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Endocrinology Vol. 141, No. 2 657-665
Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Characterization and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Distribution of a Cloned Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Type I Receptor in the Frog Xenopus laevis Brain1

Zhongting Hu2, Vincent Lelievre2, Alan Chao, Xinrong Zhou and James A. Waschek

Department of Psychiatry, Mental Retardation Research Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024-1759

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: James A. Waschek, 68–225 NPI, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90024. E-mail: jwaschek{at}mednet.ucla.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been found to modulate neuroendocrine functions in the frog brain and pituitary, but the nucleotide sequence and brain distribution of messenger RNA (mRNA) for the selective type I receptor for PACAP (PAC1) in the frog are still unknown. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a PAC1 receptor complementary DNA (cDNA) clone from a frog (Xenopus laevis) tadpole brain cDNA library. This cDNA encoded a 466-amino acid protein that has 74% homology with human PAC1 receptor and 48% homology to the frog vasoactive intestinal peptide/PACAP receptor. Injection of in vitro synthesized mRNA of the cloned cDNA into Xenopus oocytes resulted in expression of selective high affinity PACAP receptors (Kd = 47 pM). IC50 values for PACAP-38, PACAP-27, and VIP were 27 pM, 110 pM and >1 µM, respectively. These results indicated that the cloned cDNA represents a Xenopus PACAP-preferring PAC1 receptor. Northern hybridization revealed that PAC1 receptor mRNA was present at high levels in the brain. In situ hybridization showed that the PAC1 receptor gene was expressed highly in the pallium, preoptic nucleus, and nucleus of cerebellum, and moderately in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum. Moderate PAC1 receptor mRNA signals were detected in the distal lobe of the pituitary. A knowledge of the molecular structure and expression pattern of the PAC1 receptor will facilitate further investigation of the physiological roles of PAC1 receptor in the frog brain.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
PITUITARY adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a member of a structure-related protein superfamily that includes vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), glucagon, secretin, and GH-releasing factor. In mammals, PACAP acts on cells through three G protein-coupled receptors (1, 2), PACAP type I receptor (PAC1), VIP/PACAP type I receptor (VPAC1), and VIP/PACAP type II receptor (VPAC2). The protein sequences of these three receptors share a certain degree of similarity. Pharmacologically, VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors exhibit approximately equal binding affinity for PACAP and VIP (3, 4), whereas the PAC1 receptor shows 100 to 1000-times higher binding affinity for PACAP vs. VIP (5). Activation of each of these receptors results in accumulation of intracellular cAMP (6). Reflecting the binding affinities, PACAP and VIP act with the same potency on VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors to elevate cAMP levels (7), whereas PACAP shows greater potency than VIP (1000-fold) on PAC1 receptor (8, 9, 10). In addition to cAMP, MAP kinase and phospholipase C activation are also thought to be important signaling transduction mediators for PACAP ligand/receptor system (11).

Unlike VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which are widely distributed in the mammalian brain and peripheral tissues (3, 7, 12, 13), PAC1 receptor mRNA is located predominantly in the brain (14). Because the molecular structures and characteristics of PACAP and PAC1 receptors are similar in mammals and nonmammals, many functions of the PACAP ligand/receptor system (15), particularly the regulation of various neuroendocrine functions, might be conserved in the lower vertebrate species. For example, early studies in the isolated frog distal lobe pituitary showed that PACAP ligand/receptor system stimulated intracellular cAMP accumulation (16) and enhanced the secretion of GH and PRL (17). The mechanism of PACAP action on these cells involved calcium mobilization or stimulation of intracellular cAMP accumulation (16, 17). In peripheral tissues, the PACAP ligand/receptor system was reported to promote corticosteroid secretion in the adrenal gland cells of the frog (18). Based on the wide distribution of PACAP in the frog brain (19), it seems likely that PACAP ligand/receptor system executes many other functions in the frog brain, although the frog PAC1 receptor has not been cloned and its distribution in the brain is still unknown.

