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A Multifaceted Investigation of the Localization of the Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor
Author(s) -
Steinmetz Danielle,
Cohen Brian D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.601.1
Subject(s) - lipid raft , caveolae , microbiology and biotechnology , follicle stimulating hormone receptor , receptor , biology , caveolin , chemistry , endocrinology , hormone , signal transduction , follicle stimulating hormone , biochemistry , luteinizing hormone
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is responsible for follicular maturation in females and production of sperm‐stabilizing proteins in males. FSH receptor (hFSHR) is a G‐protein coupled receptor located in granulosa cells in the ovaries and Sertoli cells in the testes. It is believed that hFSHR is located in lipid raft microdomains of the plasma membrane. Lipid rafts are areas of the cell membrane that demonstrate increased rigidity, resistance to detergents, and have a high percent composition of cholesterol and sphingolipids. It is proposed that hFSHR is associated with a specific class of lipid rafts known as caveolae; hFSHR contains a caveolin binding motif in its 4th transmembrane domain. To verify if hFSHR resides in lipid rafts, sucrose gradient fractionation was performed and analyzed by western blot. hFSHR was observed to reside in the fractions associated with buoyant membrane components. To determine if hFSHR interacts with caveolin, four mutant receptors were created by altering the putative caveolin binding motif. Understanding hFSHR localization in the plasma membrane will lead to a greater understanding of its signaling pathways and the molecular basis of reproduction.