We previously demonstrated that the intracellular third loop (i3 loop) of a
ngiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT(2)) plays a key role in mediating the bio
logical functions of this receptor. To determine which residues are importa
nt for AT, signaling, mutated receptors with serial deletions within the i3
loop were stably expressed in PC12 cells. Deletion of residues 240-244 wit
hin the intermediate portion of the i3 loop resulted in a complete loss of
AT(2)-mediated apoptosis, inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kina
ses (ERK), and SHP-1 activation. In contrast to well characterized heptahel
ical receptors, the AT, functions were not affected by deletions of the ami
no- or carboxyl-terminal portions of the i3 loop. Alanine substitutions fur
ther demonstrated that lysine 240, asparagine 242, and serine 243 are key r
esidues for AT(2)-induced apoptosis, ERK inhibition, and SHP-1 activation.
To examine whether a functional link exists between activation of SHP-1 and
apoptosis, we used a catalytically inactive SHP-1 mutant and demonstrated
that preventing SHP-1 activation strongly attenuates AT(2)-induced ERK inhi
bition and apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that the intermediate portion of
the i3 loop is important for AT(2) function and that SHP-1 is a proximal e
ffector of the AT(2) receptor that is implicated in the inhibition of ERKs
and in the apoptotic effect of this receptor.