Recently, we identified a Xenopus PACAP ligand complementary DNA (cDNA) and reported its mRNA distribution in the brain (Hu, Z., V. Lelievre, A. Chao, X. Zhou, J. A. Waschek, manuscript submitted). To further address functional significance of PACAP ligand/receptor system in the frog brain, we sought to determine the molecular structure and brain distribution of Xenopus PAC1 receptor mRNA. To identify the receptor, we screened a Xenopus laevis brain cDNA library using a homology-based approach with a rat PAC1 receptor cDNA probe. We isolated a full-length cDNA clone that encodes a protein that shows high homology with human PAC1receptor. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the receptor selectively bound PACAP with high affinity. This is consistent with the pharmacological characteristics of PAC1 receptor. We then examined the distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the Xenopus brain by in situ hybridization.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
1. cDNA library screening with a 32P-labeled rat PAC1 receptor cDNA probe
Total RNA was isolated from 200 Xenopus tadpole brains 14 days after fertilization (TriZOL reagents, Life Technologies, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD). Poly(A) mRNA was purified from the total RNA using magnetic bead separation (PolyATract, Promega Corp., Madison, WI). A {lambda}-ZAPII frog brain cDNA library (2.5 x 106 independent clones) was prepared using both oligo(dT) and random primers (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). Library phage DNA was transferred to the nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, NJ), exposed to denaturing buffer (0.5 M NaOH/1.5 M NaCl), washed in 1.5 M NaCl/1.0 M Tris-HCl, and soaked in 2 x SSC (1 x SSC = 0.15 M NaCl/0.15 M sodium citrate) for 5 min each. DNA was fixed on the membranes by baking the membranes at 80 C for 4 h. A subset of library (7 x 105 plaques) was screened with a 32P-labeled, randomly primed probe corresponding to the complete coding region of the rat PAC1 receptor cDNA. (This cDNA was kindly supplied by Dr. Wank, NIH, Ref. 5). Overnight hybridization at 35 C was carried out in 50% formamide, 5 x SSC, 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.5), 5 x Denhardt’s solution (0.1% BSA, 0.1% Ficoll, and 0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone), 0.1% SDS, and 200 µg/ml salmon sperm DNA. The membranes were initially washed under the condition of low stringency (3 x 15 min wash at 35 C with 2 x SSC/0.2% SDS). Filters were exposed, and then washed again, but with higher stringency condition (3 x 15 min wash at 52 C with 0.1 x SSC/0.2% SDS). One cDNA clone that hybridized only at low stringency and not at high stringency was plaque-purified from the library, essentially according to manufacturer’s protocol (Stratagene). Plasmid DNA (PZL1) prepared from this positive plaque was sequenced initially with vector-specific primers, and subsequently with the primers corresponding to newly-sequenced portions of the cDNA.

2. Binding of 125I-labeled PACAP-27 to Xenopus oocytes injected with in vitro synthesized PAC1 receptor mRNA
The plasmid DNA (PZL1) containing 3.3-kb complete coding sequence of PAC1 was linearized using XbaI endonuclease. Capped PAC1 receptor mRNA (C-mRNA) was synthesized using T7 RNA polymerase and an in vitro transcription kit (mCAP RNA capping Kit, Stratagene). C-mRNA was dissolved in DEPC-treated H2O at a concentration of approximately 200 ng/µl and the size checked on a 1.5% agarose-formaldehyde gel.

