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FFA3 receptor

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Immunopharmacology Ligand  Target has curated data in GtoImmuPdb

Target id: 227

Nomenclature: FFA3 receptor

Family: Free fatty acid receptors

Gene and Protein Information Click here for help
class A G protein-coupled receptor
Species TM AA Chromosomal Location Gene Symbol Gene Name Reference
Human 7 346 19q13.12 FFAR3 free fatty acid receptor 3 14
Mouse 7 319 7 B1 Ffar3 free fatty acid receptor 3 8
Rat 7 319 1q21 Ffar3 free fatty acid receptor 3 2
Previous and Unofficial Names Click here for help
FFA3R | GPR41 [14] | LSSIG [17] | G protein-coupled receptor 41 | GPCR41
Database Links Click here for help
Specialist databases
GPCRdb ffar3_human (Hs), ffar3_mouse (Mm), ffar3_rat (Rn)
Other databases
Alphafold
ChEMBL Target
Ensembl Gene
Entrez Gene
Human Protein Atlas
KEGG Gene
OMIM
Pharos
RefSeq Nucleotide
RefSeq Protein
UniProtKB
Wikipedia
Natural/Endogenous Ligands Click here for help
butyric acid
1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid
propanoic acid

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Agonists
Key to terms and symbols View all chemical structures Click column headers to sort
Ligand Sp. Action Value Parameter Reference
propanoic acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 3.9 – 5.7 pEC50 3,11,15,23
pEC50 3.9 – 5.7 [3,11,15,23]
pentanoic acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 3.8 – 5.4 pEC50 3,23
pEC50 3.8 – 5.4 [3,23]
isobutyric acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 4.3 – 4.8 pEC50 3,23
pEC50 4.3 – 4.8 [3,23]
butyric acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Ligand has a PDB structure Immunopharmacology Ligand Hs Full agonist 3.8 – 4.9 pEC50 3,11,15,23
pEC50 3.8 – 4.9 [3,11,15,23]
1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Hs Full agonist 3.9 pEC50 15
pEC50 3.9 [15]
acetic acid Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 2.8 – 3.9 pEC50 3,11,15,23
pEC50 2.8 – 3.9 [3,11,15,23]
Agonist Comments
A series of short chain fatty acids with varying degrees of selectivity for FFA3 over FFA2 have been reported [15]. Species orthologs of FFA3 have been found to have different rank orders of potencies for short chain fatty acids compared ot the human receptor [7].
Antagonist Comments
To date the only reported antagonist for FFA3 is β-hydroxybutyrate [10]. In this study the short-chain fatty acid propionate promoted sympathetic outflow via FFA3, whereas the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (which can be present in the circulation as a result of starvation or diabetes) antagonized FFA3, thus suppressing sympathetic nervous system activity. This is proposed as a mechanism whereby short-chain fatty acids and ketone bodies are able to directly regulate sympathetic nervous system activity and thereby control body energy expenditure and maintain metabolic homeostasis.
Allosteric Modulators
Key to terms and symbols View all chemical structures Click column headers to sort
Ligand Sp. Action Value Parameter Reference
FHQC Small molecule or natural product Hs Agonist 5.7 pEC50 6
pEC50 5.7 (EC50 2.239x10-6 M) [6]
Allosteric Modulator Comments
To date no compounds that act as allosteric modulators at FFA3 have been reported in the peer reviewed literature, but FFA3 allosteric modulators have been described in patent applications [21].
Immunopharmacology Comments
FFA3 has been included in GtoImmuPdb as its expression has been detected in immune cells [4], however do date its main physiological function seems to be in metabolic regulation [19].
Cell Type Associations
Immuno Cell Type:  B cells
References:  4
Immuno Cell Type:  T cells
References:  4
Immuno Process Associations
Immuno Process:  Inflammation
Immuno Process:  Immune regulation
Immuno Process:  Cytokine production & signalling
Immuno Process:  Chemotaxis & migration
Primary Transduction Mechanisms Click here for help
Transducer Effector/Response
Gi/Go family Adenylyl cyclase inhibition
References:  23
Tissue Distribution Click here for help
Spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, peripheral blood monuclear cells, adipose tissue.
Species:  Human
Technique:  RT-PCR.
References:  3,11
Duodenal enteroendocrine L-cells.
Species:  Human
Technique:  Immunohistochemistry.
References:  18
PYY containing enteroendocrine cells of the colonic mucosa.
Species:  Human
Technique:  Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR.
References:  20
Pancreatic islets.
Species:  Mouse
Technique:  RT-PCR.
References:  9
Sympathetic ganglia.
Species:  Mouse
Technique:  RT-PCR.
References:  10
Tissue Distribution Comments
Expression of FFA3 in adipose tissue is a contentious issue, with some studies detecting expression in adipose tissue [3,23] and others failing to find any FFA3 expression [5,24].
FFA3 expression has been described in bovine rumen epithelium but not islet of Langerhans cells [22].
Expression Datasets Click here for help

