligomerise,
Using Staggered Expression of DAT-GFP and DAT-NLS-RFP
[0395] HEK cells were transfected with the DNA construct encoding
DAT-GFP (2 micrograms) and 24 hrs later with the DNA construct
encoding DAT-NLS-RFP (0.5, 1, and 2 micrograms) and incubated for
48 hours. Cells were also transfected with DAT-GFP alone as
control. The cells were incubated 48 hours after the second
transfection. Total incubation period was 72 hours.
[0396] 85% of the cells transfected with DAT-GFP alone contained
transporter in the cytoplasm, and 7% in the nucleus. In the
staggered experiment (ratio 1:0.5), 97% of the cells had yellow
(=red+green) fluorescence in the nucleus. In the staggered
experiment (ratio 1:1), 94% of the cells had yellow fluorescence in
the nucleus. In the staggered experiment (ratio 1:2), 94% of the
cells had yellow fluorescence in the nucleus. Therefore the DAT-GFP
interacted with and dimerised with DAT-NLS-RFP in order to traffic
to the nucleus.
Example 33: Expression of the Metabotropic Glutamate-4-Receptor
(mGluR4-GFP)
[0397] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
mGluR4-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei were
visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were examined
by confocal microscopy.
[0398] 89% of the receptors were expressed at the cell surface.
Thus the mGluR4 receptor was largely located at the cell
surface.
Example 34: Expression of the Metabotropic Glutamate-4 Receptor
with an Inserted NLS (mGluR4-NLS-GFP)
[0399] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
mGluR4-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms), and incubated for 48 hours. The
cells were also transfected with Ds-RED-NUC (2 micrograms) to
verify the localisation of the nucleus. The cells were examined by
confocal microscopy.
[0400] 60% of cells expressing mGluR4-NLS-GFP showed expression of
receptor in the nucleus.
[0401] Thus the insertion of an NLS into the mGluR4 receptor
increased the nuclear localisation of the receptor.
Example 35: Expression of the Muscarinic M1 Receptor with or
without NLS Incorporation (M1-GFP and M1-NLS-GFP)
[0402] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding the
M1-GFP (2 micrograms) or with a construct encoding the M1-NLS-GFP
(2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei were visualised
with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0403] After transfection with M1-GFP, 67% of the cells had
receptor expressed on the cell surface or in the cytoplasm.
[0404] Transfection with M1-NLS-GFP showed 92% of the cells with
nuclear expression of the receptor, indicating that the NLS
directed the receptor to the nucleus.
Example 36: Expression of the H1 Histamine Receptor (H1-GFP)
[0405] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
H1-GFP (1.5 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei were
visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were examined
by confocal microscopy.
[0406] 97% of the cells expressed receptor at the cell surface.
Thus, the unmodified receptor did not traffic to the nucleus.
Example 37: Expression of the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor with
NLS Inserted (CysLT1-NLS-GFP)
[0407] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
CysLT1-NLS-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. Nuclei
were visualised with DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms). The cells were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0408] With the control untreated cells, 0% of the cells had
receptor expression on the cell surface, and 100% of the cells had
nuclear expression, indicating robust removal of the receptor off
the cell surface.
Example 38: Expression of the Serotonin Transporter Fused to GFP
(SERT-GFP)
[0409] HEK cells were transfected with a DNA construct encoding
SERT-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 48 hours. 91% of the
cells expressed transporter on the cell surface and cytoplasm.
Example 39: Expression of the Serotonin Transporter with an
Inserted NLS and Treatment with Fluoxetine (SERT-NLS-GFP)
[0410] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding SERT-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms of DNA) and treated with fluoxetine (final concentration
1 micromolar) for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection, the cells were treated with fluoxetine (final
concentration 1 micromolar). The cells were examined by confocal
microscopy.
[0411] In the untreated cells expressing SERT-NLS-GFP, 0% of the
cells had transporter expression on the cell surface, 26% had
transporter expression in the cytoplasm, and 60% of the cells had
transporter expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
[0412] Following fluoxetine treatment, 68% of the cells had
SERT-NLS-GFP transporter expression on the cell surface and
cytoplasm, and 27% of the cells had transporter expression in the
nucleus and cytoplasm. Thus treatment with fluoxetine inhibited the
SERT-NLS-GFP from translocating off the cell surface and
trafficking to the nucleus.
Example 40: Evaluation of the Ability of Two Different Cell Surface
Membrane Proteins to Interact with Each Other (D2-GFP and
DAT-NLS-RFP)
[0413] HEK cells were cotransfected with DNA constructs encoding
the D2-GFP (2 micrograms) and DAT-NLS-RFP (2 micrograms) and
incubated for 48 hours. Cells were also transfected separately with
D2-GFP and DAT-NLS-RFP alone as controls. The cells were examined
by confocal microscopy.
[0414] 85% of the cells transfected with DAT-NLS-RFP contained
transporter in the nucleus. 97% of the cells transfected with
D2-GFP contained the receptor on the cell surface, and 4% of the
cells contained receptor in the nucleus. 86% of the cotransfected
cells contained yellow (red plus green) fluorescence in the
nucleus, indicating the presence of both D2 and DAT proteins in the
nucleus and confirming dimerisation of the co-expressed
proteins.
Example 41: Evaluation of the Ability of a Membrane Protein and a
Non-Membrane Protein, to Associate in a Complex and Interact with
Each Other (D1-NLS and Beta-Arrestin1-GFP)
[0415] HEK cells were co-transfected with DNA constructs encoding
D1-NLS (2 micrograms) and beta-arrestin1-GFP (2 micrograms) and
incubated for 48 hours. Cells were also transfected with
beta-arrestin1-GFP alone. The cells were checked by confocal
microscopy.