Xenopus oocytes were enzymatically defolliculated and injected with 2.5–5.0 ng C-mRNA or an equal volume of vehicle. After injection, the oocytes were maintained at 18 C for 5 days to allow the expression of injected mRNA. Pharmacological experiments were performed on intact oocytes using a modification of a procedure previously described (11). Pharmacological parameters (Kd and Bmax) of the expressed receptors on intact oocytes were determined using saturation experiments. Oocytes (8/group, n = 3) were incubated at 4 C for 2 h with increasing concentrations (from 0.5f M to 0.2 nM) of 125I-PACAP-27 (2,200 ci/mmol, NEN Life Science Products) in the presence (nonspecific binding) or absence (total binding) of 1 µM native rat PACAP-38. After two washes at 4 C with 2 ml of SOS buffer (100 mM NaCl, 2 mM KCl, 1.8 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 5 mM HEPES, pH 7.0) containing BSA at 1 mg/ml, the radioactivity bound on the oocytes was measured in a {gamma} counter (AutoGamma, EG\|[amp ]\|G Wallac, Turku, Finland). Selectivity of the examined receptors was assayed by displacement of the binding of 125I-PACAP-27 by various native analogues. Injected and uninjected oocytes (8/group, n = 3), were suspended in 1 ml of SOS with BSA at 1 mg/ml and incubated for 2 h at 4 C with 35,000 cpm of 125I-PACAP-27 (2200 Ci/mmol) in the presence of increasing concentrations (from 1 pM to 1 µM) of native analogs, PACAP-27, PACAP-38, or VIP. Oocytes were washed twice at 4 C with 2 ml of SOS containing BSA at 1 mg/ml. The amount of radioactivity on oocytes was then determined with a {gamma} counter.

3. Northern blot analysis of the tissue distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA
Total RNA was isolated from brain, lung, muscle, intestine, and liver with the use of TriZOL reagent (Life Technologies, Inc.). Total RNA (25 µg) of each tissue was fractionated on a 1.5% agarose-formaldehyde gel, blotted to the nylon membrane (Magna, Micron Separations, Inc., Westboro, MA), and fixed on the membrane by baking at 80 C for 2 h. The detailed procedure for Northern hybridization had been described elsewhere (11). Briefly, after overnight prehybridization, the membrane was hybridized with the cloned 3.3 kb PAC1 receptor cDNA (25 ng) that was radiolabeled to a specific activity (3 x 108 cpm/µg) by random primer labeling (Life Technologies, Inc.). The 32P-labeled probe was added to the hybridization solution (1% SDS, 1 M NaCl, 10% dextran sulfate, and 50% formamide) with salmon sperm DNA, and overnight hybridization was performed at 42 C. The blot was washed in 2 x SSC/0.2% SDS and 0.2 x SCC/0.2% SDS (each for 3 x 15 min at 55 C), and exposed for 16 h in a PhosphorImager (Molecular Dynamics).

4. Preparation of a 33P-labeled frog PAC1 receptor riboprobe
To increase the selectivity of the PAC1 receptor riboprobe for in situ hybridization studies, PCR was employed to amplify a 300 bp cDNA fragments from PZL1. The forward and antisense primers were 5'-GGTTGGT CTCCAGAGAAC-3' and 5'-CCGTAGAATGAATGAGAC-3', respectively, and generated a fragment corresponding to the nucleotide sequence 589–888 (shown in Fig. 1Go). This region was chosen because an alignment of the nucleotide sequence with the published sequences of PACAP related receptors showed that this region is not homologous to any of published sequences except PAC1 receptor. After an initial 2 min denaturation at 94 C, 30 PCR thermal cycles were performed consisting of 30 sec at 94 C, 30 sec at 50 C, 30 sec at 72 C. PCR products were checked by size in 1.5% agarose gel and then transferred to nylon membrane. An internal oligonucleotide hybridization probe, 5'-CCAGACCAGGATACATAC-3' (corresponding to 721–739 in Fig. 1Go), was end-labeled with [{gamma}-32P]ATP and hybridized overnight with the membrane at 37 C to verify the PCR products. The resulting 300-bp DNA fragment was ligated into PCR II TA-vector (Invitrogen) and sequenced to confirm identity. 33P-labeled antisense and sense probes were made by digesting the plasmid containing the 300 bp PAC1 receptor cDNA with Xho and BamHI, and using SP6 and T7 RNA polymerase, respectively.



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Figure 1. Nucleotide and deduced protein sequence of frog PAC1 receptor cDNA. Solid lines denote the putative signal peptide and the putative transmembrane domains labeled with roman numerals I–VII.

