FSH-receptor

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Structure of FSH interacting with FSH-receptor
250px PDB rendering based on 1xwd.
Available structures PDB 1xwd
Identifiers
Symbols	FSHR; FSHRO; LGR1; MGC141667; MGC141668; ODG1
External IDs	OMIM: 136435 MGI: 95583 HomoloGene: 117 IUPHAR: FSH GeneCards: FSHR Gene
Gene Ontology Molecular function • receptor activity • follicle-stimulating hormone receptor activity • protein binding Cellular component • plasma membrane • integral to membrane Biological process • signal transduction • G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway • spermatogenesis • female gamete generation • female gonad development Sources: Amigo / EGO
RNA expression pattern
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More reference expression data
Orthologs
Species	Human	Mouse
Entrez	2492	14309
Ensembl	ENSG00000170820	ENSMUSG00000032937
UniProt	P23945	P35378
RefSeq (mRNA)	NM_000145	NM_013523
RefSeq (protein)	NP_000136	NP_038551
Location (UCSC)	Chr 2: 49.04 - 49.24 Mb	Chr 17: 88.89 - 89.11 Mb
PubMed search	[1]	[2]

The follicle stimulating hormone receptor or FSH-receptor (FSHR) is a transmembrane receptor that interacts with the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and represents a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Its activation is necessary for the hormonal functioning of FSH. FSHRs are found in the ovary, testis, and uterus.

FSHR gene

The gene for the FSHR is found on chromosome 2 p21 in humans. The gene sequence of the FSHR consists of about 2,080 nucleotides.

Receptor structure

File:7TM receptor.png

The seven transmembrane α-helix structure of a G protein-coupled receptor such as FSHR

The FSHR consists of 695 amino acids and has a molecular mass of about 76 kDa. Like other GPCRs, the FSH-receptor possess seven membrane-spanning domains or transmembrane helices.

• The extracellular domain of the receptor is glycosylated.

• The transmembrane domain contains two highly conserved cysteine residues which build disulfide bonds to stabilize the receptor structure. A highly conserved Asp-Arg-Tyr triplet motif is present and may be of importance to transmit the signal.

• The C-terminal domain is intracellular and brief, rich in serine and threonine residues for possible phosphorylation.

Ligand binding and signal transduction

Upon binding FSH externally to the membrane, a transduction of the signal takes place that activates the G protein that is bound to the receptor internally. With FSH attached, the receptor shifts conformation and thus mechanically activates the G protein, which detaches from the receptor and activates the cAMP system.

It is believed that a receptor molecule exists in a conformational equilibrium between active and inactive states. The binding of FSH to the receptor shifts the equilibrium between active and inactive receptors. FSH and FSH-agonists shift the equilibrium in favor of active states; FSH antagonists shift the equilibrium in favor of inactive states. For a cell to respond to FSH only a small percentage (~1%) of receptor sites need to be activated.

Phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinases

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (protein kinase A) are activated by the signal chain coming from the G protein (that was activated by the FSH-receptor) via adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP (cAMP).
These protein kinases are present as tetramers with two regulatory units and two catalytic units. Upon binding of cAMP to the regulatory units, the catalytic units are released and initiate the phosphorylation of proteins leading to the physiologic action. The cyclic AMP-regulatory dimers are degraded by phosphodiesterase and release 5’AMP. DNA in the cell nucleus binds to phosphorylated proteins through the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) which results in the activation of genes.

The signal is amplified by the involvement of cAMP and the resulting phosphorylation. The process is modified by prostaglandins. Other cellular regulators are participate are the intracellular calcium concentration modified by phospholipase, nitric acid, and other growth factors.

The FSH receptor can also activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK).

In a feedback mechanism, these activated kinases phosphorylate the receptor. The longer the receptor remains active, the more kinases are activated, the more receptors are phosphorylated.

Action

In the ovary, the FSH receptor is necessary for follicular development and expressed on the granulosa cells.

In the male the FSH receptor has been identified on the Sertoli cells that are critical for spermatogenesis.

The FSHR is expressed during the luteal phase in the secretory endometrium of the uterus.

Receptor regulation

Upregulation

Upregulation refers to the increase in the number of receptor site on the membrane. Estrogen upregulates FSH receptor sites. In turn, FSH stimulates granulosa cells to produce estrogens. This synergistic activity of estrogen and FSH allows for follicle growth and development in the ovary.

Desensitization

The FSHR become desensitized when exposed to FSH for some time. A key reaction of this downregulation is the phosphorylation of the intracellular (or cytoplasmic) receptor domain by protein kinases. This process uncouples Gs protein from the FSHR. Another way to desensitize is to uncouple the regulatory and catalytic units of the cAMP system.

Downregulation

Downregulation refers to the decrease in the number of receptor sites. This can be accomplished by metabolizing bound FSHR sites. The bound FSH-receptor complex is brought by lateral migration to a "coated pit" where such units are concentrated and then stabilized by a framework of clathrins. A pinched-off coated pit is internalized and degraded by lysosomes. Proteins may be metabolized or the receptor can be recycled. Use of long-acting agonists will downregulate the receptor population.

Modulators

Antibodies to FSHR can interfere with FSHR activity.