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Log average relative transcript abundance in mouse tissues measured by qPCR from Regard, J.B., Sato, I.T., and Coughlin, S.R. (2008). Anatomical profiling of G protein-coupled receptor expression. Cell, 135(3): 561-71. [PMID:18984166] [Raw data: website]

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Functional Assays Click here for help
Measurement of leptin production in Ob-Luc cells endogenously expressing the FFA3 receptor.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Ob-Luc cells.
Response measured:  Leptin production.
References:  23
Measurement of cAMP levels in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the human FFA3 receptor.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  CHO-K1 cells.
Response measured:  Inhibition of cAMP accumulation.
References:  11,23
Measurement of Ca2+ levels in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the human FFA3 receptor and chimeric G proteins.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  CHO-K1 cells.
Response measured:  Increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration.
References:  11
Stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding in HEK293 cell membranes expressing the human FFA3 receptor.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  HEK293 cells.
Response measured:  Increase in [35S]GTPγS binding.
References:  3,15
Stimulation of FUS1-LacZ and FUS1-HIS3 reporter genes in modified yeast expressing the rat Gpr41 receptor in combination with chimeric G proteins.
Species:  Rat
Tissue:  Yeast cells.
Response measured:  Yeast cell growth and/or beta-galactosidase.
References:  3
Label-free dynamic mass redistribution measured on the Coring Epic biosensor system in HEK293 cell expressing the human FFA3 receptor.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  HEK293 cells.
Response measured:  Measurement of cell mass redistribution via a change in the optical density of the cells.
References:  15
Measurement of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in HEK293 cells expressing the human FFA3 receptor.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  HEK293 cells.
Response measured:  Phosphorylation of ERK1/2.
References:  16
Physiological Functions Click here for help
Increase in leptin production.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Ob-Luc cells.
References:  23
Activation of sympathetic ganglion neurons by short chain fatty acids is mediated by FFA3.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Sympathetic neurons.
References:  10
Physiological Functions Comments
A general function of FFA3 in nutrient sensing in the gut to maintain energy homoeostatsis has been suggested [12].
Physiological Consequences of Altering Gene Expression Click here for help
FFA3 knockout out mice have reduced adiposity and body mass. A reduction in the expression of PYY is also found.
Species:  None
Tissue:  in vivo.
Technique:  Gene knock-outs.
References:  13
Male mice lacking FFA3 are found to have increased body fat mass coupled with a reduction in energy expenditure.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  in vivo.
Technique:  Gene knock-outs.
References:  1
Short chain fatty acids cannot activate the sympathetic nervous system in mice lacking FFA3 expression.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  in vivo.
Technique:  Gene knock-outs.
References:  10
Physiological Consequences of Altering Gene Expression Comments
Expression of FFA2 is found to be reduced in FFA3 knockout mice [24] which may hamper efforts to separate the physiological function of the two short chain fatty acids receptors.
Phenotypes, Alleles and Disease Models Click here for help Mouse data from MGI

