Molecular analysis of the interaction between the intracellular loops of the human serotonin receptor type 6 (5-HT6) and the α subunit of GS protein

The serotonin type 6 (5-HT6) receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) coupled to a stimulatory G-protein (GS). To identify the structural basis for the interaction of the 5-HT6 receptor with the GS protein, we have dissected the interaction between GST-fusion proteins containing the second intracellular loop (iL2), the third intracellular loop (iL3), or the C-terminal tail of the 5-HT6 receptor and the α subunit of GS (GαS). The direct interaction of iL3 and GαS was demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters of the interaction between iL3 and GαS were measured by surface plasmon resonance, and the apparent dissociation constant was determined to be 0.9 × 10−6 M. In contrast, the second intracellular loop and C-terminal tail regions showed negligible affinity to GαS. The critical residues within the iL3 region for the interaction with GαS were identified as conserved positively charged residues near the C-terminus of iL3 by measuring the cellular levels of cAMP produced in response to 5-HT stimulation of cells transfected with 5-HT6 receptor mutants.