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Robert J. Lefkowitz

Bio: Robert J. Lefkowitz is an academic researcher from Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Receptor & G protein-coupled receptor. The author has an hindex of 214, co-authored 860 publications receiving 147995 citations. Previous affiliations of Robert J. Lefkowitz include University of Nice Sophia Antipolis & University of Stuttgart.


Papers
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Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: This review has focused on the regulatory role of receptor phosphorylation, and it is by no means the authors' intent to suggest that receptors are the only locus for physiological control of sensitivity to hormone and drug reaction.
Abstract: Mounting evidence suggests that the physiological function of the various subtypes of adrenergic receptors is controlled by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation reactions. It seems intuitively unlikely that this phenomenon will be limited simply to the adrenergic receptors, since these receptors share transmembrane signaling pathways with a host of other plasma membrane receptors. Different types of kinases appear to be involved. On the one hand, phosphorylation reactions may operate in a classical feedback regulatory sense. Thus, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, once activated by a beta-agonist, can feedback-regulate the function of the receptors by phosphorylating and desensitizing them. Similarly, protein kinase C appears to be able to feedback-regulate the function of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors by phosphorylation. There may also be "cross talk" between the systems. Thus, protein kinase C, when stimulated by phorbols, is able to phosphorylate and desensitize the beta-adrenergic receptors. Moreover, very recently we have found that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase can phosphorylate the alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in vitro. These are examples of one transmembrane signaling system regulating the function of another. Perhaps most interestingly, it appears that there may be a previously unappreciated class of receptor kinases in the cytosol of cells. The first of these, which we have recently found and named beta-ARK, serves to phosphorylate only the agonist-occupied form of the beta-adrenergic receptor. As noted, it is somewhat analogous to the rhodopsin kinase. Such highly specific receptor kinases, which can phosphorylate only the agonist-occupied form of a receptor, represent a potentially elegant mechanism for controlling the function of receptors in a fashion which is linked to their physiological stimulation. How widespread such kinases are, and the actual roles which they play in regulating receptor function, remain to be determined. Finally, it should be stressed that although this review has focused on the regulatory role of receptor phosphorylation, it is by no means our intent to suggest that receptors are the only locus for physiological control of sensitivity to hormone and drug reaction. There is already evidence that guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins can be regulated, and it seems likely that each of the components of the system, including the adenylate cyclase, are likely to be involved in various forms of complex regulation. To date, however, the receptors represent that component of the system whose regulation we understand in the greatest detail.

158 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The results suggest that physiological concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium chloride may selectively regulate the binding affinity of agonists.
Abstract: The alpha adrenergic receptors of rabbit platelets can be identified by using [3H]-dihydroergocryptine. The binding of [3H]dihydroergocryptine to platelet lysates reaches equilibrium in 30 min and is slowly reversible. The maximal number of binding sites is 280 ± 25 fmoles/mg, and the dissociation constant was determined to be 2.26 ± 0.48 nM. The specificity of the binding sites for receptor agonists and antagonists is consistent with that of an alpha adrenergic response in inhibiting prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase in the same lysate preparation and is thus in agreement with the classical definition of alpha adrenergic receptors in mediating physiological responses. Divalent cations such as magnesium and manganese and monovalent cations such as sodium markedly influence the binding affinity of agonists but have little or no effect on the binding of antagonists. Calcium produces no change in binding. Neither magnesium nor sodium alters the number of receptor sites. Magnesium (1.25 mM) increases the binding affinity of (-)-epinephrine by a factor of 4. In contrast, sodium chloride (100 mM) strikingly decreases the binding affinity of agonists (more than 10-fold). The effect of sodium chloride on agonists is apparent with concentrations as low as 10 mM, and shows a dose-dependent response. LiCl and KCl are only 44% and 19% as effective, respectively, as sodium chloride. The magnitude of the shift in binding affinity of alpha adrenergic agents produced by sodium chloride is directly related to the intrinsic activity of those agents for inhibition of prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase. The results suggest that physiological concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium chloride may selectively regulate the binding affinity of agonists.

157 citations

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the transduction mechanism to which Rs- and Ri-type receptors couple to modulate adenylyl cyclase activity and analyzes the known regulation of hormone-receptor interaction by the coupling proteins.
Abstract: Publisher Summary Receptors that affect cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) are sub-classified into two subtypes: Rs receptors, which increase cAMP levels by stimulating the enzyme adenylyl cyclase, and Ri receptors, which decrease cAMP levels by inhibiting the cAMP-forming enzyme. This chapter discusses the transduction mechanism to which Rs- and Ri-type receptors couple to modulate adenylyl cyclase activity. At the center of this transduction mechanism are two oligomeric coupling proteins called N or G proteins. These proteins have properties to bind and hydrolyze guanosine triphosphate and regulate hormone affinity for receptors and the catalytic activity of the cAMP-forming enzyme. This complex receptor-coupling protein-adenylyl cyclase system is approached by first reviewing structural and functional aspects that regulate cAMP formation. The chapter also discusses the basic structure and regulation of adenylyl cyclase by nucleotides and magnesium. It also discusses action of hormones on the nucleotide-regulated system. It analyzes the known regulation of hormone-receptor interaction by the coupling proteins. The analysis of affinity regulation of receptors leads to conclusions that point toward the existence of at least two conformational states of receptors interacting with at least three conformational states or forms of the coupling proteins.

