A defined epitope on the human choriogonadotropin alpha-subunit interacts with the second extracellular loop of the transmembrane domain of the lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor.

The monoclonal antibody, HT13 recognizes human choriogonadotropin (CG) bound to the extracellular domain of its receptor, but not to the full-length receptor. The HT13 epitope is located in the regions of residues 15-17 and 73-75 of the human CG alpha-subunit. Only one synthetic peptide, lutropin (LH)/CG-receptor-(481-497)-peptide (EL2 peptide), which spans the second putative extracellular loop of the LH/CG-receptor endodomain, prevents recognition of human CG by HT13 mAb. EL2 peptide decreases hormone-induced cAMP production, but not high-affinity binding. An anti-EL2 serum also displays the capacity to inhibit human CG-stimulated cAMP production. These results suggest that the second extracellular loop of the receptor is in contact with the HT13 epitope of human CG alpha-subunit and is involved in signal transduction. A relative orientation of the hormone versus the endodomain is proposed.