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Sci. Signal., 9 August 2011
Vol. 4, Issue 185, p. ra53
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2001681]

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Editor's Summary

Receptor Memory
Drugs that activate the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR), or β2AR agonists, are used to treat various conditions, such as asthma and premature labor contractions. Frequently occurring polymorphisms that result in amino acid substitutions at position 16 in the β2AR have been correlated to different responses to these drugs. Ahles et al. (see also the Perspective by Insel) found that the β2AR responded differently to repeated drug stimulation, a phenomenon the authors call receptor "memory." A variant of the β2AR with arginine at position 16 was slower in response to repeated stimulation. In contrast, a polymorphic variant of β2AR with glycine at position 16 showed faster activation when repeatedly stimulated, an effect that was associated with increased production of a downstream signaling molecule. The authors propose that these polymorphism-specific responses of the β2AR to continued stimulation may contribute to individual variation in responses to β2AR agonists.

Citation: A. Ahles, F. Rochais, T. Frambach, M. Bünemann, S. Engelhardt, A Polymorphism-Specific "Memory" Mechanism in the β2-Adrenergic Receptor. Sci. Signal. 4, ra53 (2011).

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Increased Agonist Affinity at the {mu}-Opioid Receptor Induced by Prolonged Agonist Exposure.
W. T. Birdsong, S. Arttamangkul, M. J. Clark, K. Cheng, K. C. Rice, J. R. Traynor, and J. T. Williams (2013)
J. Neurosci. 33, 4118-4127
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
{beta}2-Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphisms and Signaling: Do Variants Influence the "Memory" of Receptor Activation?.
P. A. Insel (2011)
Science Signaling 4, pe37
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »

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