 
5. In situ hybridization procedure
Five adult male frogs were anesthetized with Ketamine (50 mg/kg body weight) and perfused through the heart with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PBS. Brains were overnight postfixed with the same fixative and then cryoprotected. Coronal sections from the forebrain to the medulla were prepared. Sections of 15 µm thickness were mounted on slides and treated with 0.25% acetic anhydride in 0.1 M triethanolamine. After washing in PBS, slides were incubated for 2 h with a pre-hybridization solution (21) and then hybridized overnight at 60 C with the 33P-labeled PAC1 receptor antisense or sense riboprobe. After hybridization, sections were washed with 2 x SSC for 1 h at 37 C and then incubated 30 min in a solution of 500 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, and 0.8 µg/ml RNase. Slides were washed with 1 x SSC for 15 min, dehydrated in ascending alcohols, air-dried and exposed to Kodak film for 1 day. The films were developed and the slides were dipped in Kodak NTB-2 emulsion for 6-day exposure at 4 C. The slides were developed and then stained with 0.1% cresyl violet.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
1. Molecular cloning and structural analysis of the frog PAC1 receptor cDNA
Approximate 7 x 105 cDNA clones were screened with the rat PAC1 receptor cDNA probe. One clone was identified that hybridized only under conditions of low stringency. Sequencing of this clone revealed that it contained 300 bp of 5' leading sequence, 1398 bp of coding region, and 1.9 kb of 3' untranslated area (Fig. 1Go). The open reading frame (ORF) of 1398 bp encoded a 466-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 53 kDa. The sequence allows for four potential N-linked glycosylation consensus sites (-Asn-X-Ser/Thr-) in the N terminus (Fig. 2Go) at Asn47,59,115,137, similar to human PAC1 receptor and frog VPAC receptor (5, 22). Ten conserved cysteine residues are present in the extracellular domains of frog PAC1 receptor, seven of which are located in the N-terminal segment, two in the first extracellular loop, and one in the second extracellular loop (Fig. 2Go). A hydropathy plot of the deduced amino acid sequence showed eight regions of hydrophobic residues, seven corresponding to putative transmembrane domains (data not shown). The other region, composed of 20 N-terminal amino acids, is a putative signal peptide (Fig. 1Go).



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Figure 2. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of the full-length frog PAC1 receptor with the human PAC1 receptor, goldfish PAC1 receptor, and a frog VPAC receptor. Putative transmembrane regions are overlined and marked I–VII. Conserved amino acids are shaded. Solid dot and arrowheads indicate N-glycosylation sites and conserved cysteine residues, respectively. The region indicated by stars in the N-terminal domain is the conserved 21-amino acid segment that is present only in PAC1 receptor proteins and not in any other members of the VIP-secretin-glucagon receptor family (25 ). The frog VIP/PACAP receptor was designated here as frog VPAC1 receptor, although it shows characteristics of both VPAC1 and VPAC2 (22 ).

 
The deduced amino acid sequence of the PAC1 receptor was aligned with that of other species, and with other members of the PACAP receptor family (partially represented in Fig. 2Go). This showed that the Xenopus PAC1 receptor had homology with the human PAC1 receptor devoid of hip/hop cassettes (null receptor, 74% identity), goldfish PAC1 (71%), rat PAC1 (74%), frog VPAC (48%), and rat VPAC1 (48%), VPAC2 (48%), secretin (46%), PTH-PTHrP (39%), and porcine calcitonin (29% identity) receptors. The greatest degree of homology is in the transmembrane domains and the lowest homology is in the N-extracellular terminus, the latter with 55% identity to human PAC1 receptor, 32% identity to goldfish PAC1 receptor, and 21% identity to frog VPAC receptor.

Partial comparison of the extracellular N terminus of PACAP-VIP-secretin-glucagon receptor family indicated that this cloned cDNA, like the mammalian PAC1 receptor, encodes a 21-amino acid insertion (D87-EMDFV DRSLGWSPENIEEQQS-E109) unique to receptor PAC1 between the third (Cys76) and fourth (Cys116) conserved cysteine (Fig. 2Go). This 21-amino acid domain is poorly conserved across PAC1 receptors in different species and is absent in other members of the VIP-secretin-glucagon receptor family as well as in one splice variant of mouse PAC1 receptor (23). The amino acid sequence of the third intracellular loop (between V and VI transmembrane domains) showed 100% identity with the goldfish PAC1 receptor and has only one amino acid difference from the human PAC1 receptor (at position of 334 in Fig. 2Go).

