S49G and R389G polymorphisms of the β1-adrenergic receptor influence signaling via the cAMP-PKA and ERK pathways

Two functionally important β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) polymorphisms have been identified. The R389G polymorphism influences coupling to the Gs-cAMP pathway. R389-β1ARs display enhanced activation of cAMP/PKA; they provide short-term inotropic support but also cause a predisposition to cardiomyopathic decompensation. A second S49G polymorphism is implicated in the evolution of heart failure, but the mechanism remains uncertain. This study shows that position 49 and 389 polymorphisms function in a coordinate manner to influence agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses. cAMP/PKA and ERK responses are more robust in HEK293 cells that heterologously overexpress G49-β1ARs, compared with S49-β1ARs. However, this phenotype is most obvious on a G389-β1AR background; the more robust agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses in R389-β1AR cells effectively obscure the effect of the S49G polymorphism. We also show that isoproterenol (Iso) and carvedilol activate ERK via a similar EGFR-independent mechanism in cells expressing various β1AR haplotypes. However, Iso activates ERK via an Src-independent pathway, but carvedilol-dependent ERK activation requires Src. Since the S49G polymorphism has been linked to changes in β1AR trafficking, we examined whether β1AR polymorphisms influence partitioning to lipid raft membranes. Biochemical fractionation studies show that all four β1AR variants are recovered in buoyant flotillin-enriched membranes; the distinct signaling phenotypes of the different β1AR variants could not be attributed to any gross differences in basal compartmentalization to lipid raft membranes. The allele-specific differences in β1AR signaling phenotypes identified in this study could underlie interindividual differences in responsiveness to β-blocker therapy and clinical outcome in heart failure.