Probing activation and deactivation of the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 receptor kinase by immunoprecipitation

International audienceBrassinosteroids (BRs) are sterol-derived hormones that control plant growth and development. The BR receptor complex is encoded by the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and members of the SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE family. For activation and deactivation, the BR receptor complex uses different posttranslational modifications and recruits various partner proteins. Here, we describe optimized immunoprecipitation protocols and variants for biochemical analyses of posttranslational modifications of BRI1 and of protein-protein interactions

Membrane cholesterol access into a G-protein-coupled receptor

Cholesterol is a key component of cell membranes with a proven modulatory role on the function and ligand-binding properties of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Crystal structures of prototypical GPCRs such as the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) have confirmed that cholesterol finds stable binding sites at the receptor surface suggesting an allosteric role of this lipid. Here we combine experimental and computational approaches to show that cholesterol can spontaneously enter the A2AR-binding pocket from the membrane milieu using the same portal gate previously suggested for opsin ligands. We confirm the presence of cholesterol inside the receptor by chemical modification of the A2AR interior in a biotinylation assay. Overall, we show that cholesterol’s impact on A2AR-binding affinity goes beyond pure allosteric modulation and unveils a new interaction mode between cholesterol and the A2AR that could potentially apply to other GPCRs