scholarly journals DEER Spectroscopy of Channelrhodopsin-2 Helix B Movements in Trapped Photocycle Intermediates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Schumacher ◽  
Johann P. Klare ◽  
Christian Bamann ◽  
Heinz-Jürgen Steinhoff
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Distance Distribution ◽  
Cation Channel ◽  
Microwave Resonator ◽  
Light Activation ◽  
Dark State ◽  
Different Temperatures

AbstractThe light-gated dimeric cation channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) has been established as one of the most important optogenetic tools. During its functional cycle, ChR2 undergoes conformational changes, the most prominent ones include a movement of transmembrane helix B. In the present work, we assign this movement to a trapped photocycle intermediate using DEER spectroscopy combined with sample illumination inside the microwave resonator, allowing trapping and relaxation of defined ChR2 intermediates at different temperatures between 180 and 278 K. Intradimer distances measured between spin-labeled positions 79 located in helix B of ChR2 in the dark state and upon light activation and relaxation at 180 K were similar. In contrast, light activation at 180 K and 30 min relaxation at between 230 and 255 K results in significant changes of the distance distribution. We show that the light-induced movement of helix B is correlated with the presence of the P480 state of ChR2. We hypothesize that conformational changes occurring in this area are key elements responsible for desensitizing the channel for cation conduction.

scholarly journals Impact of Deuteration and Temperature on Furan Ring Dynamics

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2889
Author(s):  
Przemyslaw Dopieralski ◽  
Iryna V. Omelchenko ◽  
Zdzislaw Latajka
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Furan Ring ◽  
Computational Studies ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Dynamic Simulations ◽  
Cyclic Molecules ◽  
Ring Dynamics ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Shape And Size

Despite significant progress in conformational analysis of cyclic molecules, the number of computational studies is still limited while most of that available in the literature data have been obtained long time ago with outdated methods. In present research, we have studied temperature driven conformational changes of the furan ring at three different temperatures. Additionally, the effect of deuteration on the ring dynamics is discussed; in addition, the aromaticity indices following the Bird and HOMA schemes are computed along all trajectories. Our ab initio molecular dynamic simulations revealed that deuteration has changed the furan ring dynamics and the obvious consequences; in addition, the shape and size of molecule are expected to be different.

scholarly journals A structural framework for unidirectional transport by a bacterial ABC exporter

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (32) ◽  
pp. 19228-19236
Author(s):  
Chengcheng Fan ◽  
Jens T. Kaiser ◽  
Douglas C. Rees
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Reverse Direction ◽  
Conformational States ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Glutathione Derivatives

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter of mitochondria (Atm1) mediates iron homeostasis in eukaryotes, while the prokaryotic homolog fromNovosphingobium aromaticivorans(NaAtm1) can export glutathione derivatives and confer protection against heavy-metal toxicity. To establish the structural framework underlying theNaAtm1 transport mechanism, we determined eight structures by X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy in distinct conformational states, stabilized by individual disulfide crosslinks and nucleotides. AsNaAtm1 progresses through the transport cycle, conformational changes in transmembrane helix 6 (TM6) alter the glutathione-binding site and the associated substrate-binding cavity. Significantly, kinking of TM6 in the post-ATP hydrolysis state stabilized by MgADPVO4eliminates this cavity, precluding uptake of glutathione derivatives. The presence of this cavity during the transition from the inward-facing to outward-facing conformational states, and its absence in the reverse direction, thereby provide an elegant and conceptually simple mechanism for enforcing the export directionality of transport byNaAtm1. One of the disulfide crosslinkedNaAtm1 variants characterized in this work retains significant glutathione transport activity, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis and substrate transport by Atm1 may involve a limited set of conformational states with minimal separation of the nucleotide-binding domains in the inward-facing conformation.

scholarly journals Kinetic analysis of ASIC1a delineates conformational signaling from proton-sensing domains to the channel gate