[0416] 100% of cells transfected with beta-arrestin1-GFP alone
expressed fluorescent protein in the cytoplasm. Of these cells 15%
also had fluorescence in the nucleus. 89% of cells co-transfected
with both proteins expressed fluorescent protein in the nucleus and
of these 16% had expression in the cytoplasm. Thus, the interaction
between the GPCR and the non-membrane protein enabled the
trafficking of the non-NLS containing beta-arrestin protein to the
nucleus.
Example 42: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
NLS (HA-D1-NLS) Treatment with Antagonist and Detection with
Fluorometry
[0417] Wells in a multi-well plate were coated with
poly-L-ornithine and then plated with 50,000 cells per well. The
cells were transfected with DNA encoding an HA epitope tagged
D1-NLS receptor and treated with (+)butaclamol (10 nanomolar to 10
micromolar) over 48 hours. Following this, the cells were fixed
with paraformaldehyde, and cell surface receptors were detected
with a rat anti-HA antibody and then a goat anti-rat antibody
conjugated to FITC. The fluorescent signal was detected by
fluorometry (Cytofluor). The results are the average of five wells
per experimental condition and are shown in FIG. 2. There was a
dose-dependent effect of butaclamol to retain receptor on the cell
surface, indicating that this antagonist reduced receptor
trafficking from the cell surface. Thus fluorometry can be utilised
to detect receptor retained at the cell surface.
Example 43: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
NLS (HA-D1-NLS), and Blockade of Antagonist Dose-Response Effect by
Agonist and Detection with Fluorometry
[0418] Wells in a multi-well plate were coated with
poly-L-ornithine and then plated with 50,000 cells per well. The
cells were transfected with DNA encoding an HA epitope tagged
D1-NLS receptor and treated with the antagonist SCH 23390 (1
nanomolar to 1 micromolar) with or without the agonist SKF 81297 (1
micromolar) over 48 hours. Following this, the cells were fixed
with paraformaldehyde, and cell surface receptors were detected
with a rat anti-HA antibody and then a goat anti-rat antibody
conjugated to FITC. The fluorescent signal was detected by
fluorometry (Cytofluor). The results are the average of five wells
per experimental condition. There was a dose-dependent effect of
SCH 23390 to retain receptor on the cell surface, indicating that
this antagonist reduced receptor trafficking from the cell surface.
The concomitant addition of agonist reduced the antagonist effect
(FIG. 3). Thus agonist action can be detected by blockade of
antagonist effect and fluorometry can be utilised to quantify the
agonist effect.
Example 43b: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an
Inserted NLS (HA-D1-NLS), and Blockade of Antagonist Effect by
Agonist Dose-Response and Detection with Fluorometry
[0419] HEK cells were transfected with HA-D1-NLS in a multi-well
plate were coated with poly-L-ornithine at a concentration of
50,000 cells per well. The cells were treated with the antagonist
SCH 23390 (0.5 micromolar) for 48 hrs. The agonist SKF 81297 (100
nanomolar to 1 micromolar) together with SCH 23390 was added for
the last hour of incubation. Following this, the cells were fixed
with paraformaldehyde, and cell surface receptors were detected
with a rat anti-HA antibody and then a goat anti-rat antibody
conjugated to FITC. The fluorescent signal was detected by
fluorometry (Cytofluor). The results are the average of five wells
per experimental condition.
[0420] Treatment with SCH 23390 retained HA-D1-NLS on the cell
surface (FIG. 4, Bar 1 vs. Bar 6). Short-term addition of the
agonist resulted in a dose-dependent blockade of SCH 23390 effect.
Removal of SCH 23390 from the cells for the last hour of incubation
(and in the absence of agonist) resulted in a 33% loss of HA-D1-NLS
receptors from the cell surface (FIG. 4, Bar 5 vs. Bar 6), whereas
addition of agonist SKF 81297 100 nanomolar in the continued
presence of SCH 23390 resulted in a 66% loss of receptors from the
cell surface (FIG. 4, Bar 4 vs. Bar 6), up to a 78% loss of
receptors with addition of SKF 81297 1 micromolar (FIG. 4, Bar 2
vs. Bar 6).
[0421] The effect of the antagonist SCH 23390 resulted in retention
of receptor on the cell surface, indicating that this antagonist
reduced receptor trafficking from the cell surface. The concomitant
addition of agonist reduced the antagonist effect and accelerated
the removal of the receptor from the cell surface in a
dose-responsive manner. Thus interacting compounds can be detected
by blockade of the effect of compounds that retain the
NLS-containing receptor at the cell surface and fluorometry can be
utilized to quantify the effect.
Example 44: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
(D1-NLS), Treatment with (+)Butaclamol 10 Micromolar and Detection
with Radioligand Binding
[0422] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS and
treated with (+)butaclamol (10 micromolar) or left untreated. After
48 hours, the cells were washed, harvested, lysed and homogenised
by polytron. The membrane fraction was collected by centrifugation
and then layered over 35% sucrose solution and centrifuged at
30,000 rpm at 4 degrees C. for 90 min to collect the heavy membrane
fraction.
[0423] The membrane fractions were subjected to radioligand binding
assay using [.sup.3H]-SCH23390 with (+)butaclamol (10 micromolar)
used to define specific binding. The incubation was at room
temperature for 2 hours, followed by rapid filtration and
quantitation by scintillation counting.
