A Point Mutation in the Amino Terminus of TLR7 Abolishes Signaling without Affecting Ligand Binding

作者：Iavarone Carlo; Ramsauer Katrin; Kubarenko Andriy V; Debasitis Jason C; Leykin Igor; Weber Alexander N R; Siggs Owen M; Beutler Bruce; Zhang Pu; Otten Gillis; D'Oro Ugo; Valiante Nicholas M; Mbow M Lamine; Visintin Alberto^*

来源：The Journal of Immunology, 2011, 186(7): 4213-4222.

DOI：10.4049/jimmunol.1003585

TLR7 is the mammalian receptor for ssRNA and some nucleotide-like small molecules. We have generated a mouse by N-nitrose-N'-ethyl urea mutagenesis in which threonine 68 of TLR7 was substituted with isoleucine. Cells bearing this mutant TLR7 lost the sensitivity to the small-molecule TLR7 agonist resiquimod, hence the name TLR7(rsq1). In this work, we report the characterization of this mutant protein. Similar to the wild-type counterpart, TLR7(rsq1) localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and is expressed at normal levels in both primary cells and reconstituted 293T cells. In addition to small-molecule TLR7 agonists, TLR7(rsq1) fails to be activated by ssRNA. Whole-transcriptome analysis demonstrates that TLR7 is the exclusive and indispensable receptor for both classes of ligands, consistent with the fact that both ligands induce highly similar transcriptional signatures in TLR7(wt/wt) splenocytes. Thus, TLR7(rsq1) is a bona fide phenocopy of the TLR7 null mouse. Because TLR7(rsq1) binds to ssRNA, our studies imply that the N-terminal portion of TLR7 triggers a yet to be identified event on TLR7. TLR7(rsq1) mice might represent a valuable tool to help elucidate novel aspects of TLR7 biology. The Journal of Immunology, 2011, 186: 4213-4222.

• 出版日期2011-4-1