FSHR abnormalities

Some patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may have mutations in the gene for FSHR making them more sensitive to gonadotropin stimulation.

Women with 46 XX gonadal dysgenesis experience primary amenorrhea with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. There are forms of 46 xx gonadal dysgenesis where abnormalities in the FSH-receptor have been reported and are thought to be the cause of the hypogonadism.

Polymorphism may affect FSH receptor populations and lead to poorer responses in infertile women who receive FSH medication for IVF.

History

Alfred G. Gilman and Martin Rodbell received the 1994 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for the discovery of the G Protein System.

See also

• Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor

Further reading

• de la Chapelle A (1993). "Disease gene mapping in isolated human populations: the example of Finland". J. Med. Genet. 30 (10): 857–65. doi:10.1136/jmg.30.10.857. PMC 1016570 Freely accessible. PMID 8230163. 
• Amsterdam A, Hanoch T, Dantes A; et al. (2003). "Mechanisms of gonadotropin desensitization". Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 187 (1-2): 69–74. doi:10.1016/S0303-7207(01)00701-8. PMID 11988313. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Simoni M, Nieschlag E, Gromoll J (2003). "Isoforms and single nucleotide polymorphisms of the FSH receptor gene: implications for human reproduction". Hum. Reprod. Update. 8 (5): 413–21. doi:10.1093/humupd/8.5.413. PMID 12398222. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Delbaere A, Smits G, Olatunbosun O; et al. (2004). "New insights into the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. What makes the difference between spontaneous and iatrogenic syndrome?". Hum. Reprod. 19 (3): 486–9. doi:10.1093/humrep/deh124. PMC 2891954 Freely accessible. PMID 14998941. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Bose CK (2005). "Role of nerve growth factor and FSH receptor in epithelial ovarian cancer". Reprod. Biomed. Online. 11 (2): 194–7. doi:10.1016/S1472-6483(10)60958-3. PMID 16168216. 
• Wunsch A, Sonntag B, Simoni M (2007). "Polymorphism of the FSH receptor and ovarian response to FSH". Ann. Endocrinol. (Paris). 68 (2-3): 160–6. doi:10.1016/j.ando.2007.04.006. PMID 17544358. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Kelton CA, Cheng SV, Nugent NP; et al. (1993). "The cloning of the human follicle stimulating hormone receptor and its expression in COS-7, CHO, and Y-1 cells". Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 89 (1-2): 141–51. doi:10.1016/0303-7207(92)90220-Z. PMID 1301382. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Tilly JL, Aihara T, Nishimori K; et al. (1992). "Expression of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor: species-specific ligand binding, signal transduction, and identification of multiple ovarian messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts". Endocrinology. 131 (2): 799–806. doi:10.1210/en.131.2.799. PMID 1322283. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Gromoll J, Gudermann T, Nieschlag E (1992). "Molecular cloning of a truncated isoform of the human follicle stimulating hormone receptor". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 188 (3): 1077–83. doi:10.1016/0006-291X(92)91341-M. PMID 1359889. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Minegishi T, Nakamura K, Takakura Y; et al. (1991). "Cloning and sequencing of human FSH receptor cDNA". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 175 (3): 1125–30. doi:10.1016/0006-291X(91)91682-3. PMID 1709010. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Gromoll J, Ried T, Holtgreve-Grez H; et al. (1994). "Localization of the human FSH receptor to chromosome 2 p21 using a genomic probe comprising exon 10". J. Mol. Endocrinol. 12 (3): 265–71. doi:10.1677/jme.0.0120265. PMID 7916967. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Gromoll J, Dankbar B, Gudermann T (1994). "Characterization of the 5' flanking region of the human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene". Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 102 (1-2): 93–102. doi:10.1016/0303-7207(94)90102-3. PMID 7926278. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Rousseau-Merck MF, Atger M, Loosfelt H; et al. (1993). "The chromosomal localization of the human follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene (FSHR) on 2p21-p16 is similar to that of the luteinizing hormone receptor gene". Genomics. 15 (1): 222–4. doi:10.1006/geno.1993.1041. PMID 8432542. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Jiang X, Dreano M, Buckler DR; et al. (1996). "Structural predictions for the ligand-binding region of glycoprotein hormone receptors and the nature of hormone-receptor interactions". Structure. 3 (12): 1341–53. doi:10.1016/S0969-2126(01)00272-6. PMID 8747461. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Aittomäki K, Herva R, Stenman UH; et al. (1996). "Clinical features of primary ovarian failure caused by a point mutation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 81 (10): 3722–6. doi:10.1210/jc.81.10.3722. PMID 8855829. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Tapanainen JS, Aittomäki K, Min J; et al. (1997). "Men homozygous for an inactivating mutation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor gene present variable suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility". Nat. Genet. 15 (2): 205–6. doi:10.1038/ng0297-205. PMID 9020851. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
• Kotlar TJ, Young RH, Albanese C; et al. (1997). "A mutation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor occurs frequently in human ovarian sex cord tumors". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 82 (4): 1020–6. doi:10.1210/jc.82.4.1020. PMID 9100567. CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• "Glycoprotein Hormone Receptors: FSH". IUPHAR Database of Receptors and Ion Channels. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 
• GRIS: Glycoprotein-hormone Receptor Information System