[0424] Antagonist treatment of D1-NLS prevented its translocation
off the cell surface and to the nucleus and the receptor retained
on the cell surface was quantified by radioligand binding assay
(FIG. 5).
Example 45: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
NLS (D1-NLS), Treatment with (+)Butaclamol 500 Nanomolar and
Detection with Radioligand Binding
[0425] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS and
treated with (+)butaclamol 500 nanomolar or left untreated. After
48 hours, the cells were washed, harvested, lysed and homogenised
by polytron. The membrane fraction was collected by centrifugation
and then layered over 35% sucrose solution and centrifuged at
30,000 rpm at 4 degrees C. for 90 min to collect the heavy membrane
fraction.
[0426] The membranes were subjected to radioligand binding assay
using [.sup.3H]-SCH23390 with (+)butaclamol 10 micromolar used to
define specific binding. The incubation was at room temperature for
2 hours, followed by rapid filtration and quantitation by
scintillation counting. Results are shown in Tables 4 and 5.
TABLE-US-00060 TABLE 4 Control plasma membrane fraction Sample 1
Sample 2 Mean NSB SB pmol/mg prot 2739 3596 3167 1077 2090 1.42
TABLE-US-00061 TABLE 5 Butaclamol treated plasma membrane fraction
Sample1 Sample2 Mean NSB SB pmol/mg prot 16419 15362 15890 471
15419 13.15 NSB: non-specific binding SB: specific binding
Antagonist treatment with (+)butaclamol of D1-NLS prevented its
translocation to the nucleus and the receptor retained on the cell
surface was quantified by radioligand binding assay.
Example 46: Expression of the Dopamine D1 Receptor with an Inserted
NLS (D1-NLS), Treatment with (+)Butaclamol 100 Nanomolar and
Detection with Radioligand Binding
[0427] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS and
treated with (+)butaclamol 100 nanomolar or left untreated. After
48 hours, the cells were washed, harvested, lysed and homogenised
by polytron. The membrane fraction was collected by centrifugation
and then layered over 35% sucrose solution and centrifuged at
30,000 rpm at 4 degrees C. for 90 min to collect the heavy membrane
fraction.
[0428] The membranes were subjected to radioligand binding assay
using [.sup.3H]-SCH23390 with (+)butaclamol (10 micromolar) to
define specific binding. The incubation was at room temperature for
2 hours, followed by rapid filtration and quantitation by
scintillation counting.
[0429] Antagonist treatment with (+)butaclamol (100 nanomolar)
prevented D1-NLS translocation to the nucleus and the receptor
retained on the cell surface was quantified by radioligand binding
assay. In the absence of butaclamol treatment, 0.03 pmol/mg protein
of receptor was detected in the cell surface membranes, and with
butaclamol treatment, 0.09 pmol/mg protein of receptor was detected
in the cell surface membranes.
Example 47: Expression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
(Tyrosine Kinase Receptor) EGFR-GFP and EGFR-NLS-GFP
[0430] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding EGFR-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms). HEK cells were also transfected with DNA encoding
EGFR-GFP (2 micrograms) and incubated for 24 hours.
[0431] EGFR-GFP was expressed on the cell surface in 73% of cells
and 12% of cells had receptor in the nucleus. EGFR-NLS-GFP was
expressed in the nucleus in 91% of cells and 0% of cells had
receptor on the cell surface. The incorporation of a NLS into the
sequence of the EGF receptor induced robust translocation off the
cell surface and into the nucleus.
Example 48: Expression of the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor
(LDL-GFP)
[0432] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding the LDL-GFP (2
micrograms) and incubated for 24 hours. The receptor was expressed
on the cell surface in 67% of cells and in the nucleus in 8% of
cells.
[0433] The LDL receptor is expressed on the cell surface in the
majority of cells with not many cells containing receptor in the
nucleus.
Example 49: Expression of the LDL Receptor with a NLS
(LDL-NLS-GFP)
[0434] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding LDL-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms), and DsRED-NUC (2 micrograms), and incubated for 48
hours. Cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0435] LDL-NLS-GFP was expressed in the nucleus in 22% of cells,
and on the cell surface in 67%. The incorporation of a NLS into the
LDL receptor induced receptor translocation into the nucleus.
Example 50: Expression of the Erythropoietin Receptor (Cytokine
Receptor) EPO-GFP and EPO-NLS-GFP
[0436] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding EPO-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms). HEK cells were transfected with EPO-GPF (2
micrograms). The cells were also transfected with DsRed-NUC (2
micrograms). The cells were incubated for 48 hours and were
examined by confocal microscopy.
[0437] The EPO-NLS-GFP was located in the nucleus of 72% of cells
and on the cell surface in 0% of cells. The EPO-GFP was located on
the cell surface in 79%4 of cells and 28% of cells had receptor
expression in the nucleus. The incorporation of a NLS into the
sequence of the EPO receptor induced translocation off the cell
surface and into the nucleus.
Example 51: Expression of the Serotonin Transporter with a NLS
(SERT-NLS-GFP) and Treatment with Sertraline
[0438] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding SERT-NLS-GFP (2
micrograms of DNA) and treated with sertraline (final concentration
500 nanomolar) for 48 hours. At 6, 22, 30 and 42 hours after
transfection, the cells were treated with sertraline. The cells
were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0439] In the untreated cells expressing SERT-NLS-GFP, 0% of the
cells had transporter expression on the cell surface and 75% of the
cells had transporter expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
[0440] Following sertraline treatment, 69% of the cells had
SERT-NLS-GFP transporter expression on the cell surface and
cytoplasm, and 21% of the cells had transporter expression in the
nucleus and cytoplasm. Thus treatment with sertraline inhibited the
SERT-NLS-GFP from translocating off the cell surface and
trafficking to the nucleus.
