scholarly journals QTY code enables design of detergent-free chemokine receptors that retain ligand-binding activities

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (37) ◽  
pp. E8652-E8659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuguang Zhang ◽  
Fei Tao ◽  
Rui Qing ◽  
Hongzhi Tang ◽  
Michael Skuhersky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Helical Structures ◽  
Protein Gp41 ◽  
Hydrophobic Amino Acids ◽  
And Function ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Structure and function studies of membrane proteins, particularly G protein-coupled receptors and multipass transmembrane proteins, require detergents. We have devised a simple tool, the QTY code (glutamine, threonine, and tyrosine), for designing hydrophobic domains to become water soluble without detergents. Here we report using the QTY code to systematically replace the hydrophobic amino acids leucine, valine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine in the seven transmembrane α-helices of CCR5, CXCR4, CCR10, and CXCR7. We show that QTY code-designed chemokine receptor variants retain their thermostabilities, α-helical structures, and ligand-binding activities in buffer and 50% human serum. CCR5QTY, CXCR4QTY, and CXCR7QTY also bind to HIV coat protein gp41-120. Despite substantial transmembrane domain changes, the detergent-free QTY variants maintain stable structures and retain their ligand-binding activities. We believe the QTY code will be useful for designing water-soluble variants of membrane proteins and other water-insoluble aggregated proteins.

scholarly journals Adaptation and Constraint in the Atypical Chemokine Receptor Family in Mammals

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Pan ◽  
Jianliang Lv ◽  
Zhongwang Zhang ◽  
Yongguang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
And Function ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Receptor Family

Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) are a subclass of G protein-coupled receptors characterized by promiscuity of ligand binding and an obvious inability to signal after ligand binding. Although some discoveries regarding this family in Homo sapiens and other species have been reported in some studies, the evolution and function of multiple ACKR in mammals have not yet been clearly understood. We performed an evolutionary analysis of ACKR genes (ACKR1, ACKR2, ACKR3, and ACKR4) in mammals. Ninety-two full-length ACKR genes from 27 mammal species were retrieved from the Genbank and Ensemble databases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that there were four well-conserved subfamilies in mammals. Synteny analysis revealed that ACKR genes formed conserved linkage groups with their adjacent genes across mammalian species, facilitating the identification of ACKRs in as yet unannotated genome datasets. Analysis of the site-specific profiles established by posterior probability revealed the positive-selection sites to be distributed mainly in the ligand binding region of ACKR1. This study highlights the molecular evolution of the ACKR gene family in mammals and identifies the critical amino acid residues likely to be relevant to ligand binding. Further experimental verification of these findings may provide valuable information regarding the ACKR’s biochemical and physiological functions.

scholarly journals Comparing Native Crystal Structures and AlphaFold2 Predicted Water-Soluble G Protein-Coupled Receptor QTY Variants

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1285
Author(s):  
Michael A. Skuhersky ◽  
Fei Tao ◽  
Rui Qing ◽  
Eva Smorodina ◽  
David Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Hydrophobic Amino Acids ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Insight Into

Accurate predictions of 3-dimensional protein structures by AlphaFold2 is a game-changer for biology, especially for structural biology. Here we present the studies of several native chemokine receptors including CCR5, CCR9, CXCR2 and CXCR4 determined by X-ray crystallography, and their water-soluble QTY counter parts predicted by AlphaFold2. In the native structures, there are hydrophobic amino acids leucine (L), isoleucine (I), valine (V) and phenylalanine (F) in the transmembrane helices. These hydrophobic amino acids are systematically replaced by hydrophilic amino acids glutamine (Q), threonine (T), and tyrosine (Y). Thus, the QTY variants become water-soluble. We also present the superimposed structures of native CCR10, CXCR5, CXCR7 and an olfactory receptor OR1D2 and their water-soluble QTY variants. Since the CryoEM structural determinations for the QTY variants of CCR10QTY and OR1D2QTY are in progress, it will be of interest to compare them when the structures become available. The superimposed structures show remarkable similarity within RMSD 1Å–2Å despite significant sequence differences (~26%–~33%). We also show the differences of hydrophobicity patches between the native GPCR and their QTY variants. Our study provides insight into the subtle differences between the hydrophobic helices and hydrophilic helices, and may further stimulate designs of water-soluble membrane proteins and other aggregated proteins.

scholarly journals QTY Code-designed Water-soluble Fc-fusion Cytokine Receptors Bind to their Respective Ligands

QRB Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilei Hao ◽  
David Jin ◽  
Shuguang Zhang ◽  
Rui Qing
Keyword(s):  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Cytokine Receptors ◽  
Interleukin Receptors ◽  
Physiological Properties ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Hydrophobic Amino Acids

