Characterisation of Schiff base and chromophore in green proteorhodopsin by solid-state NMR

The proteorhodopsin family consists of hundreds of homologous retinal containing membrane proteins found in bacteria in the photic zone of the oceans. They are colour tuned to their environment and act as light-driven proton pumps with a potential energetic and regulatory function. Precise structural details are still unknown. Here, the green proteorhodopsin variant has been selected for a chemical shift analysis of retinal and Schiff base by solid-state NMR. Our data show that the chromophore exists in mainly all-trans configuration in the proteorhodopsin ground state. The optical absorption maximum together with retinal and Schiff base chemical shifts indicate a strong interaction network between chromophore and opsin. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Low temperature FTIR spectroscopy provides new insights in the pH-dependent proton pathway of proteorhodopsin

AbstractIn the presented study the low pH photocycle of proteorhodopsin is extensively investigated by means of low temperature FTIR spectroscopy. Besides the already well-known characteristics of the all-trans and 13-cis retinal vibrations the 77K difference spectrum at pH 5.1 shows an additional negative signal at 1744cm−1 which is interpreted as indicator for the L state. The subsequent photocycle steps are investigated at temperatures higher than 200K. The combination of visible and FTIR spectroscopy enabled us to observe that the deprotonation of the Schiff base is linked to the protonation of an Asp or Glu side chain — the new proton acceptor under acidic conditions. The difference spectra of the late intermediates are characterized by large amide I changes and two further bands ((−)1751cm−1/(+)1725cm-1) in the spectral region of the Asp/Glu ν(C=O) vibrations. The band position of the negative signature points to a transient deprotonation of Asp-97. In addition, the pH dependence of the acidic photocycle was investigated. The difference spectra at pH 5.5 show distinct differences connected to changes in the protonation state of key residues. Based on our data we propose a three-state model that explains the complex pH dependence of PR

A lipid-dependent link between activity and oligomerization state of the M. tuberculosis SMR protein TBsmr

AbstractTBsmr is a secondary active multidrug transporter from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that transports a plethora of compounds including antibiotics and fluorescent dyes. It belongs to the small multidrug resistance (SMR) superfamily and is structurally and functionally related to E. coli EmrE. Of particular importance is the link between protein function, oligomeric state and lipid composition. By freeze fracture EM, we found three different size distributions in three different lipid environments for TBsmr indicating different oligomeric states. The link of these states with protein activity has been probed by fluorescence spectroscopy revealing significant differences. The drug binding site has been probed further by 19F-MAS NMR through chemical labeling of native cysteine residues showing a water accessible environment in agreement with the alternating access model

Cysteine oxidation and disulfide formation in the ribosomal exit tunnel.

Funder: DFG graduate college: CLiC State of Hesse HMWK: BMRZUnderstanding the conformational sampling of translation-arrested ribosome nascent chain complexes is key to understand co-translational folding. Up to now, coupling of cysteine oxidation, disulfide bond formation and structure formation in nascent chains has remained elusive. Here, we investigate the eye-lens protein γB-crystallin in the ribosomal exit tunnel. Using mass spectrometry, theoretical simulations, dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and cryo-electron microscopy, we show that thiol groups of cysteine residues undergo S-glutathionylation and S-nitrosylation and form non-native disulfide bonds. Thus, covalent modification chemistry occurs already prior to nascent chain release as the ribosome exit tunnel provides sufficient space even for disulfide bond formation which can guide protein folding

Comparative study of the AT1 receptor prodrug antagonist candesartan cilexetil with other sartans on the interactions with membrane bilayers