Example 52: Expression of D1 Dopamine Receptor with an Alternate
NLS (D1-NLS2-GFP) and Treatment with Antagonists
[0441] HEK cells were transfected with DNA encoding D1-NLS2-GFP (2
micrograms) and treated with (+)butaclamol or SCH 23390 (1
micromolar) for 48 hrs. Nuclei were visualised with DsRed-nuc (2
micrograms). Cells were examined by confocal microscopy.
[0442] With butaclamol treatment, 81% of cells had receptor on the
cell surface or in cytoplasm and 19% of cells had receptor
expression in the nucleus. With SCH 23390 treatment, 78% of cells
had receptor on the cell surface or in cytoplasm and 22% of cells
had receptor expression in the nucleus
[0443] In the untreated cells, 89% of cells had receptor expression
in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
[0444] Thus treatment with the dopamine D1 antagonists prevented
D1-NLS2-GFP receptor translocation off the surface and trafficking
to or toward the nucleus.
[0445] The present invention is not limited to the features of the
embodiments described herein, but includes all variations and
modifications within the scope of the claims.
REFERENCES
[0446] Bailey et al., (2001), Expert Opinion in Therapeutics, v.11,
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TABLE-US-00062 [0470] TABLE 1 EXAMPLES OF NUCLEAR LOCALISATION
SEQUENCES (adapted from Jans et al. 2002) Protein Nuclear
Localisation Sequence (SEQ ID NO) Human a1 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 CBP80
RRR-(11 aa)-KRRK 130 DNA helicase Q1 KK-(15 aa)-KKRK 131 BRCA1
KRKRRP, PKKNRLRRK 132, 133 Mitosin KRQR-(20 aa)-KKSKK 134 Myc
PAAKRVKLD 135 NF-kB p50 QRKRQK 136 NF-kB p65 HRIEEKRKRTYETFKSI 137
HIV1422 KKKYKLK 138 HIV1423 KSKKKAQ 139 Human a2 T-ag PKKKRKV 129
NF-kB p50 QRKRQK 136 DNA helicase Q1 KK-(15 aa)-KKRK 131 LEF-1
KKKKRKREK 140 EBNA1 LKRPRSPSS 141 HIV-1 IN KRK-(22 aa)-KELQKQITK
142 HIV-1 MA GKKKYKLKH 143 HIV1422 KKKYKLK 144 HIV1423 KSKKKAQ 145
RCP 4.1R EED-(350 aa)-KKKRERLD 146 Human a3 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 DNA
helicase Q1 CYFQKKAANMLQQSGSKNTGAKKRK 147 tTS DILRR-(323 aa)-PKQKRK
148 Human a4 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 Mouse a1 LEF-1 KKKKRKREK 140 Mouse a2
T-agaCK2 site SSDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKV 149 Impa-P1) T-ag PKKKRKV 129
N1N2 RKKRK-(9 aa)-KAKKSK 150 RB KR-(11 aa)-KKLR 151 Dorsal
aPK{hacek over ( )}A site RRPS-(22 aa)-RRKRQK 152 CBP80 RRR-(11
aa)-KRRK 153 DNA helicase Q1 KK-(15 aa)-KKRK 131 LEF-1 KKKKRKREK
140 Mouse a2 T-agaCK2 SSDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKV 149 Impa-P1) T-ag
PKKKRKV 129 N1N2 RKKRK-(9 aa)-KAKKSK 150 RB KR-(11 aa)-KKLR 151
Dorsal aPK{hacek over ( )}A RRPS-(22 aa)-RRKRQK 152 CBP80 RRR-(11
aa)-KRRK 153 DNA helicase Q1 KK-(15 aa)-KKRK 131 LEF-1 KKKKRKREK
140 Xenopus a1 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 Nucleoplasmin KR-(10 aa)-KKKL 154
Yeast a1 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 (SRP1, Kap60) T-agaCK2
SSDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKV 149 N1N2 RKKRK-(9 aa)-KAKKSK 150 HIV-1 IN
KRK-(22 aa)-KELQKQITK 142 Plant a1 T-ag PKKKRKV 129 T-agaCK2
SSDDEATADSQHSTPPKKKRKV 149 Opaque-2 RKRK-(7 aa)-RRSRYRK 155 R
Protein (Maize) MISEALRKA 156 N1N2 RKKRK-(9 aa)-KAKKSK 150 RAG-1,
recombination activating protein 1; RCP, red cell protein; RB,
Retinoblastoma protein; STAT, signal transducer and activator of
transcription (TF); VCBP80, Cap-binding protein; LEF, Lymphocyte
enhancer factor; VEBNA, Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen; IN,
HIV-1 integrase; tTG, tissue transglutaminase; ICP, Infected cell
protein.