156 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data suggest that β-arrestins function as a regulatory hub, determining the balance between mechanistically different pathways that result in activation of ERK1/2, and caution against extrapolating results obtained from βArr 1/2- or G protein–deleted cells to GPCR behavior in native systems.
Abstract: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) use diverse mechanisms to regulate the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/2. β-Arrestins (βArr1/2) are ubiquitous inhibitors of G protein signaling, promoting GPCR desensitization and internalization and serving as scaffolds for ERK1/2 activation. Studies using CRISPR/Cas9 to delete βArr1/2 and G proteins have cast doubt on the role of β-arrestins in activating specific pools of ERK1/2. We compared the effects of siRNA-mediated knockdown of βArr1/2 and reconstitution with βArr1/2 in three different parental and CRISPR-derived βArr1/2 knockout HEK293 cell pairs to assess the effect of βArr1/2 deletion on ERK1/2 activation by four Gs-coupled GPCRs. In all parental lines with all receptors, ERK1/2 stimulation was reduced by siRNAs specific for βArr2 or βArr1/2. In contrast, variable effects were observed with CRISPR-derived cell lines both between different lines and with activation of different receptors. For β2 adrenergic receptors (β2ARs) and β1ARs, βArr1/2 deletion increased, decreased, or had no effect on isoproterenol-stimulated ERK1/2 activation in different CRISPR clones. ERK1/2 activation by the vasopressin V2 and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors was reduced in these cells but was enhanced by reconstitution with βArr1/2. Loss of desensitization and receptor internalization in CRISPR βArr1/2 knockout cells caused β2AR-mediated stimulation of ERK1/2 to become more dependent on G proteins, which was reversed by reintroducing βArr1/2. These data suggest that βArr1/2 function as a regulatory hub, determining the balance between mechanistically different pathways that result in activation of ERK1/2, and caution against extrapolating results obtained from βArr1/2- or G protein-deleted cells to GPCR behavior in native systems.

156 citations


Cited by
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28 Jul 2005
TL;DR: PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、树突状组胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作�ly.
Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1(PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员,通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

18,940 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Feb 1998-Nature
TL;DR: To their surprise, it was found that double-stranded RNA was substantially more effective at producing interference than was either strand individually, arguing against stochiometric interference with endogenous mRNA and suggesting that there could be a catalytic or amplification component in the interference process.
Abstract: Experimental introduction of RNA into cells can be used in certain biological systems to interfere with the function of an endogenous gene Such effects have been proposed to result from a simple antisense mechanism that depends on hybridization between the injected RNA and endogenous messenger RNA transcripts RNA interference has been used in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to manipulate gene expression Here we investigate the requirements for structure and delivery of the interfering RNA To our surprise, we found that double-stranded RNA was substantially more effective at producing interference than was either strand individually After injection into adult animals, purified single strands had at most a modest effect, whereas double-stranded mixtures caused potent and specific interference The effects of this interference were evident in both the injected animals and their progeny Only a few molecules of injected double-stranded RNA were required per affected cell, arguing against stochiometric interference with endogenous mRNA and suggesting that there could be a catalytic or amplification component in the interference process

15,374 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This approach provides two major advantages compared with other available methods: it uses an exact mathematical model of the ligand-binding system, thereby avoiding the possible biases introduced by several commonly used approximations and it uses a statistically valid, appropriately weighted least-squares curve-fitting algorithm with objective measurement of goodness of fit.

8,717 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Oct 2000-Cell
TL;DR: Understanding of the complex signaling networks downstream from RTKs and how alterations in these networks are translated into cellular responses provides an important context for therapeutically countering the effects of pathogenic RTK mutations in cancer and other diseases.

7,056 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review considers recent findings regarding GC action and generates criteria for determining whether a particular GC action permits, stimulates, or suppresses an ongoing stress-response or, as an additional category, is preparative for a subsequent stressor.
Abstract: The secretion of glucocorticoids (GCs) is a classic endocrine response to stress. Despite that, it remains controversial as to what purpose GCs serve at such times. One view, stretching back to the time of Hans Selye, posits that GCs help mediate the ongoing or pending stress response, either via basal levels of GCs permitting other facets of the stress response to emerge efficaciously, and/or by stress levels of GCs actively stimulating the stress response. In contrast, a revisionist viewpoint posits that GCs suppress the stress response, preventing it from being pathologically overactivated. In this review, we consider recent findings regarding GC action and, based on them, generate criteria for determining whether a particular GC action permits, stimulates, or suppresses an ongoing stressresponse or, as an additional category, is preparative for a subsequent stressor. We apply these GC actions to the realms of cardiovascular function, fluid volume and hemorrhage, immunity and inflammation, metabolism, neurobiology, and reproductive physiology. We find that GC actions fall into markedly different categories, depending on the physiological endpoint in question, with evidence for mediating effects in some cases, and suppressive or preparative in others. We then attempt to assimilate these heterogeneous GC actions into a physiological whole. (Endocrine Reviews 21: 55‐ 89, 2000)

6,707 citations