2. Pharmacological characteristics of functional expressed PAC1 receptor cDNA
Pharmacological studies showed that injection of synthesized mRNA of cloned Xenopus PAC1 receptor cDNA resulted in the robust expression of receptors on intact Xenopus oocytes. Analyses of the data in the saturation experiment revealed a single class of binding sites with an average Kd of 40.8 ± 3.4 pM and a Bmax of about 3.7 x 107 receptors per oocyte (Fig. 3AGo). Displacement of [125I]-PACAP-27 was performed using increasing concentrations of native peptides, PACAP-27, PACAP-38, and VIP (Fig. 3BGo). PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 showed slightly different capacity to displace binding sites of [125I]-PACAP-27. The IC50 for PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 were 27 ± 0.14 pM and 110 ± 9.01 pM, respectively. VIP did not displace [125I]-PACAP-27 binding, except at high concentrations of 1 µM (IC50 > 1 µM).



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Figure 3. Receptor binding studies on Xenopus oocytes injected with capped mRNA synthesized in vitro from frog PAC1 receptor cDNA. A, Receptor saturation curve. Increasing concentrations of iodinated PACAP-27 were incubated with samples containing 8 oocytes (n = 3) in the absence (total binding) or the presence (nonspecific binding) of 1 µM PACAP-38. Specific binding was determined as the difference between the total and nonspecific binding. Data were expressed as means ± SEM (cpm/8 oocytes). B, Displacement (n = 3, 8 oocytes in each group) of 125I-PACAP-27 by increasing concentrations of native peptides, PACAP-38, PACAP-27, or VIP. Data were means ± SEM (cpm/8 oocytes). Graphs and curve fittings were computerized using Graphprism software (ISI). Oocytes injected with water showed no specific binding.

 
3. The distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the Xenopus brain
Northern hybridization analysis on total RNA from several frog tissues revealed the presence of abundant PAC1 receptor mRNA in the brain and no detectable expression in the muscle, lung, liver, and intestine. The size of hybridized band was larger than 5–6 kb (Fig. 4Go), similar to that in mammals (4, 5, 9). We then used in situ hybridization to study the distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the brain. The PAC1 receptor gene had a clear region-specific pattern of expression in the brain. Figures 5Go, 6Go, and 7Go illustrate the main hybridized structures from forebrain to medulla.



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Figure 4. Northern hybridization shows the distribution of Xenopus PAC1-R mRNA in various tissues. Northern blot revealed a strong hybridization band only in the brain RNA (above 28S) and not in several other tissues. The location of 18S and 28S rRNA visualized on ethidium-stained gel was used as a marker to indicate sizes.

 


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Figure 5. Microphotographs show distributions of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the Xenopus forebrain. A, C, E, and G are autoradiographic pictures of the same Nissl-stained sections of B, D, F, and H, respectively. The mRNA signals were first present in the anterior olfactory nucleus (solid arrows in A and B). On the same section, the mitral cell layer of the olfactory bulb contains only weak PAC1 receptor mRNA signals (open arrows in A and B). Although hybridization signals were heavily present in the pallium (solid arrows in C and D indicate the dorsal portion), no marked expression of PAC1 receptor mRNA was found in the septal areas (open arrow in C and D). Note the wide expression of PAC1receptor mRNA throughout the nucleus of the hypothalamic preoptic area (solid arrows in E, F, G, and H) and moderate hybridization signals in the medial amygdala (open arrows in E and F). Arrowheads in E and F show the posterior portion of the pallum. Although mRNA signals were strong present in the preoptic areas (solid arrows in G and H), most thalamic nuclei show lack of obvious hybridization grains (open arrows in G and H). Silver grains were moderately observed in the dorsal habenular nucleus (arrowheads in G and H). Bar in H = 1 mm (for all pictures).