Sequence CWU 1
1
177149DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 1gaggactctg aacaccgaat
tcgccgccat ggacgggact gggctggtg 49245DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
2gtgtggcagg attcatctgg gtaccgcggt tgggtgctga ccgtt
45351DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 3cctaagaggg ttgaaaatct tttaaatttt
ttagcattaa aggcataaat g 51448DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
4gcctttaatg ctaaaaaatt taaaagattt tcaaccctct taggatgc
48519PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 5Asn Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe
Asn Ala Asp Phe Arg Lys Ala Phe Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Leu
619PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 6Asn Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe
Asn Ala Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Phe Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Leu
727DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 7tacccttacg acgtgccgga ttacgcc
2789PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 8Tyr Pro Tyr Asp Val Pro Asp
Tyr Ala 1 5 984DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 9ggatccacta gtaacggccg
ccagaccacc atgggatacc cgtacgacgt ccccgactac 60gcaaggactc tgaacacctc
tgcc 841036DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 10ggccgccagc tgcgagttca
ggttgggtgc tgaccg 361116PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 11Met Arg
Thr Leu Asn Thr Ser Ala Met Asp Gly Thr Gly Leu Val Val 1 5 10 15
1226PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 12Met Gly Tyr Pro Tyr Asp Val
Pro Asp Tyr Ala Arg Thr Leu Asn Thr 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Met Asp Gly
Thr Gly Leu Val Val 20 25 1336DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
13ggaaagttct tttaagaaga agttcaaaag agaaac 361436DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 14gtttctcttt tgaacttctt cttaaaagaa ctttcc
361517PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 15Gln Pro Glu Ser Ser Phe
Lys Met Ser Phe Lys Arg Glu Thr Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Leu
1617PRTArtificial Sequecnesynthesized 16Gln Pro Glu Ser Ser Phe Lys
Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Glu Thr Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Leu 1737DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 17ccggtatgag aaaaagttta aacgcaaggc agccttc
371839DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 18ggctgccttg cgtttaaact
ttttctcata ccggaaagg 391918PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 19Asn
Pro Phe Arg Tyr Glu Arg Lys Met Thr Pro Lys Ala Ala Phe Ile 1 5 10
15 Leu Ile 2018PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 20Asn Pro Phe Arg
Tyr Glu Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Lys Ala Ala Phe Ile 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile
2139DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 21gtgctgccgt taaaaagttc aaacgcctgc
ggtccaagg 392240DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 22ggaccgcagg
cgtttgaact ttttaacggc agcacagacc 402318PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 23Leu Val Cys Ala Ala Val Ile Arg Phe Arg His
Leu Arg Ser Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Thr Asn 2418PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 24Leu Val Cys Ala Ala Val Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg
Leu Arg Ser Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Thr Asn 2544DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 25gcctttaatc ctaaaaaaaa aagaaaggtt tcaaccctct tagg
442644DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 26cctaagaggg ttgaaacctt
tctttttttt ttaggattaa aggc 442719PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
27Asn Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe Asn Ala Asp Phe Arg Lys Ala Phe Ser 1
5 10 15 Thr Leu Leu 2819PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 28Asn Pro
Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe Asn Pro Lys Lys Lys Arg Lys Val Ser 1 5 10 15
Thr Leu Leu 2945DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 29ggccgtggct
ccaccgaatt cgccgccatg gatccactga atctg 453043DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 30ctgtgcgggc aggcagggta ccgcgcagtg gaggatcttc agg
433144DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 31caccaccttc aacaaaaaat
tcaaaagagc cttcctgaag atcc 443244DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
32ggatcttcag gaaggctctt ttgaattttt tgttgaaggt ggtg
443346DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 33ggcatcacgc acctcaagct
tgccgccatg gcatctctga gtcagc 463445DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
34gagtgttccc tcttctgcgg taccgcgcaa gacaggatct tgagg
453517DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 35aatacgactc actatag
173646DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 36cgccagtgtg atggataatg
gtaccgcatg gaatccattc ggggtg 463724DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
37gcgccaatga gcctccccaa ttcc 243825DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
38gagcctccct taggagcgaa tatgc 253936DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
39cgcctgcagg ccgccatgag cctccccaat tcctcc 364034DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 40ccggtggatc ccgggccccg gagcgaatat gcag
344163DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 41gggccccgga gcgaatatgc
agaattctct tgaatgtcct cttgaatttt ttattgcaca 60agg
634235DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 42aagaattcgc caccatggat
gaaacaggaa atctg 354330DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 43gggtaccgct
actttacata tttcttctcc 304438DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
44ttcttttctg ggaaaaaatt taagagaagg ctgtctac 384537DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 45tgtagacagc cttctcttaa attttttccc agaaaag
374648DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 46ctttttgtgt ctgtttctga
attcgccacc atggagagaa aatttatg 484746DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
47gaacaggtct catctaagag gtaccgctac tcttgtttcc tttctc
464837DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 48gctgggaaaa aatttaaaag
aagactaaag tctgcac 374938DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 49gtcttctttt
aaattttttc ccagcaaagt aatagagc 385026DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
50ccccacctag ccaccatgaa cacttc 265125DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
51ggggactatc agcattggcg ggagg 255232DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
52ccccacctgc agccaccatg aacacttcag cc 325333DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 53ggggaggatc cgcgcattgg cgggagggag tgc
335438DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 54cgcactctgc aacaaaaaat
tcaaacgcac ctttcgcc 385538DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 55ggcgaaaggt
gcgtttgaat tttttgttgc agagtgcg 385634DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
