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One‐third of the ∼400 nonodorant G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are still orphans. Although a considerable number of these receptors are likely to transduce cellular signals in response to ligands that remain to be identified, they may also have ligand‐independent functions. Several members of the GPCR family have been shown to modulate the function of other receptors through heterodimerization. We show that GPR50, an orphan GPCR, heterodimerizes constitutively and specifically with MT 1 and MT 2 melatonin receptors, using biochemical and biophysical approaches in intact cells. Whereas the association between GPR50 and MT 2 did not modify MT 2 function, GPR50 abolished high‐affinity agonist binding and G protein coupling to the MT 1 protomer engaged in the heterodimer. Deletion of the large C‐terminal tail of GPR50 suppressed the inhibitory effect of GPR50 on MT 1 without affecting heterodimerization, indicating that this domain regulates the interaction of regulatory proteins to MT 1 . Pairing orphan GPCRs to potential heterodimerization partners might be of clinical importance and may become a general strategy to better understand the function of orphan GPCRs.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling is initiated by the type I, II TGFβ receptor (TβRI/TβRII) complex. Here we report the formation of an alternative complex between TβRI and the orphan GPR50, belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor super-family. The interaction of GPR50 with TβRI induces spontaneous TβRI-dependent Smad and non-Smad signaling by stabilizing the active TβRI conformation and competing for the binding of the negative regulator FKBP12 to TβRI. GPR50 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 cells mimics the anti-proliferative effect of TβRI and decreases tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Inversely, targeted deletion of GPR50 in the MMTV/Neu spontaneous mammary cancer model shows decreased survival after tumor onset and increased tumor growth. Low GPR50 expression is associated with poor survival prognosis in human breast cancer irrespective of the breast cancer subtype. This describes a previously unappreciated spontaneous TGFβ-independent activation mode of TβRI and identifies GPR50 as a TβRI co-receptor with potential impact on cancer development. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) regulates many cellular processes. Here the authors show that the orphan G-protein coupled receptor GPR50 can activate the TGFβ receptor I, in the absence of TGFβ, by stabilizing its active conformation and show antitumor activity in a mouse model of breast cancer.

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets and are involved in virtually every biological process. However, there are still more than 140 orphan GPCRs, and deciphering their function remains a priority for fundamental and clinical research. Research on orphan GPCRs has concentrated mainly on the identification of their natural ligands, whereas recent data suggest additional ligand‐independent functions for these receptors. This emerging concept is connected with the observation that orphan GPCRs can heterodimerize with GPCRs that have identified ligands, and by so doing regulate the function of the latter. Pairing orphan GPCRs with their potential heterodimerization partners will have a major impact on our understanding of the extraordinary diversity offered by GPCR heterodimerization and, in addition, will constitute a novel strategy to elucidate the function of orphan receptors that needs to be added to the repertoire of ‘deorphanization’ strategies.

Functional asymmetry of G‐protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) dimers has been reported for an increasing number of cases, but the molecular architecture of signalling units associated to these dimers remains unclear. Here, we characterized the molecular complex of the melatonin MT 1 receptor, which directly and constitutively couples to G i proteins and the regulator of G‐protein signalling (RGS) 20. The molecular organization of the ternary MT 1 /G i /RGS20 complex was monitored in its basal and activated state by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer between probes inserted at multiple sites of the complex. On the basis of the reported crystal structures of G i and the RGS domain, we propose a model wherein one G i and one RGS20 protein bind to separate protomers of MT 1 dimers in a pre‐associated complex that rearranges upon agonist activation. This model was further validated with MT 1 /MT 2 heterodimers. Collectively, our data extend the concept of asymmetry within GPCR dimers, reinforce the notion of receptor specificity for RGS proteins and highlight the advantage of GPCRs organized as dimers in which each protomer fulfils its specific task by binding to different GPCR‐interacting proteins. The concept of pre‐formed GPCR–GIP complexes is a hotly debated field. Here, the asymmetric assembly of melatonin receptors, G‐protein α subunits and an RGS20 protein in regulating cellular responses has been revealed.

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and a synchronizer of many physiological processes. Alteration of the melatonin pathway has been reported in circadian disorders, diabetes and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, very little is known about the genetic variability of melatonin receptors in humans. Here, we sequenced the melatonin receptor MTNR1A and MTNR1B, genes coding for MT1 and MT2 receptors, respectively, in a large panel of 941 individuals including 295 patients with ASD, 362 controls and 284 individuals from different ethnic backgrounds. We also sequenced GPR50, coding for the orphan melatonin-related receptor GPR50 in patients and controls. We identified six non-synonymous mutations for MTNR1A and ten for MTNR1B. The majority of these variations altered receptor function. Particularly interesting mutants are MT1-I49N, which is devoid of any melatonin binding and cell surface expression, and MT1-G166E and MT1-I212T, which showed severely impaired cell surface expression. Of note, several mutants possessed pathway-selective signaling properties, some preferentially inhibiting the adenylyl cyclase pathway, others preferentially activating the MAPK pathway. The prevalence of these deleterious mutations in cases and controls indicates that they do not represent major risk factor for ASD (MTNR1A case 3.6% vs controls 4.4%; MTNR1B case 4.7% vs 3% controls). Concerning GPR50, we detected a significant association between ASD and two variations, Delta502-505 and T532A, in affected males, but it did not hold up after Bonferonni correction for multiple testing. Our results represent the first functional ascertainment of melatonin receptors in humans and constitute a basis for future structure-function studies and for interpreting genetic data on the melatonin pathway in patients.

