Humanized GPRC6AKGKY is a gain-of-function polymorphism in mice

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 7;10(1):11143. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68113-z.

Abstract

GPRC6A is proposed to regulate energy metabolism in mice, but in humans a KGKY polymorphism in the third intracellular loop (ICL3) is proposed to result in intracellular retention and loss-of-function. To test physiological importance of this human polymorphism in vivo, we performed targeted genomic humanization of mice by using CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9) system to replace the RKLP sequence in the ICL3 of the GPRC6A mouse gene with the uniquely human KGKY sequence to create Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice. Knock-in of a human KGKY sequence resulted in a reduction in basal blood glucose levels and increased circulating serum insulin and FGF-21 concentrations. Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice demonstrated improved glucose tolerance, despite impaired insulin sensitivity and enhanced pyruvate-mediated gluconeogenesis. Liver transcriptome analysis of Gprc6a-KGKY-knockin mice identified alterations in glucose, glycogen and fat metabolism pathways. Thus, the uniquely human GPRC6A-KGKY variant appears to be a gain-of-function polymorphism that positively regulates energy metabolism in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / blood
  • Gene Editing / methods
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques / methods
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • GPRC6A protein, human
  • GPRC6A protein, mouse
  • Insulin
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • fibroblast growth factor 21
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9