LGR5 interacts and cointernalizes with Wnt receptors to modulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Mol Cell Biol. 2012 Jun;32(11):2054-64. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00272-12. Epub 2012 Apr 2.

Abstract

LGR5, a seven-transmembrane domain receptor of the rhodopsin family, is a Wnt target gene and a bona fide marker of adult stem cells in the gastrointestinal tract and hair follicle bulge. Recently, we and others demonstrated that LGR5 and its homologues function as receptors of the R-spondin family of stem cell factors to potentiate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, the mechanism of how LGR5 enhances the signaling output remains unclear. Here we report that following costimulation with the ligands R-spondin1 and Wnt3a, LGR5 interacts and forms a supercomplex with the Wnt coreceptors LRP6 and Fzd5 which is rapidly internalized and then degraded. Internalization of LGR5 is mediated through a dynamin- and clathrin-dependent pathway. Inhibition of this endocytic process has no effect on LGR5 signaling. Deletion of the C-terminal tail of LGR5 maintains its ability to interact with LRP6, yet this LGR5 mutant exhibits increased signaling activity and a decreased rate of endocytosis in response to R-spondin1 compared to the wild-type receptor. This study provides direct evidence that LGR5 becomes part of the Wnt signaling complex at the membrane level to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, internalization of LGR5 does not appear to be essential for potentiating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Endocytosis
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Wnt / metabolism*
  • Thrombospondins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • Wnt3A Protein / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • FZD5 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • LGR5 protein, human
  • RSPO1 protein, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Wnt
  • Thrombospondins
  • WNT3A protein, human
  • Wnt3A Protein
  • beta Catenin