Molecular sensing of mechano- and ligand-dependent adhesion GPCR dissociation

Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) bear notable similarity to Notch proteins(1), a class of surface receptors poised for mechano-proteolytic activation(2-4), including an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of cleavage(5-8). However, so far there is no unifying explanation for why aGPCRs are autoproteolytically processed. Here we introduce a genetically encoded sensor system to detect the dissociation events of aGPCR heterodimers into their constituent N-terminal and C-terminal fragments (NTFs and CTFs, respectively). An NTF release sensor (NRS) of the neural latrophilin-type aGPCR Cirl (ADGRL)(9-11), from Drosophila melanogaster, is stimulated by mechanical force. Cirl-NRS activation indicates that receptor dissociation occurs in neurons and cortex glial cells. The release of NTFs from cortex glial cells requires trans-interaction between Cirl and its ligand, the Toll-like receptor Tollo (Toll-8)(12), on neural progenitor cells, whereas expressing Cirl and Tollo in cis suppresses dissociation of the aGPCR. This interaction is necessary to control the size of the neuroblast pool in the central nervous system. We conclude that receptor autoproteolysis enables non-cell-autonomous activities of aGPCRs, and that the dissociation of aGPCRs is controlled by their ligand expression profile and by mechanical force. The NRS system will be helpful in elucidating the physiological roles and signal modulators of aGPCRs, which constitute a large untapped reservoir of drug targets for cardiovascular, immune, neuropsychiatric and neoplastic diseases(13).

Automated summary

This study investigates the autoproteolytic processing of adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs). The researchers introduce a genetically encoded sensor system to detect the dissociation events of aGPCR heterodimers and find that mechanical force can stimulate the release of aGPCR fragments. The dissociation of aGPCRs is controlled by ligand expression and mechanical force, and understanding their physiological roles can have important implications for various diseases.