 


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Figure 6. Illustration shows localization of PAC1 receptor mRNA signals in the midbrain and hindbrain. B, D, F, and H are Nissl-stained sections corresponding to autoradiographic pictures A, C, E, and F, respectively. Note the presence of abundant silver grains in the nucleus of posteriocentral thalamus (solid arrow in A and B). At the same level, weak to moderate PAC1 receptor mRNA expression is detected in stratum griseum superficiale tecti (SGST) (open arrow in A and B). Arrowheads in A and B show the hybridization signals in the distal lobe of the pituitary. At the middle/posterior mesencephalon, silver grains were dense in the stratum griseum periventricular tectum, torus semicircularis, and the nucleus of anteroventricular tegmental mesencephalon (indicated by arrowheads, small arrows and large arrows in C and D, respectively). E and F show the moderate hybridization in the nucleus of posteroventricular tegmental mesencephalon (arrows), stratum griseum central tectum (arrowheads), and the anterior lobe of the pituitary (open arrows). G and H illustrate strong expression of PAC1 receptor gene in the griseum central rhombencephalon (open arrows) and the nuclei of cerebellum (arrows). Note the moderate presence of silver grains in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum (arrowheads in G and H). Note that the location and morphology of this layer differ between frog and mammals. Bar in H = 1 mm (for all pictures).

 


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Figure 7. Photomicrographs show specific silver grains in the olfactory bulb and hypothalamus. Panels B, D, and F are high power views of the corresponding sites marked by arrows in A, C, and E, respectively. C and E are adjacent sections. Note that specific hybridization signals were clearly localized in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb (arrow in B) and posterior portion of the hypothalamic preoptic area (arrow in D). In contrast, when hybridization was performed with a sense probe, no specific labeling was observed in the hypothalamic preoptic area (open arrow in F), or in other brain regions. Bar in E = 1 mm (for A, C, and E) and in F = 100 µm (B, D, and F).

 
In the olfactory bulb, the hybridizing signals were strongly present within the nucleus of anterior olfactory bulb and glomerular layer (Fig. 5Go, A–B). Throughout the anterior/posterior axis of the pallium (corresponding to the mammalian hippocampus), PAC1 receptor mRNA signals were dense and fairly uniformly distributed (Fig. 5Go, C–F). Other regions in telencephalon, such as the nuclei of medial septum and accumben septum only had weak to moderate mRNA signals (Fig. 5Go, C–D). In the anterior diencephalon, PAC1 receptor mRNA was strongly observed in the hypothalamic preoptic area (Fig. 5Go, E–F). In frog, this area includes both the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. On the same sections, silver grains were weakly to moderately localized in the medial amygdala. In the posterior diencephalon, mRNA signals were still heavily localized in the hypothalamic preoptic area. Obvious hybridization signals were also observed in the infundibular nucleus and moderate mRNA signals were seen in the dorsal habenular nuclei (Fig. 5Go, G–H). Along with the rostral/caudal axis of the thalamus, PAC1 receptor mRNA was expressed at low levels in the nuclei of posterocentral and ventrolateral thalamus (Fig. 5Go, G–H).

In the anterior mesencephalon, the PAC1 receptor mRNA was weakly detected in the nucleus of oculomotor nerve and moderate in the nuclei of posterior thalamus (Fig. 6Go, A–B). Weak PAC1 receptor mRNA expression was also detected in stratum griseum superficiale tecti. At the middle/posterior mesencephalon (Fig. 6Go C–D), expression of PAC1 mRNA was strong in stratum griseum periventricular tectum, torus semicircularis, and the nuclei of anteroventricular tegmental mesencephalon. Conversely, the lateral portion of stratum griseum superficial tectum, on the same sections, contained only weak hybridization signals. On more posterior sections (Fig. 6Go, E–F), strong hybridization signals were still observed in the hypothalamic preoptic areas. PAC1 receptor mRNA signals were only moderately present over the distal lobe of the pituitary (Fig. 6Go, E–F). The posterior and intermediate pituitary lobes totally lacked hybridized signals. At the same levels, higher levels of PAC1 receptor gene expression were observed in the nucleus of posteroventricular tegmental mesencephali and stratum griseum central tecti (Fig. 6Go, E–F). Moderately intense PAC1 mRNA signals were identified in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum (Fig. 6Go, G–H). In the medulla, high abundance of PAC1 mRNA was detected in the nucleus of cerebellum and the griseum centrale rhombencephali (Fig. 6Go, G–H). On the same sections, moderate PAC1 gene expression was also found in the motor nucleus of trigeminal nerve. High power photomicrographs in Fig. 7Go show hybridization signals with antisense (A–D) and sense (E and F) probes in representative brain areas.