AbstractDrug–membrane interactions of the candesartan cilexetil (TCV-116) have been studied on molecular basis by applying various complementary biophysical techniques namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Raman spectroscopy, small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS), solution 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and solid state 13C and 31P (NMR) spectroscopies. In addition, 31P cross polarization (CP) NMR broadline fitting methodology in combination with ab initio computations has been applied. Finally molecular dynamics (MD) was applied to find the low energy conformation and position of candesartan cilexetil in the bilayers. Thus, the experimental results complemented with in silico MD results provided information on the localization, orientation, and dynamic properties of TCV-116 in the lipidic environment. The effects of this prodrug have been compared with other AT1 receptor antagonists hitherto studied. The prodrug TCV-116 as other sartans has been found to be accommodated in the polar/apolar interface of the bilayer. In particular, it anchors in the mesophase region of the lipid bilayers with the tetrazole group oriented toward the polar headgroup spanning from water interface toward the mesophase and upper segment of the hydrophobic region. In spite of their localization identity, their thermal and dynamic effects are distinct pointing out that each sartan has its own fingerprint of action in the membrane bilayer, which is determined by the parameters derived from the above mentioned biophysical techniques

The Conformational Equilibrium of the Neuropeptide Y2 Receptor in Bilayer Membranes

Dynamic structural transitions within the seven-transmembrane bundle represent the mechanism by which G-protein-coupled receptors convert an extracellular chemical signal into an intracellular biological function. Here, the conformational dynamics of the neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 (Y2R) during activation was investigated. The apo, full agonist-, and arrestin-bound states of Y2R were prepared by cell-free expression, functional refolding, and reconstitution into lipid membranes. To study conformational transitions between these states, all six tryptophans of Y2R were(13)C-labeled. NMR-signal assignment was achieved by dynamic-nuclear-polarization enhancement and the individual functional states of the receptor were characterized by monitoring(13)C NMR chemical shifts. Activation of Y2R is mediated by molecular switches involving the toggle switch residue Trp281(6.48)of the highly conserved SWLP motif and Trp327(7.55)adjacent to the NPxxY motif. Furthermore, a conformationally preserved "cysteine lock"-Trp116(23.50)was identified

Towards dipolar recoupling in macroscopically ordered samples of membrane proteins rotating at the magic angle

MAS NMR spectroscopy can be combined with the advantages of uniaxially ordered samples of membrane proteins as demonstrated in the so-called MAOSS (magic angle oriented sample spinning) experiment. Under these conditions, dipolar recoupling methods can be used to determine the orientation of internuclear vectors with respect to the MAS rotor frame. However, most approaches to measure dipolar couplings yield angle ambiguities even in the static, non-spinning case. Here, we present the possibility to overcome these problems by deriving a new homonuclear double-quantum radio frequency pulse sequence based on an eightfold symmetry. Only dipolar Hamiltonian terms with spatial components m=±2 are recoupled with high efficiency allowing unambiguous angle determinations. Preliminary data demonstrate the applicability to oriented samples

Transport cycle intermediate in small multidrug resistance protein is revealed by substrate fluorescence

Efflux pumps of the small multidrug resistance family bind cationic, lipophilic antibiotics and transport them across the membrane in exchange for protons. The transport cycle must involve various conformational states of the protein needed for substrate binding, translocation, and release. A fluorescent substrate will therefore experience a significant change of environment while being transported, which influences its fluorescence properties. Thus the substrate itself can report intermediate states that form during the transport cycle. We show the existence of such a substrate-transporter complex for the EmrE homologMycobacterium tuberculosisTBsmr and its substrate ethidium bromide. The pH gradient needed for antiport has been generated by co-reconstituting TBsmr with bacteriorhodopsin. Sample illumination generates a ΔpH, which results in enhanced ethidium fluorescence intensity, which is abolished when ΔpH or ΔΨ is collapsed or when the essential residue Glu-13 in TBsmr is exchanged with Ala. This observation shows the formation of a pH-dependent, transient substrate-protein complex between binding and release of ethidium. We have further characterized this state by determining theKd, by inhibiting ethidium transport through titration with nonfluorescent substrate and by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Our findings support a model with a single occluded intermediate state in which the substrate is highly immobile.—Basting, D., Lorch, M., Lehner, I., Glaubitz, C. Transport cycle intermediate in small multidrug resistance protein is revealed by substrate fluorescence