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Vullo ◽  
Nicolas Ambrosio ◽  
Jan P Kucera ◽  
Olivier Bignucolo ◽  
Stephan Kellenberger
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Kinetic Analysis ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Activation Mechanism ◽  
Pain Sensation ◽  
Channel Activation ◽  
Channel Pore ◽  
Acid Sensing Ion Channels ◽  
Channel Gate

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal Na+ channels that are activated by a drop in pH. Their established physiological and pathological roles, involving fear behaviors, learning, pain sensation and neurodegeneration after stroke, make them promising targets for future drugs. Currently, the ASIC activation mechanism is not understood. Here we used voltage-clamp fluorometry (VCF) combined with fluorophore-quencher pairing to determine the kinetics and direction of movements. We show that conformational changes with the speed of channel activation occur close to the gate and in more distant extracellular sites, where they may be driven by local protonation events. Further, we provide evidence for fast conformational changes in a pathway linking protonation sites to the channel pore, in which an extracellular interdomain loop interacts via aromatic residue interactions with the upper end of a transmembrane helix and would thereby open the gate.

scholarly journals Insights into histidine kinase activation mechanisms from the monomeric blue light sensor EL346

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (11) ◽  
pp. 4963-4972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Dikiy ◽  
Uthama R. Edupuganti ◽  
Rinat R. Abzalimov ◽  
Peter P. Borbat ◽  
Madhur Srivastava ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blue Light ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Phosphoryl Group ◽  
Dark State ◽  
Light Sensing

Translation of environmental cues into cellular behavior is a necessary process in all forms of life. In bacteria, this process frequently involves two-component systems in which a sensor histidine kinase (HK) autophosphorylates in response to a stimulus before subsequently transferring the phosphoryl group to a response regulator that controls downstream effectors. Many details of the molecular mechanisms of HK activation are still unclear due to complications associated with the multiple signaling states of these large, multidomain proteins. To address these challenges, we combined complementary solution biophysical approaches to examine the conformational changes upon activation of a minimal, blue-light–sensing histidine kinase from Erythrobacter litoralis HTCC2594, EL346. Our data show that multiple conformations coexist in the dark state of EL346 in solution, which may explain the enzyme’s residual dark-state activity. We also observe that activation involves destabilization of the helices in the dimerization and histidine phosphotransfer-like domain, where the phosphoacceptor histidine resides, and their interactions with the catalytic domain. Similar light-induced changes occur to some extent even in constitutively active or inactive mutants, showing that light sensing can be decoupled from activation of kinase activity. These structural changes mirror those inferred by comparing X-ray crystal structures of inactive and active HK fragments, suggesting that they are at the core of conformational changes leading to HK activation. More broadly, our findings uncover surprising complexity in this simple system and allow us to outline a mechanism of the multiple steps of HK activation.

scholarly journals A mechanism for acetylcholine receptor gating based on structure, coupling, phi, and flip

2016 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaweta Gupta ◽  
Srirupa Chakraborty ◽  
Ridhima Vij ◽  
Anthony Auerbach
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Energy Landscapes ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Sequence Domain ◽  
Rate Limiting

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are allosteric proteins that generate membrane currents by isomerizing (“gating”) between resting and active conformations under the influence of neurotransmitters. Here, to explore the mechanisms that link the transmitter-binding sites (TBSs) with the distant gate, we use mutant cycle analyses to measure coupling between residue pairs, phi value analyses to sequence domain rearrangements, and current simulations to reproduce a microsecond shut component (“flip”) apparent in single-channel recordings. Significant interactions between amino acids separated by >15 Å are rare; an exception is between the αM2–M3 linkers and the TBSs that are ∼30 Å apart. Linker residues also make significant, local interactions within and between subunits. Phi value analyses indicate that without agonists, the linker is the first region in the protein to reach the gating transition state. Together, the phi pattern and flip component suggest that a complete, resting↔active allosteric transition involves passage through four brief intermediate states, with brief shut events arising from sojourns in all or a subset. We derive energy landscapes for gating with and without agonists, and propose a structure-based model in which resting→active starts with spontaneous rearrangements of the M2–M3 linkers and TBSs. These conformational changes stabilize a twisted extracellular domain to promote transmembrane helix tilting, gate dilation, and the formation of a “bubble” that collapses to initiate ion conduction. The energy landscapes suggest that twisting is the most energetically unfavorable step in the resting→active conformational change and that the rate-limiting step in the reverse process is bubble formation.