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
1. Molecular cloning and characteristic of frog PACAP type I receptor
We isolated from a Xenopus tadpole brain cDNA library a 3.3 kb cDNA clone that contains a long 5' leading sequence, complete ORF, and partial 3' untranslated region of the PAC1 (PACAP-preferring) receptor. The complete ORF encodes a 466-amino acid protein with seven putative transmembrane-spanning domains, implying that this protein is a member of the G protein-coupled superfamily of receptors (24). An alignment of its predicted peptide sequence with other family members suggests that this protein most closely matches the PAC1 receptor because of its higher homology (72–74%) with human, goldfish, and rat counterparts (5, 9, 25) but lower homology (49%, 48%, and 48%, respectively) with frog VPAC receptor (22) and rat VPAC1 (3) and VPAC2 receptor (26). This conclusion is also supported by the fact that the cloned Xenopus cDNA encodes a 21-amino acid domain in the extracellular N terminus, which has been found only in the PAC1 receptor and not in any other members of the VIP-secretin-glucagon receptor family (23). PACAP and not VIP showed high binding affinity to the expressed receptor protein in Xenopus oocytes. This is consistent with typical pharmacological characteristics of PAC1 receptor in other species (4, 5, 6, 9, 23). These data clearly demonstrated that the cloned cDNA represents a frog (Xenopus laevis) PAC1 receptor.

Structure-activity investigations have shown that the extracellular N terminus and the first transmembrane domains can confer relatively high affinity PACAP binding (27). For the human PAC1 receptor, PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 were reported to have a fairly similar EC50 in adenylate cyclase stimulation, whereas PACAP-38 was more potent than PACAP-27 in phospholipase C (PLC) activation (28). The PACAP-38 vs. PACAP-27 specificity in humans appears to be due to the presence of the 21-amino acid domain in the N-terminal extracellular region of PAC1 receptor that impairs PLC induced by PACAP-27 (23). Based on the presence of the 21 amino acid insertion in the cloned Xenopus PAC1 receptor, we speculate that the PLC stimulation on this receptor by PACAP-27 in the frog brain will not be an important pathway of the signal transduction. We are presently addressing the detailed signal transduction pathways of the frog PAC1 receptor, including the activation of adenylate cyclase, phospholipase C, and specific ion channels.

The low conservation of the amino acid sequence in the N-terminal extracellular region of VIP/PACAP and PACAP receptors of other species suggests that relatively few residues are required to impart specific binding characteristics. Mutational studies performed on the mammalian VPAC1 receptor revealed that the presumed disulfide bonds between the cysteine residues in the extracellular N terminus contribute to the active conformation of the receptor (29, 30). Seven cysteine residues were present in the sequence for the N terminus of the Xenopus PAC1 receptor. The conservation of cysteine residues suggests that they are important in the conformation of PAC1 receptor. Four potential N-glycosylation sites were found in the N-terminal part of frog PAC1 receptor. All of these sites matched those found in VPAC1 and PAC1 receptors of other species. The first two N-glycosylation sites (Asn47,59) have been shown to be necessary for correct delivery of VPAC1 receptor to the plasma membrane (31). Conservation of these two asparagine residues in frog suggests that they are also used for the transport of the Xenopus PAC1to cell membrane.

