Co-evolution of ligand-receptor pairs

Specific receptors for lutropin (luteinizing hormone; LH) and follitropin (follicle-stimulating hormone; FSH) mediate the actions of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and FSH5 on the gonads. Here we report that short independent sequences of the beta-subunit enable hCG to distinguish between the receptors for FSH and LH. Residues between the 11th and 12th cysteines restrict FSH receptor binding; residues between the 10th and 11th cysteines and, to a much lesser extent, residues carboxy-terminal to the 12th cysteine also affect LH receptor binding. CF101-109, an hCG analogue containing hFSH beta residues between the 11th and 12th cysteines, had high affinity for both LH and FSH receptors. Modifications to CF101-109 that reduce binding to either LH or FSH receptors yield gonadotropin analogues having differing ratios of LH:FSH activity. Ligand-binding specificity of the LH receptor is determined by residues encoded by parts of exons 2-4 and 7-9 which prevent hFSH binding but have little effect on hCG binding. FSH receptor specificity is controlled primarily by residues encoded by exons 5 and 6 that prevent hCG binding but have little effect on hFSH binding. These determinants can be interchanged to create receptor analogues that bind hCG and hFSH. Our observations support a model in which distinct negative determinants restrict ligand-receptor interaction. This explains coevolution of binding specificity in families of homologous ligands and their receptors. Natural or designed manipulation of these determinants leads to the 'evolution' of new, specific protein-protein interactions.