Ca2؉ homeostasis plays a critical role in a variety of cellular processes. We showed previously that stimulation of the prostate-specific G protein-coupled receptor (PSGR) enhances cytosolic Ca 2؉ and inhibits proliferation of prostate cells. Here, we analyzed the signaling mechanisms underlying the PSGR-mediated Ca 2؉ increase. Using complementary molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and live-cell imaging techniques, we found that endogenous Ca 2؉ -selective transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 (TRPV6) channels are critically involved in the PSGR-induced Ca 2؉ signal. Biophysical characterization of the current activated by PSGR stimulation revealed characteristic properties of TRPV6. The molecular identity of the involved channel was confirmed using RNA interference targeting TrpV6. TRPV6-mediated Ca 2؉ influx depended on Src kinase activity. Src kinase activation occurred independently of G protein activation, presumably by direct interaction with PSGR. Taken together, we report that endogenous TRPV6 channels are activated downstream of a G protein-coupled receptor and present the first physiological characterization of these channels in situ.
Ca2ϩ ions function as ubiquitous second messengers that control a variety of cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis (1). Epithelial cells control their cytosolic Ca 2ϩ level via non-voltage-gated plasma membrane cationic channels and/or depletion of intracellular Ca 2ϩ stores followed by Ca 2ϩ entry via store-operated channels. Several plasma membrane channels have been implicated in modulation of cytosolic Ca 2ϩ in prostate epithelial cells (2-6). Notably, the two highly Ca 2ϩ -selective Ca 2ϩ (re)absorption channels TRPV5 3 and TRPV6 were found to be expressed in prostate cells (7-9). TRPV6 has been proposed to play a role in prostate cancer cell proliferation (9, 10). The biophysical characteristics of recombinantly overexpressed TRPV6 channels have been studied intensively (11). However, no information on channel physiology in native cells is available. Overexpression of TRPV6 leads to constitutively open channels, and so far no activation mechanism has been described (12). We previously reported that activation of PSGR by -ionone induces an increase in cytosolic Ca 2ϩ and a decreased proliferation rate of prostate cancer cells (13). Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the mechanism of Ca 2ϩ entry into prostate epithelial cells upon stimulation of PSGR, a class A GPCR that was initially identified as a prostate-specific tumor biomarker (14). Here, we identified TRPV6 as an important signaling protein downstream of activated PSGR showing that TRPV6 can function as a receptor-operated channel. We further identified the tyrosine kinase Src as a signaling protein coupling PSGR and TRPV6 independently of G proteins. In this context, we present the first electrophysiological analysis of endogenous TRPV6 channels.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESCell Culture and Transfection-LNCaP cells were maintained in RPMI 1640...