Transmission of extracellular signals by G protein-coupled receptors typically relies on a cascade of intracellular events initiated by the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins or β-arrestins followed by effector activation/inhibition. Here, we report an alternative signal transduction mode used by the orphan GPR50 that relies on the nuclear translocation of its carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). Activation of the calcium-dependent calpain protease cleaves off the CTD from the transmembrane-bound GPR50 core domain between Phe-408 and Ser-409 as determined by MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry. The cytosolic CTD then translocates into the nucleus assisted by its ‘DPD’ motif, where it interacts with the general transcription factor TFII-I to regulate c-fos gene transcription. RNA-Seq analysis indicates a broad role of the CTD in modulating gene transcription with ~ 8000 differentially expressed genes. Our study describes a non-canonical, direct signaling mode of GPCRs to the nucleus with similarities to other receptor families such as the NOTCH receptor

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets and are involved in virtually every biological process. However, there are still more than 140 orphan GPCRs, and deciphering their function remains a priority for fundamental and clinical research. Research on orphan GPCRs has concentrated mainly on the identification of their natural ligands, whereas recent data suggest additional ligand‐independent functions for these receptors. This emerging concept is connected with the observation that orphan GPCRs can heterodimerize with GPCRs that have identified ligands, and by so doing regulate the function of the latter. Pairing orphan GPCRs with their potential heterodimerization partners will have a major impact on our understanding of the extraordinary diversity offered by GPCR heterodimerization and, in addition, will constitute a novel strategy to elucidate the function of orphan receptors that needs to be added to the repertoire of ‘deorphanization’ strategies.

Genome-wide association studies have revealed that common noncoding variants in MTNR1B (encoding melatonin receptor 1B, also known as MT2) increase type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk(1,2). Although the strongest association signal was highly significant (P < 1 x 10(-20)), its contribution to T2D risk was modest (odds ratio (OR) of similar to 1.10-1.15)(1-3). We performed large-scale exon resequencing in 7,632 Europeans, including 2,186 individuals with T2D, and identified 40 nonsynonymous variants, including 36 very rare variants (minor allele frequency (MAF) < 0.1%), associated with T2D (OR = 3.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.78-6.18; P = 1.64 x 10(-4)). A four-tiered functional investigation of all 40 mutants revealed that 14 were nonfunctional and rare (MAF < 1%), and 4 were very rare with complete loss of melatonin binding and signaling capabilities. Among the very rare variants, the partial-or total-loss-of-function variants but not the neutral ones contributed to T2D (OR = 5.67, CI = 2.17-14.82; P = 4.09 x 10(-4)). Genotyping the four complete loss-of-function variants in 11,854 additional individuals revealed their association with T2D risk (8,153 individuals with T2D and 10,100 controls; OR = 3.88, CI = 1.49-10.07; P = 5.37 x 10(-3)). This study establishes a firm functional link between MTNR1B and T2D risk.

The global wind energy industry currently consumes around $600 million of adhesives in the manufacture of turbine blades. Adhesives are used to bond the two shell halves, as well as the shear webs that comprise wind turbine blades. Adhesives are therefore a key contributor to the structural load-bearing performance of the final wind turbine assembly. More than 80% of the market is served with epoxy thermosetting adhesives bonding epoxy-based blade shells. The rest of the structural bonding market is served with vinyl ester-based adhesives bonding polyester-based blade shells. In addition, some methyl methacrylate-based adhesives are used for nonstructural applications (e.g., shear web pre-positioning) or add-on bonding (e.g., vortex generators). The market for adhesives in wind applications grows with the wind industry at an average historical CAGR of 5%. Future global growth will rely heavily on continued support from government initiatives and incentives. China represented around 50% of the world market in 2022.

Functional asymmetry of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) dimers has been reported for an increasing number of cases, but the molecular architecture of signalling units associated to these dimers remains unclear. Here, we characterized the molecular complex of the melatonin MT₁ receptor, which directly and constitutively couples to G(i) proteins and the regulator of G-protein signalling (RGS) 20. The molecular organization of the ternary MT₁/G(i)/RGS20 complex was monitored in its basal and activated state by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer between probes inserted at multiple sites of the complex. On the basis of the reported crystal structures of G(i) and the RGS domain, we propose a model wherein one G(i) and one RGS20 protein bind to separate protomers of MT₁ dimers in a pre-associated complex that rearranges upon agonist activation. This model was further validated with MT₁/MT₂ heterodimers. Collectively, our data extend the concept of asymmetry within GPCR dimers, reinforce the notion of receptor specificity for RGS proteins and highlight the advantage of GPCRs organized as dimers in which each protomer fulfils its specific task by binding to different GPCR-interacting proteins.