scholarly journals Influence of urea on methyl $$\upbeta$$-D-glucopyranoside in alkali at different temperatures

Cellulose ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (18) ◽  
pp. 9413-9422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gunnarsson ◽  
Merima Hasani ◽  
Diana Bernin
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Chemical Shifts ◽  
Regenerated Cellulose ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Hydroxymethyl Group ◽  
Overhauser Effect ◽  
Specific Manner ◽  
Acting Mechanism ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Dissolution Efficiency

Abstract The dissolution efficiency plays an important role on the properties of regenerated cellulose-based products. Urea is known to be one of the additives aiding to improve cellulose dissolution in the NaOH(aq) system. The acting mechanism caused by urea has been debated and one of the hypothesis is that urea could induce a conformational change on cellulose, which promotes dissolution. Here we used NMR spectroscopy on a model system for cellulose, namely, methyl $$\upbeta$$β-D-glucopyranoside ($$\upbeta$$β-MeO-Glcp) and compared chemical shifts and J couplings, which both are indicators for conformational changes, as a function of temperature and upon the addition of urea. We found that in NaOH(aq), the hydroxymethyl group changes its conformation in favour of the population of the gt rotamer, while the presence of urea induced temperature dependent conformational changes. Heteronuclear Overhauser effect experiments showed that urea associates with cellulose but in a non-specific manner. This suggests that urea rather than binding to the carbohydrate, changes the chemical environment inducing a change in conformation of $$\upbeta$$β-MeO-Glcp and likely also for cellulose when dissolved in NaOH(aq) with urea.

scholarly journals Constitutive Activation of CCR5 and CCR2 Induced by Conformational Changes in the Conserved TXP Motif in Transmembrane Helix 2

2003 ◽  
Vol 278 (38) ◽  
pp. 36513-36521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Alvarez Arias ◽  
Jean-Marc Navenot ◽  
Wen-bo Zhang ◽  
James Broach ◽  
Stephen C. Peiper
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Constitutive Activation

scholarly journals Analysis of full and partial agonists binding to β2-adrenergic receptor suggests a role of transmembrane helix V in agonist-specific conformational changes

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vsevolod Katritch ◽  
Kimberly A. Reynolds ◽  
Vadim Cherezov ◽  
Michael A. Hanson ◽  
Christopher B. Roth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Partial Agonists ◽  
Β2 Adrenergic Receptor

scholarly journals A selective transmembrane recognition mechanism by a membrane-anchored ubiquitin ligase adaptor

2020 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felichi Mae Arines ◽  
Aaron Jeremy Hamlin ◽  
Xi Yang ◽  
Yun-Yu Jennifer Liu ◽  
Ming Li
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Recognition Mechanism ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Transmembrane Regions ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Open Question

While it is well-known that E3 ubiquitin ligases can selectively ubiquitinate membrane proteins in response to specific environmental cues, the underlying mechanisms for the selectivity are poorly understood. In particular, the role of transmembrane regions, if any, in target recognition remains an open question. Here, we describe how Ssh4, a yeast E3 ligase adaptor, recognizes the PQ-loop lysine transporter Ypq1 only after lysine starvation. We show evidence of an interaction between two transmembrane helices of Ypq1 (TM5 and TM7) and the single transmembrane helix of Ssh4. This interaction is regulated by the conserved PQ motif. Strikingly, recent structural studies of the PQ-loop family have suggested that TM5 and TM7 undergo major conformational changes during substrate transport, implying that transport-associated conformational changes may determine the selectivity. These findings thus provide critical information concerning the regulatory mechanism through which transmembrane domains can be specifically recognized in response to changing environmental conditions.

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