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Allele Composition & genetic background Accession Phenotype Id Phenotype Reference
Ffar3tm1Dgen Ffar3tm1Dgen/Ffar3tm1Dgen
B6.129P2-Ffar3
MGI:2685324  MP:0005666 abnormal adipose tissue physiology PMID: 20399779 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0001664 abnormal digestion PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0005448 abnormal energy balance PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0003868 abnormal feces composition PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0006001 abnormal intestinal transit time PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0001262 decreased body weight PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0005668 decreased circulating leptin level PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0009289 decreased epididymal fat pad weight PMID: 18931303 
Ffar3tm1Reh Ffar3tm1Reh/Ffar3tm1Reh
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2685324  MP:0005318 decreased triglyceride level PMID: 18931303 

References

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1. Bellahcene M, O'Dowd JF, Wargent ET, Zaibi MS, Hislop DC, Ngala RA, Smith DM, Cawthorne MA, Stocker CJ, Arch JR. (2013) Male mice that lack the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR41 have low energy expenditure and increased body fat content. Br J Nutr, 109 (10): 1755-64. [PMID:23110765]

2. Bonini JA, Anderson SM, Steiner DF. (1997) Molecular cloning and tissue expression of a novel orphan G protein-coupled receptor from rat lung. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 234 (1): 190-3. [PMID:9168987]

3. Brown AJ, Goldsworthy SM, Barnes AA, Eilert MM, Tcheang L, Daniels D, Muir AI, Wigglesworth MJ, Kinghorn I, Fraser NJ et al.. (2003) The Orphan G protein-coupled receptors GPR41 and GPR43 are activated by propionate and other short chain carboxylic acids. J Biol Chem, 278 (13): 11312-9. [PMID:12496283]

4. Brown AJ, Jupe S, Briscoe CP. (2005) A family of fatty acid binding receptors. DNA Cell Biol, 24 (1): 54-61. [PMID:15684720]

5. Hong YH, Nishimura Y, Hishikawa D, Tsuzuki H, Miyahara H, Gotoh C, Choi KC, Feng DD, Chen C, Lee HG et al.. (2005) Acetate and propionate short chain fatty acids stimulate adipogenesis via GPCR43. Endocrinology, 146 (12): 5092-9. [PMID:16123168]

6. Hudson BD, Christiansen E, Murdoch H, Jenkins L, Hansen AH, Madsen O, Ulven T, Milligan G. (2014) Complex pharmacology of novel allosteric free fatty acid 3 receptor ligands. Mol Pharmacol, 86 (2): 200-10. [PMID:24870406]

7. Hudson BD, Tikhonova IG, Pandey SK, Ulven T, Milligan G. (2012) Extracellular ionic locks determine variation in constitutive activity and ligand potency between species orthologs of the free fatty acid receptors FFA2 and FFA3. J Biol Chem, 287 (49): 41195-209. [PMID:23066016]

8. Katayama S, Tomaru Y, Kasukawa T, Waki K, Nakanishi M, Nakamura M, Nishida H, Yap CC, Suzuki M, Kawai J et al.. (2005) Antisense transcription in the mammalian transcriptome. Science, 309 (5740): 1564-6. [PMID:16141073]

9. Kebede MA, Alquier T, Latour MG, Poitout V. (2009) Lipid receptors and islet function: therapeutic implications?. Diabetes Obes Metab, 11 Suppl 4: 10-20. [PMID:19817784]

10. Kimura I, Inoue D, Maeda T, Hara T, Ichimura A, Miyauchi S, Kobayashi M, Hirasawa A, Tsujimoto G. (2011) Short-chain fatty acids and ketones directly regulate sympathetic nervous system via G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 108 (19): 8030-5. [PMID:21518883]