56ggggcgaatt cgccgccatg gaggaaccgg gtgc 345734DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 57gcaaacggta ccgcacttgt gcacttaaaa cgta
345839DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 58atgtccaata aaaaatttaa
aagagcattc cataaactg 395938DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
59ggaatgctct tttaaatttt ttattggaca tggtatag 386017DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 60aatacgactc actatag 176149DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 61gccgccagtg tgatggatac tggtaccgct agcagtgagt
catttgtac 496239DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 62ccccttatct
acgcctttag cgcaaagaag ttcaagcgc 396339DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
63gcgcttgaac ttctttgcgc taaaggcgta gataagggg 396438DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 64ctgccggagc aaaaaattca aaagagcctt ccaggagc
386538DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 65cctggaaggc tcttttgaat
tttttgctcc ggcagtag 386619PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 66Asn
Pro Leu Ile Tyr Cys Arg Ser Pro Asp Phe Ile Arg Ala Phe Gln 1 5 10
15 Glu Leu Leu 6719PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 67Asn Pro Leu
Ile Tyr Cys Arg Ser Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Ala Phe Gln 1 5 10 15 Glu
Leu Leu 6838DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 68cgtctctgct ccctggtacc
gccaccttga gccagtgg 386920DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 69taatacgact
cactataggg 207038DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 70cgtctctgct
ccctggtacc gccaccttga gccagtgg 387137DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
71ctatgcggcc aaaaagttca aaagactgcc tgggtcc 377238DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 72caggcagtct tttgaacttt ttggccgcat agatgggc
387324PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 73Ser Ser Met Ala Met Val
Pro Ile Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Lys Phe Cys Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Gly Ser
Phe Arg Glu Lys 20 7424PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 74Ser Ser
Met Ala Met Val Pro Ile Tyr Ala Ala Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg 1 5 10 15
Leu Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Glu Lys 20 7537DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
75ctatgcggcc aaaaagttca aaagactgcc tgggtcc 377638DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 76caggcagtct tttgaacttt ttggccgcat agatgggc
387724PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 77Ser Ser Met Ala Met Val
Pro Ile Tyr Ala Ala Tyr Lys Phe Cys Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Gly Ser
Phe Arg Glu Lys 20 7824PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 78Ser Ser
Met Ala Met Val Pro Ile Tyr Ala Ala Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg 1 5 10 15
Leu Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Glu Lys 20 7940DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
79gtcatttact aagcttgcca ccatggagac gacgcccttg 408037DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 80cctctcggtg agtggtaccg ccacagcatt caagcgg
378139DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 81ggacactgcc tggcaaagct
tgcgagcatg gggccctgg 398240DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
82ggcgggactc caggcaggta ccgccgccac gtcatcctcc 408342DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 83ctatggaaga actggaaaaa atttaaaaga aacagcatca ac
428442DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 84caaagttgat gctgtttctt
ttaaattttt tccagttctt cc 428520PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
85Phe Leu Leu Trp Lys Asn Trp Arg Leu Lys Asn Ile Asn Ser Ile Asn 1
5 10 15 Phe Asp Asn Pro 20 8620PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
86Phe Leu Leu Trp Lys Asn Trp Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Asn Ser Ile Asn 1
5 10 15 Phe Asp Asn Pro 20 8740DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
87gctcttcggg ctcgagcagc gatgcgaccc tccgggacgg 408839DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 88ctatcctccg tggtaccgct gctccaataa attcactgc
398937DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 89gatcatcact ccaaagaaat
ttaaaagacg tattatt 379040DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 90taatacgtct
tttaaatttc tttggagtga tgatcaaccg 409118PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 91Arg Leu Ile Ile Thr Pro Gly Thr Phe Lys Glu
Arg Ile Ile Lys Ser 1 5 10 15 Ile Thr 9218PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 92Arg Leu Ile Ile Thr Pro Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg
Arg Ile Ile Lys Ser 1 5 10 15 Ile Thr 9334DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 93gggtctctaa gcttgccgcc atgtccggga aggg
349433DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 94ccgcggcccg gaattcggat
ggcatggttg gtg 339537DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 95cgtgcccaag
aaattcaagc gcctcaaagc cgtggtc 379638DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
96cggctttgag gcgcttgaat ttcttgggca cgttctgc 389722PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 97Phe His Pro Glu Gln Asn Val Pro Lys Arg Lys
Arg Ser Leu Lys Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Val Thr Ala Ala Thr 20
9822PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 98Phe His Pro Glu Gln Asn Val
Pro Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Leu Lys Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Val Thr Ala Ala
Thr 20 9939DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 99ggagacccca agcttccgca
gccatgggca ccgggggcc 3910039DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
100ccccgccacg ggccccggaa ggattggacc gaggcaagg 3910142DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 101ccgctgggac cgaaaaaatt taagagaaac cctgagtatc tc
4210243DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 102gatactcagg gtttctctta
aattttttcg gtcccagcgg ccc 4310320DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
103taatacgact cactataggg 2010444DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
104gactgcagcc tggtggtacc gcagagcaag ccacatagct gggg
4410520DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 105taatacgact cactataggg
2010644DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 106gactgcagcc tggtggtacc
gcagagcaag ccacatagct gggg 4410740DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
107gctgctctcc cacaaaaagt ttaagcggca gaagatctgg 4010840DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 108ccagatcttc tgccgcttaa actttttgtg ggagagcagc
4010921PRTArtificial SequencesynthesizedMISC_FEATURE(14)..(14)Xaa
equals Orn 109Thr Val Leu Ala Leu Leu Ser His Arg Arg Ala Leu Lys
Xaa Lys Ile 1 5 10 15 Trp Pro Gly Ile Pro 20 11021PRTArtificial
SequencesynthesizedMISC_FEATURE(14)..(14)Xaa equals Orn 110Thr Val
Leu Ala Leu Leu Ser His Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Xaa Lys Ile 1 5 10 15