2. The distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the frog brain
In agreement with previously reported distributions of PAC1 receptor in the mammals (32, 33), our northern hybridization revealed abundant expression of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the frog brain. This is obviously different from the recently cloned frog (Rana ridibunda) VPAC receptor, which has features of both VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptor, and is distributed widely in peripheral tissues. Our in situ hybridization showed that PAC1 receptor mRNA was widely distributed in the frog brain. Its expression overlaps with that of the PACAP ligand in many brain areas (unpublished data), for example, pallium, hypothalamic preoptic area, the nucleus of cerebellum. This suggests that numerous functions of frog PAC1 receptor would appear to be executed in the brain.

Our hybridization results in Xenopus partially agree with the study of Jeandel et al. (34) who examined PACAP binding sites in the frog (Rana ridibunda) brain by autoradiography. They found that PACAP specific binding sites were highest in the olfactory bulb, pallium, striatum, habenular nuclei, ventromedial thalamic nucleus, corpus geniculatum, posterior tubercle, dorsal part of the magnocellular preoptic nucleus, and the molecular cell layer of the cerebellum. Our study showed that PAC1 receptor mRNA signals were very strong in the olfactory bulb, pallium, hypothalamic preoptic areas, and the nucleus of the cerebellum. No PAC1 receptor signals were obviously present in the striatum or molecular layer of the cerebellum. Conversely, we identified moderate expression of frog PAC1-R gene in the cerebellar Purkinje cell layer. These discrepancies might be due to different frog species or differences in methodologies.

In mammals, PAC1 receptor mRNA is expressed abundantly in the olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary lobe, and hippocampus (14, 33). In the frog Xenopus brain, we found marked localization of PAC1 receptor mRNA in corresponding regions including the hypothalamic preoptic area and pallium, suggesting that functions of frog PAC1 receptor in these areas might be similar to that of mammals. Although rat PAC1 receptor mRNA was detected in the rat amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and septum (14, 33), PAC1 receptor mRNA signals were not obviously present in these areas in the Xenopus brain. Conversely, PAC1 receptor gene expression in the cerebellar Purkinje cell layer was moderately present in the Xenopus brain, and weakly in the rat brain. These differences imply some unique functions of PACAP ligand/receptor system in the brains of various species.

The localized distribution of PAC1 receptor mRNA in the frog brain is also clearly different from that of recently cloned frog VPAC receptor (22). Unlike PAC1 receptor, VPAC receptor mRNA is expressed highly in the frog bed nucleus of the pallial commissure, lateral and medial septum (22). These results imply that effects of PACAP or VIP on these structures might be executed through the VPAC receptor. However, the VPAC receptor mRNA was detected at low levels in the pallium, suggesting that both receptors function in this area. In the distal lobe of the pituitary, moderate PAC1 receptor mRNA were detected, similar to that of VPAC receptor mRNA. Thus, both PAC1 and VPAC receptor are likely to be involved in regulation of cells in the pituitary distal lobe.

In summary, a frog (Xenopus laevis) PACAP type I receptor has been identified. This receptor has the highest degree of homology with mammalian PAC1 receptors and shows pharmacological characteristics of typicalPAC1 receptor. PAC1 receptor mRNA exhibits a region-specific pattern of expression in the frog brain. The cloning of this receptor in frog (Xenopus laevis) will provide the molecular basis for studying the structural determinants for ligand binding and the potential functions of PAC1 receptor and signaling pathways in the frog brain. Further, because the PACAP ligand/receptor system may function in mammalian neurogenesis (22), it will be of interest to determine if PACAP functions similarly in lower vertebrates.


    Acknowledgments
 
We are grateful for Dr. Stephen A. Wank (NIH) for kindly supplying rat PAC1 receptor cDNA. We also thank Dr. Kathy Kampf, Mr. Jimmy Tam and Williams L. Rodriguez for their technical assistance in this study. We would also like to thank Dr. Enrico Stefanos and Ricardo Orcese for help in providing Xenopus oocytes.


    Footnotes
 
1 This research was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grants HD-06576, HD-0461, HD-34475, and a UCLA Stein-Oppenheimer Award. Back

2 The first two authors made equal contributions to this work. Back

Received September 13, 1999.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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