DATE2024.02.27 #Press Releases

Discovery of a G-protein-coupled receptor that senses bicarbonate ions.

Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.

-- Potential Application in the Treatment of Cerebral Infarction--

Juntendo University

The University of Tokyo

RIKEN

Summary of Presentations

A joint research group led by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Airi Jo (Watanabe), Professor Takehiko Yokomizo, Professor Nobutaka Hattori and Associate Professor Takahiro Osada of Juntendo University, Professor Osamu Nureki and Professor Kazushige Touhara of The University of Tokyo has discovered a world-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is activated by bicarbonate ion. Bicarbonate ions are responsible for acid-base equilibrium in vivo by constituting the carbonate-bicarbonate buffer system. Changes in cell behaviour due to acid-base equilibrium have been explained mainly by changes in pH, which are defined by proton concentration, but in recent years, the involvement of CO₂ and bicarbonate ions has also been suggested. The research group found that GPR30, a G-protein-coupled receptor, can be raised by bicarbonate ions in a pH-independent manner to raise intracellular calcium. Furthermore, they found that GPR30 is expressed in brain microvascular wall cells (pericytes) and is involved in ischaemia-reperfusion injury by regulating blood flow. These results reveal a new aspect of the regulation of cellular functions by acid-base equilibrium, and indicate the potential for new applications in the treatment of cerebral infarction.

This paper was published in Nature Communications, a journal of Springer Nature, on February 27, 2024.

Figure: Discovery of GPR30 activation by bicarbonate ions.
The accidental finding that GPR30, which was focused on as a candidate for acid-base equilibrium-related G protein-coupled receptor, was activated by cell culture medium led to the discovery that GPR30 is a receptor for bicarbonate ions.

For more information, please visit the website of  Juntendo University(in Japanese).

Journals

Journal name	Nature Communications
Title of paper	Bicarbonate signalling via G protein-coupled receptor regulates ischaemia-reperfusion injury