Trp Pro Gly Ile Pro 20 11140DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
111gctcttcggg ctcgagcagc gatgcgaccc tccgggacgg 4011239DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 112ctatcctccg tggtaccgct gctccaataa attcactgc
3911337DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 113cacatcgttc ggaagaagtt
taagcggagg ctgctgc 3711440DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
114cctgcagcag cctccgctta aacttcttcc gaacgatgtg 4011519PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 115Arg Arg Arg His Ile Val Arg Lys Arg Thr Leu
Arg Arg Leu Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Glu 11619PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 116Arg Arg Arg His Ile Val Arg Lys Lys Phe Lys
Arg Arg Leu Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Glu 11749DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 117gaggactctg aacaccgaat tcgccgccat ggacgggact
gggctggtg 4911845DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 118gtgtggcagg
attcatctgg gtaccgcggt tgggtgctga ccgtt 4511941DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 119cctctgagga cctgaaaaag aagagaaagg ctggcatcgc c
4112041DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 120ggcgatgcca gcctttctct
tctttttcag gtcctcagag g 4112133PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
121Asn Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe Asn Ala Asp Phe Arg Lys Ala Phe Ser
1 5 10 15 Thr Leu Leu Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala Ala
Gly Ile 20 25 30 Ala 12233PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 122Asn
Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe Asn Ala Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg Phe Ser 1 5 10
15 Thr Leu Leu Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Lys Lys Lys Arg Lys Ala Gly Ile
20 25 30 Ala 12345DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 123cctagtccgc
agcaggccga attcgccacc atggacagca gcacc 4512444DNAArtificial
Sequenceprimer 124gatggtgtga gaccggtacc gcgggcaatg gagcagtttc tgcc
4412545DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 125cctagtccgc agcaggccga
attcgccacc atggacagca gcacc 4512645DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer
126ggatggtgtg agaccggtac cgcgggcaat ggagcagttt ctgcc
4512730DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 127gccttcctgg ataaaaaatt
caagcgatgc 3012831DNAArtificial Sequenceprimer 128gcatcgcttg
aattttttat ccaggaaggc g 311297PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
129Pro Lys Lys Lys Arg Lys Val 1 5 13018PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(4)..(14)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 130Arg Arg Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Lys Arg 1 5 10 15 Arg Lys 13121PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(3)..(17)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 131Lys Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10 15 Xaa Lys Lys Arg Lys 20
1326PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 132Lys Arg Lys Arg Arg Pro 1
5 1339PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 133Pro Lys Lys Asn Arg Leu
Arg Arg Lys 1 5 13429PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(5)..(24)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 134Lys Arg Gln Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10
15 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Lys Lys Ser Lys Lys 20 25
1359PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 135Pro Ala Ala Lys Arg Val
Lys Leu Asp 1 5 1366PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 136Gln Arg
Lys Arg Gln Lys 1 5 13717PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 137His
Arg Ile Glu Glu Lys Arg Lys Arg Thr Tyr Glu Thr Phe Lys Ser 1 5 10
15 Ile 1387PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 138Lys Lys Lys Tyr Lys
Leu Lys 1 5 1397PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 139Lys Ser Lys
Lys Lys Ala Gln 1 5 1409PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 140Lys
Lys Lys Lys Arg Lys Arg Glu Lys 1 5 1419PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 141Leu Lys Arg Pro Arg Ser Pro Ser Ser 1 5
14234PRTArtificial SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(4)..(25)Xaa can
be any naturally occurring amino acid 142Lys Arg Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10 15 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Lys Glu Leu Gln Lys Gln Ile 20 25 30 Thr Lys
1439PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 143Gly Lys Lys Lys Tyr Lys
Leu Lys His 1 5 1447PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 144Lys Lys
Lys Tyr Lys Leu Lys 1 5 1457PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized
145Lys Ser Lys Lys Lys Ala Gln 1 5 146361PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(4)..(353)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 146Glu Glu Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10 15 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 20 25 30 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 35 40 45 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 50 55 60 Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 65 70 75 80 Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 85 90
95 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
100 105 110 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa 115 120 125 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 130 135 140 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 145 150 155 160 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 165 170 175 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 180 185 190 Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 195 200 205 Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 210 215
220 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
225 230 235 240 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa 245 250 255 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 260 265 270 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 275 280 285 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 290 295 300 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 305 310 315 320 Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 325 330 335
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 340
345 350 Xaa Lys Lys Lys Arg Glu Arg Leu Asp 355 360
14725PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 147Cys Tyr Phe Gln Lys Lys
Ala Ala Asn Met Leu Gln Gln Ser Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Lys Asn Thr Gly
Ala Lys Lys Arg Lys 20 25 148334PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(6)..(328)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 148Asp Ile Leu Arg Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10 15 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 20 25 30 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 35 40 45 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 50 55 60 Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 65 70 75 80 Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 85 90
