Mahoganoid and mahogany mutations rectify the obesity of the yellow mouse by effects on endosomal traffic of MC4R protein

J Biol Chem. 2011 May 27;286(21):18914-29. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.224592. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Abstract

The ubiquitous overexpression of agouti-signaling protein (ASP), a paracrine-signaling molecule that regulates pigment-type switching in the hair follicle of the mouse, is responsible for the obesity and yellow pelage of the Yellow mouse (A(y)). Mahogany (Attractin, Atrn/mg) and mahoganoid (Mahogunin Ring Finger-1, Mgrn1/md) are mutations epistatic to A(y). These mutations have been described as suppressors of ASP action, blocking its antagonizing effects on the melanocortin 1 and 4 receptors (MC1R and MC4R) in the skin and the brain, respectively, via unknown mechanisms. Here, we describe the molecular bases for the md- and mg-dependent rescue of the A(y) phenotype at the MC4R. We show that overexpression of ASP inhibits the rise in cAMP levels in response to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, an MC4R agonist, by blocking ligand binding and by directing MC4R trafficking to the lysosome. Loss-of-function of either attractin or MGRN1 blocks ASP-dependent MC4R degradation and promotes increased trafficking of internalized MC4R to the cell surface, but it does not restore α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-dependent cAMP signaling. We propose that MGRN1 and attractin are components of an evolutionarily conserved receptor trafficking pathway and that the md and mg mutations rescue the A(y) phenotypes by a primarily cAMP-independent mechanism promoting trafficking of MC4R and likely MC1R away from the lysosome toward the cell surface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Agouti Signaling Protein / genetics
  • Agouti Signaling Protein / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Endosomes / genetics
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mutation*
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / genetics
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • alpha-MSH / genetics
  • alpha-MSH / metabolism

Substances

  • Agouti Signaling Protein
  • Atrn protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4
  • a protein, mouse
  • alpha-MSH
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Mgrn1 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases