Significance Mutations of polycystin-1 (PC1) are the major cause (85% of cases) of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure. PC1 is thought to function as an atypical G protein-coupled receptor, yet the mechanism by which PC1 regulates G-protein signaling remains poorly understood. A significant portion of ADPKD mutations of PC1 encode a protein with defects in maturation or reduced function that may be amenable to functional rescue. In this work, we have combined complementary biochemical and cellular assay experiments and accelerated molecular simulations, which revealed an allosteric transduction pathway in activation of the PC1 C-terminal fragment. Our findings will facilitate future rational drug design efforts targeting the PC1 signaling function.

Mutation of the PKD1 gene, encoding polycystin-1 (PC1), is the primary cause of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. PC1 is an 11-transmembrane domain protein that binds and modulates the activity of multiple heterotrimeric G protein families and is thought to function as a non-canonical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). PC1 shares a conserved GPCR autoproteolysis inducing [GAIN] domain with the adhesion family of GPCRs, that promotes an auto-catalytic, cis-cleavage at the GPCR proteolysis site (GPS) located proximal to the first transmembrane domain. GPS cleavage divides these receptors into two associated ‘subunits’, the extracellular N-terminal (NTF) and transmembrane C-terminal (CTF) fragments. For the adhesion GPCRs, removal of the NTF leads to activation of G protein signaling as a result of the exposure and subsequent intramolecular binding of the extracellular N-terminal stalk of the CTF, i.e., the tethered cryptic ligand or tethered agonist model. Here, we test the hypothesis that PC1-mediated signaling is regulated by an adhesion GPCR-like, tethered agonist mechanism. Using cell-based reporter assays and mutagenesis of PC1 expression constructs, we show that the CTF form of PC1 requires the stalk for signaling activation and synthetic peptides derived from the PC1 stalk sequence can re-activate signaling by a ‘stalk-less’ CTF. In addition, we demonstrate that ADPKD-associated missense mutations within the PC1 stalk affect signaling and can inhibit GPS cleavage. These results provide a foundation for beginning to understand the molecular mechanism of G protein regulation by PC1 and suggest that a tethered agonist-mediated mechanism can contribute to PKD pathogenesis.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMutations of the PKD1 gene, encoding polycystin-1, are the predominant cause of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a systemic disease that is the 4th leading cause of kidney failure. Polycystin-1 functions as an atypical GPCR capable of binding or activating heterotrimeric G proteins, which is essential for preventing renal cystogenesis. However, little is known regarding its regulation. Polycystin-1 shares structural features with the Adhesion family of GPCRs. In this work, we combined mutagenesis and cellular signaling assays which demonstrated that constitutive activation of signaling by polycystin-1 involves an Adhesion GPCR-like molecular mechanism. This study provides new knowledge regarding the structure-function relationships of polycystin-1 which will stimulate additional areas of investigation and reveal novel avenues of therapeutic intervention for ADPKD.