AbstractCytokine release syndrome (CRS), or ‘cytokine storm’, is the leading side effect during chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy that is potentially life-threatening. It also plays a critical role in viral infections such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, efficient removal of excessive cytokines is essential for treatment. We previously reported a novel protein modification tool called the QTY code, through which hydrophobic amino acids Leu, Ile, Val and Phe are replaced by Gln (Q), Thr (T) and Tyr (Y). Thus, the functional detergent-free equivalents of membrane proteins can be designed. Here, we report the application of the QTY code on six variants of cytokine receptors, including interleukin receptors IL4Rα and IL10Rα, chemokine receptors CCR9 and CXCR2, as well as interferon receptors IFNγR1 and IFNλR1. QTY-variant cytokine receptors exhibit physiological properties similar to those of native receptors without the presence of hydrophobic segments. The receptors were fused to the Fc region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) protein to form an antibody-like structure. These QTY code-designed Fc-fusion receptors were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The resulting water-soluble fusion receptors bind to their respective ligands with Kd values affinity similar to isolated native receptors. Our cytokine receptor–Fc-fusion proteins potentially serve as an antibody-like decoy to dampen the excessive cytokine levels associated with CRS and COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals High Throughput Quantitation of cAMP Production Mediated by Activation of Seven Transmembrane Domain Receptors

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Kariv ◽  
Michelle E. Stevens ◽  
Davette L. Behrens ◽  
Kevin R. Oldenburg
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
G Protein ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Receptor Function ◽  
Camp Production ◽  
Ligand Interaction ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Native Ligand

Impairment of G protein—coupled seven-transmembrane (7 TM) receptor function has been implicated in a variety of different pathologic conditions, suggesting that the discovery of specific antagonists may lead to the development of successful therapeutic agents. The effect of different agents on receptor-ligand interaction is often measured directly in a receptor binding assay; however, this assay format can be time consuming and does not detect agents that interact at sites distal to the native ligand binding site. Cyclic adenosine monophospate (cAMP) represents a ubiquitous second messenger generated in response to ligand binding to many 7 TM receptors. The present study describes the practical adaptation of scintillation proximity methodology, using FlashPlate™ (NEN Life Sciences, Boston, MA) technology to evaluate cAMP production. The bioassay is based on competition between endogenously produced cAMP and exogenously added radiolabeled [125I]-cAMP. Cyclic AMP capture is mediated through an anti-cAMP antibody onto a microplate well surface. Removal of unbound radioligand is not necessary because only ligand within ≤20 μm of the plate surface is detected due to the proximity effect. The data indicate that the use of scintillation proximity technology allows accurate and specific evaluation of G protein—coupled receptor function as measured by cAMP production and is suitable for high throughput screening.

scholarly journals A Microdomain Formed by the Extracellular Ends of the Transmembrane Domains Promotes Activation of the G Protein-Coupled α-Factor Receptor

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 2041-2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Lin ◽  
Ken Duell ◽  
James B. Konopka
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Transmembrane Domains ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Subsequent Step ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Specific Reagent

ABSTRACT The α-factor receptor (Ste2p) that promotes mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is similar to other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in that it contains seven transmembrane domains. Previous studies suggested that the extracellular ends of the transmembrane domains are important for Ste2p function, so a systematic scanning mutagenesis was carried out in which 46 residues near the ends of transmembrane domains 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 were replaced with cysteine. These mutants complement mutations constructed previously near the ends of transmembrane domains 5 and 6 to analyze all the extracellular ends. Eight new mutants created in this study were partially defective in signaling (V45C, N46C, T50C, A52C, L102C, N105C, L277C, and A281C). Treatment with 2-([biotinoyl] amino) ethyl methanethiosulfonate, a thiol-specific reagent that reacts with accessible cysteine residues but not membrane-embedded cysteines, identified a drop in the level of reactivity over a consecutive series of residues that was inferred to be the membrane boundary. An unusual prolonged zone of intermediate reactivity near the extracellular end of transmembrane domain 2 suggests that this region may adopt a special structure. Interestingly, residues implicated in ligand binding were mainly accessible, whereas residues involved in the subsequent step of promoting receptor activation were mainly inaccessible. These results define a receptor microdomain that provides an important framework for interpreting the mechanisms by which functionally important residues contribute to ligand binding and activation of Ste2p and other GPCRs.

Small membrane proteins – elucidating the function of the needle in the haystack

2014 ◽  
Vol 395 (12) ◽  
pp. 1365-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Kemp ◽  
Florian Cymer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Soluble Proteins ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Ribosome Profiling ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
A Cell ◽  
And Function

Abstract Membrane proteins are important mediators between the cell and its environment or between different compartments within a cell. However, much less is known about the structure and function of membrane proteins compared to water-soluble proteins. Moreover, until recently a subset of membrane proteins, those shorter than 100 amino acids, have almost completely evaded detection as a result of technical difficulties. These small membrane proteins (SMPs) have been underrepresented in most genomic and proteomic screens of both pro- and eukaryotic cells and, hence, we know much less about their functions in both. Currently, through a combination of bioinformatics, ribosome profiling, and more sensitive proteomics, large numbers of SMPs are being identified and characterized. Herein we describe recent advances in identifying SMPs from genomic and proteomic datasets and describe examples where SMPs have been successfully characterized biochemically. Finally we give an overview of identified functions of SMPs and speculate on the possible roles SMPs play in the cell.

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