Direct voltage control of endogenous lysophosphatidic acid G‐protein‐coupled receptors in Xenopus oocytes

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) play important roles in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, central nervous system development and carcinogenesis. Whilst many ion channels and transporters are recognized to be controlled by a change in cell membrane potential, little is known about the voltage dependence of other proteins involved in cell signalling. Here, we show that the InsP3‐mediated Ca2+ response stimulated by the endogenous LPA GPCR in Xenopus oocytes is potentiated by membrane depolarization. Depolarization was able to repetitively stimulate transient [Ca2+]i increases after the initial agonist‐evoked response. In addition, the initial rate and amplitude of the LPA‐dependent Ca2+ response were significantly modulated by the steady holding potential over the physiological range, such that the response to LPA was potentiated at depolarized potentials and inhibited at hyperpolarized potentials. Enhancement of LPA receptor‐evoked Ca2+ mobilization by membrane depolarization was observed over a wide range of agonist concentrations. Importantly, the amplitude of the depolarization‐evoked intracellular Ca2+ increase displayed an inverse relationship with agonist concentration such that the greatest effect of voltage was observed at near‐threshold levels of agonist. Voltage‐dependent Ca2+ release was not induced by direct elevation of InsP3 or by activation of heterotrimeric G‐proteins in the absence of agonist, indicating that the LPA GPCR itself represents the primary site of action of membrane voltage. This novel modulation of LPA signalling by membrane potential may have important consequences for control of Ca2+ signals both in excitable and non‐excitable tissues. Binding of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to G‐protein‐coupled receptors is a widespread signalling pathway in development, differentiation and cancer. Here we show that membrane depolarization enhances the activity of the LPA receptor of the Xenopus oocyte. This results in increased internal calcium levels due to inositol trisphosphate‐dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. This represents a mechanism whereby responses to LPA can be modified by electrogenic influences.