Dopamine D2 and D4 receptor heteromerization and its allosteric receptor-receptor interactions

Dopamine D-2 and D-4 receptors partially codistribute in the dorsal striatum and appear to play a fundamental role in complex behaviors and motor function. The discovery of D2R-D4.xR (D4.2R, D4.4R or D4.7R) heteromers has been made in cellular models using co-immunoprecipitation, in situ Proximity Ligation Assays and BRET1 techniques with the D2R and D4.7R receptors being the least effective in forming heteromers. Allosteric receptor-receptor interactions in D2R-D4.2R and D2R-D-4.4 R heteromers were observed using the MAPK assays indicating the existence of an enhancing allosteric receptor-receptor interaction in the corresponding heteromers between the two orthosteric binding sites. The bioinformatic predictions suggest the existence of a basic set of common triplets (ALQ and LRA) in the two participating receptors that may contribute to the receptor-receptor interaction interfaces. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.