PUBLICATION

Apela regulates fluid homeostasis by binding to the APJ receptor to activate Gi signaling

Authors
Deng, C., Chen, H., Yang, N., Feng, Y., Hsueh, A.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-150523-12
Date
2015
Source
The Journal of biological chemistry   290(30): 18261-8 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Feng, Yi
Keywords
APJ receptor, G protein, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), Gi pathway, apela, apelin, fluid homeostasis, homeostasis, kidney, peptide hormone
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Embryonic Development/genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Homeostasis/genetics
  • Homeostasis/physiology
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism*
  • Kidney/metabolism*
  • Kidney/physiology
  • Ligands
  • Peptide Hormones/genetics
  • Peptide Hormones/metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction/genetics
  • Water/metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/biosynthesis
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
25995451 Full text @ J. Biol. Chem.
Abstract
Apela (APJ early endogenous ligand, also known as elabela or toddler) is a recently discovered peptide hormone. Based on genetic studies in zebrafish, apela was found to be important for endoderm differentiation and heart development during embryogenesis. Although common phenotypes of apela and APJ null zebrafish during embryonic development suggested that apela interacts with the APJ receptor, kinetics of apela binding to APJ and intracellular signaling pathways for apela remain unknown. The role of apela in adults is also uncertain. Using a chimeric apela ligand, we showed direct binding of apela to APJ with high affinity (Kd=0.51nM) and the ability of apelin, the known peptide ligand for APJ, to compete for apela binding. Apela, similar to apelin, acts through the inhibitory G protein pathway by inhibiting forskolin-stimulated cAMP production and by inducing ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In adult rats, apela is expressed exclusively in the kidney, unlike the wide tissue distribution of apelin. In vivo studies demonstrated the ability of apela to regulate fluid homeostasis by increasing diuresis and water intake. Dose-response studies further indicated that apela induces 2- and 5-fold higher maximal responses than apelin ERK1/2 phosphorylation and diuresis/water intake, respectively. After designing an apela antagonist, we further demonstrated the role of endogenous ligand(s) in regulating APJ-mediated fluid homeostasis. Our results identified apela as a potent peptide hormone capable of regulating fluid homeostasis in adult kidney through coupling to the APJ-mediated Gi signaling pathway.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping