Determining the Significance of the Caveolin Binding Motif in FSHR Caveolin Interactions

Infertility is a global issue affecting approximately 1 in every 6 adults of reproductive age, and yet most treatment options, including IVF and birth control to alleviate PCOS symptoms, are either extremely costly or have low success rates. Dysfunction of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and its receptor is linked to impairment in reproductive processes, leading to infertility, which makes studying FSH and its receptor crucial for understanding infertility. FSH plays a major role in sexual development of both males and females when it binds to a receptor on Sertoli and Granulosa cells. Past research confirmed that the FSH receptor is located on cell membranes in structures known as lipid rafts, but how it gets there is unknown. We hypothesize that the receptor makes its way into lipid rafts using caveolin, which is critical for formation and maintenance of lipid rafts. The research aimed to confirm whether the cav-1 protein physically interacts with the follitropin receptor, FSHR, in lipid raft structures. To investigate the interactions between FSHR and cav-1, HEK293 cells expressing the human FSHR were transfected with a caveolin-expressing plasmid. Following transfection, cells were lysed and co-immunoprecipitated with an antibody targeting the FSHR. The resulting cell lysate and antibody mixture was analyzed using western blotting. The isolation of the cav-1 protein alongside the FSHR confirmed a physical interaction between the 2 proteins. Understanding the interactions between cav-1 and FSHR may provide more information on how the receptor functions, allowing for more effective and potentially more cost effective approaches to treating infertility.