11. Le Poul E, Loison C, Struyf S, Springael JY, Lannoy V, Decobecq ME, Brezillon S, Dupriez V, Vassart G, Van Damme J et al.. (2003) Functional characterization of human receptors for short chain fatty acids and their role in polymorphonuclear cell activation. J Biol Chem, 278 (28): 25481-9. [PMID:12711604]

12. Rasoamanana R, Darcel N, Fromentin G, Tomé D. (2012) Nutrient sensing and signalling by the gut. Proc Nutr Soc, 71 (4): 446-55. [PMID:22453062]

13. Samuel BS, Shaito A, Motoike T, Rey FE, Backhed F, Manchester JK, Hammer RE, Williams SC, Crowley J, Yanagisawa M et al.. (2008) Effects of the gut microbiota on host adiposity are modulated by the short-chain fatty-acid binding G protein-coupled receptor, Gpr41. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105 (43): 16767-72. [PMID:18931303]

14. Sawzdargo M, George SR, Nguyen T, Xu S, Kolakowski LF, O'Dowd BF. (1997) A cluster of four novel human G protein-coupled receptor genes occurring in close proximity to CD22 gene on chromosome 19q13.1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 239 (2): 543-7. [PMID:9344866]

15. Schmidt J, Smith NJ, Christiansen E, Tikhonova IG, Grundmann M, Hudson BD, Ward RJ, Drewke C, Milligan G, Kostenis E et al.. (2011) Selective orthosteric free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) agonists: identification of the structural and chemical requirements for selective activation of FFA2 versus FFA3. J Biol Chem, 286 (12): 10628-40. [PMID:21220428]

16. Seljeset S, Siehler S. (2012) Receptor-specific regulation of ERK1/2 activation by members of the "free fatty acid receptor" family. J Recept Signal Transduct Res, 32 (4): 196-201. [PMID:22712802]

17. Senga T, Iwamoto S, Yoshida T, Yokota T, Adachi K, Azuma E, Hamaguchi M, Iwamoto T. (2003) LSSIG is a novel murine leukocyte-specific GPCR that is induced by the activation of STAT3. Blood, 101 (3): 1185-7. [PMID:12393494]

18. Sykaras AG, Demenis C, Case RM, McLaughlin JT, Smith CP. (2012) Duodenal enteroendocrine I-cells contain mRNA transcripts encoding key endocannabinoid and fatty acid receptors. PLoS ONE, 7 (8): e42373. [PMID:22876318]

19. Tang C, Offermanns S. (2017) FFA2 and FFA3 in Metabolic Regulation. Handb Exp Pharmacol, 236: 205-220. [PMID:27757760]

20. Tazoe H, Otomo Y, Karaki S, Kato I, Fukami Y, Terasaki M, Kuwahara A. (2009) Expression of short-chain fatty acid receptor GPR41 in the human colon. Biomed Res, 30 (3): 149-56. [PMID:19574715]

21. Ulven T. (2012) Short-chain free fatty acid receptors FFA2/GPR43 and FFA3/GPR41 as new potential therapeutic targets. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 3: 111. [PMID:23060857]

22. Wang A, Akers RM, Jiang H. (2012) Short communication: Presence of G protein-coupled receptor 43 in rumen epithelium but not in the islets of Langerhans in cattle. J Dairy Sci, 95 (3): 1371-5. [PMID:22365220]

23. Xiong Y, Miyamoto N, Shibata K, Valasek MA, Motoike T, Kedzierski RM, Yanagisawa M. (2004) Short-chain fatty acids stimulate leptin production in adipocytes through the G protein-coupled receptor GPR41. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 101 (4): 1045-50. [PMID:14722361]

24. Zaibi MS, Stocker CJ, O'Dowd J, Davies A, Bellahcene M, Cawthorne MA, Brown AJ, Smith DM, Arch JR. (2010) Roles of GPR41 and GPR43 in leptin secretory responses of murine adipocytes to short chain fatty acids. FEBS Lett, 584 (11): 2381-6. [PMID:20399779]

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