Conformational Change in the Ligand-Binding Pocket via a KISS1R Mutation (P147L) Leads to Isolated Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Deficiency.

CONTEXT

Kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) is expressed in hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and responsible for pubertal onset and reproductive functions. mutations remain a rare cause of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify the genetic cause of CHH in a patient and to functionally characterize a mutation.

DESIGN

The patient was a 47-year-old Japanese man whose parents were first cousins. He lacked secondary sexual characteristics owing to normosmic CHH. Exon segments for the gene in this patient were screened for mutations. Functional analyses were performed using HEK293 cells expressing KISS1R mutants. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to compare the ligand-KISS1R mutant complex with those of wild-type KISS1R variants.

RESULTS

A homozygous mutation (c.440C>T, p.P147L) in was identified. The P147L mutation did not affect either receptor expression level or subcellular localization in the recombinant expression system. Intracellular calcium measurements and cellular dielectric spectroscopy demonstrated that the P147L mutation impaired receptor function to an extent more severe than that of a previously reported L148S mutation. A receptor-ligand binding assay showed the P147L mutation causes a substantial loss of ligand-binding affinity. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the P147L mutation decreases the contact surface area of the ligand-receptor complex in an expanded ligand-binding pocket.

CONCLUSION

We identified a loss-of-function mutation in associated with CHH. Our results demonstrated that the P147L mutation causes a severe phenotype and functional impairment resulting from the loss of ligand-binding affinity due to an expanded ligand-binding pocket.