Role of the C terminus in neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor desensitization and internalization

We have studied truncation mutants of the rat neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor lacking four (Thr361stop, Y1T361*) or eight (Ser352stop, Y1S352*) potential serine/threonine C-terminal phosphorylation sites. NPY-stimulated hemagglutinin-tagged Y1, Y1T361*, and Y1S352* receptors all efficiently activated G proteins in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membranes, but desensitization after NPY pretreatment was only prevented in the HAY1S352* clone. In transfected colonic carcinoma epithelial layers, functional Y1 and Y1T361* peptide YY responses became more transient as the agonist concentration increased, whereas those mediated by the Y1S352* receptor remained sustained. NPY-stimulated HAY1 receptor phosphorylation was increased by transient overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2, and only Ser352stop truncation abolished this response in CHO or human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Rapid internalization of cell-surface HAY1 receptors in HEK293 cells was observed in response to agonist, resulting in partial colocalization with transferrin, a marker for clathrin-mediated endocytosis and recycling. It is surprising that both truncated receptors were constitutively internalized, predominantly in transferrin-positive compartments. NPY increased cell-surface localization of HAY1S352* receptors, whereas the distribution of both mutants was unaltered by BIBO3304. Recruitment of green fluorescent protein-tagged beta-arrestin2 to punctate endosomes was observed only for HAY1 and HAY1T361* receptors and solely under NPY-stimulated conditions. Thus, the key C-terminal sequence between Ser352 and Lys360 is a major site for Y1 receptor phosphorylation, is critical for its desensitization, and contributes to the association between the receptor and beta-arrestin proteins. However, additional beta-arrestin-independent mechanisms control Y1 receptor trafficking under basal conditions.