95 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
100 105 110 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa 115 120 125 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 130 135 140 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 145 150 155 160 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 165 170 175 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 180 185 190 Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 195 200 205 Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 210 215
220 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
225 230 235 240 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa 245 250 255 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 260 265 270 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 275 280 285 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 290 295 300 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 305 310 315 320 Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Lys Gln Lys Arg Lys 325 330
14922PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 149Ser Ser Asp Asp Glu Ala
Thr Ala Asp Ser Gln His Ser Thr Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Lys Lys Lys Arg
Lys Val 20 15020PRTArtificial
SequencesynthesizedMISC_FEATURE(6)..(14)Xaa equals a sequence of
any 9 amino acids 150Arg Lys Lys Arg Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Lys Ala 1 5 10 15 Lys Lys Ser Lys 20 15117PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(3)..(13)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 151Lys Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Lys Lys Leu 1 5 10 15 Arg 15232PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(5)..(26)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 152Arg Arg Pro Ser Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 5 10 15 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Arg Arg Lys Arg Gln Lys 20 25 30 15318PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(4)..(14)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 153Arg Arg Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Xaa Xaa Lys Arg 1 5 10 15 Arg Lys 15416PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(3)..(12)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 154Lys Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Xaa Lys Lys Lys Leu 1 5 10 15 15518PRTArtificial
SequenceSynthesizedmisc_feature(5)..(11)Xaa can be any naturally
occurring amino acid 155Arg Lys Arg Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa
Arg Arg Ser Arg Tyr 1 5 10 15 Arg Lys 1569PRTArtificial
Sequencesynthesized 156Met Ile Ser Glu Ala Leu Arg Lys Ala 1 5
1575PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 157Lys Lys Phe Lys Arg 1 5
1589PRTArtificial Sequencesynthesized 158Ala Phe Ser Ala Lys Lys
Phe Lys Arg 1 5 159446PRTArtificial SequenceD1 Dopamine receptor
sequence, with NLS 159Met Arg Thr Leu Asn Thr Ser Ala Met Asp Gly
Thr Gly Leu Val Val 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Asp Phe Ser Val Arg Ile Leu
Thr Ala Cys Phe Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30 Leu Ile Leu Ser Thr Leu Leu
Gly Asn Thr Leu Val Cys Ala Ala Val 35 40 45 Ile Arg Phe Arg His
Leu Arg Ser Lys Val Thr Asn Phe Phe Val Ile 50 55 60 Ser Leu Ala
Val Ser Asp Leu Leu Val Ala Val Leu Val Met Pro Trp 65 70 75 80 Lys
Ala Val Ala Glu Ile Ala Gly Phe Trp Pro Phe Gly Ser Phe Cys 85 90
95 Asn Ile Trp Val Ala Phe Asp Ile Met Cys Ser Thr Ala Ser Ile Leu
100 105 110 Asn Leu Cys Val Ile Ser Val Asp Arg Tyr Trp Ala Ile Ser
Ser Pro 115 120 125 Phe Arg Tyr Glu Arg Lys Met Thr Pro Lys Ala Ala
Phe Ile Leu Ile 130 135 140 Ser Val Ala Trp Thr Leu Ser Val Leu Ile
Ser Phe Ile Pro Val Gln 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Trp His Lys Ala Lys
Pro Thr Ser Pro Ser Asp Gly Asn Ala 165 170 175 Thr Ser Leu Ala Glu
Thr Ile Asp Asn Cys Asp Ser Ser Leu Ser Arg 180 185 190 Thr Tyr Ala
Ile Ser Ser Ser Val Ile Ser Phe Tyr Ile Pro Val Ala 195 200 205 Ile
Met Ile Val Thr Tyr Thr Arg Ile Tyr Arg Ile Ala Gln Lys Gln 210 215
220 Ile Arg Arg Ile Ala Ala Leu Glu Arg Ala Ala Val His Ala Lys Asn
225 230 235 240 Cys Gln Thr Thr Thr Gly Asn Gly Lys Pro Val Glu Cys
Ser Gln Pro 245 250 255 Glu Ser Ser Phe Lys Met Ser Phe Lys Arg Glu
Thr Lys Val Leu Lys 260 265 270 Thr Leu Ser Val Ile Met Gly Val Phe
Val Cys Cys Trp Leu Pro Phe 275 280 285 Phe Ile Leu Asn Cys Ile Leu
Pro Phe Cys Gly Ser Gly Glu Thr Gln 290 295 300 Pro Phe Cys Ile Asp
Ser Asn Thr Phe Asp Val Phe Val Trp Phe Gly 305 310 315 320 Trp Ala
Asn Ser Ser Leu Asn Pro Ile Ile Tyr Ala Phe Asn Ala Lys 325 330 335
Lys Phe Lys Arg Phe Ser Thr Leu Leu Gly Cys Tyr Arg Leu Cys Pro 340
345 350 Ala Thr Asn Asn Ala Ile Glu Thr Val Ser Ile Asn Asn Asn Gly
Ala 355 360 365 Ala Met Phe Ser Ser His His Glu Pro Arg Gly Ser Ile
Ser Lys Glu 370 375 380 Cys Asn Leu Val Tyr Leu Ile Pro His Ala Val
Gly Ser Ser Glu Asp 385 390 395 400 Leu Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala Ala Gly
Ile Ala Arg Pro Leu Glu Lys Leu 405 410 415 Ser Pro Ala Leu Ser Val
Ile Leu Asp Tyr Asp Thr Asp Val Ser Leu 420 425 430 Glu Lys Ile Gln
Pro Ile Thr Gln Asn Gly Gln His Pro Thr 435 440 445
1605PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 160Glu Asn Phe Lys Lys 1 5
1615PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 161Gly Asn Phe Arg Lys 1 5
1625PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 162Glu Asn Phe Lys Asp 1 5
1635PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 163Lys Ala Phe Arg Asp 1 5
1645PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 164Glu Asp Phe Lys Gln 1 5
1655PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 165Pro Asp Phe Arg Ile 1 5
1665PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 166Arg Leu Lys Asn Ile 1 5
1675PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 167Gly Thr Phe Lys Glu 1 5
1685PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 168Lys Arg Lys Arg Ser 1 5
1695PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 169Leu Tyr Ala Ser Ser 1 5
1705PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 170Arg Arg Ala Leu Lys 1 5
1715PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 171Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala 1 5
1725PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 172Met Ser Phe Lys Arg 1 5
1737PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 173Ala Asp Phe Arg Lys Ala Phe
1 5 1745PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 174Ile Glu Phe Arg Lys 1 5
1755PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 175Asp Phe Arg Lys Ala 1 5
1769PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 176Cys Arg Ser Pro Asp Phe Arg
Ile Ala 1 5 1775PRTArtificial SequenceSynthetic 177Lys Lys Lys Arg
Lys 1 5
* * * * *