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Thermodynamic architecture and conformational plasticity of GPCRs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:128. [PMID: 36624096 PMCID: PMC9829892 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35790-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are ubiquitous integral membrane proteins involved in diverse cellular signaling processes. Here, we carry out a large-scale ensemble thermodynamic study of 45 ligand-free GPCRs employing a structure-based statistical mechanical framework. We find that multiple partially structured states co-exist in the GPCR native ensemble, with the TM helices 1, 6 and 7 displaying varied folding status, and shaping the conformational landscape. Strongly coupled residues are anisotropically distributed, accounting for only 13% of the residues, illustrating that a large number of residues are inherently dynamic. Active-state GPCRs are characterized by reduced conformational heterogeneity with altered coupling-patterns distributed throughout the structural scaffold. In silico alanine-scanning mutagenesis reveals that extra- and intra-cellular faces of GPCRs are coupled thermodynamically, highlighting an exquisite structural specialization and the fluid nature of the intramolecular interaction network. The ensemble-based perturbation methodology presented here lays the foundation for understanding allosteric mechanisms and the effects of disease-causing mutations in GCPRs.
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2
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Yeliseev AA, Zoretich K, Hooper L, Teague W, Zoubak L, Hines KG, Gawrisch K. Site-selective labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of human cannabinoid receptor CB 2. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183621. [PMID: 33865808 PMCID: PMC8154700 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Integral membrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) regulate multiple physiological processes by transmitting signals from extracellular milieu to intracellular proteins and are major targets of pharmaceutical drug development. Since GPCR are inherently flexible proteins, their conformational dynamics can be studied by spectroscopic techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) which requires selective chemical labeling of the protein. Here, we developed protocols for selective chemical labeling of the recombinant human cannabinoid receptor CB2 by judiciously replacing naturally occurring reactive cysteine residues and introducing a new single cysteine residue in selected positions. The majority of the 47 newly generated single cysteine constructs expressed well in E. coli cells, and more than half of them retained high functional activity. The reactivity of newly introduced cysteine residues was assessed by incorporating nitroxide spin label and EPR measurement. The conformational transition of the receptor between the inactive and activated form were studied by EPR of selectively labeled constructs in the presence of either a full agonist CP-55,940 or an inverse agonist SR-144,528. We observed evidence for higher mobility of labels in the center of internal loop 3 and a structural change between agonist vs. inverse agonist-bound CB2 in the extracellular tip of transmembrane helix 6. Our results demonstrate the utility of EPR for studies of conformational dynamics of CB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei A Yeliseev
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Kaeli Zoretich
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Levi Hooper
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Walter Teague
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lioudmila Zoubak
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kirk G Hines
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Klaus Gawrisch
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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3
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Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy on G-protein-coupled receptors: Adopting strategies from related model systems. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 69:177-186. [PMID: 34304006 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins, including ion channels, transporters and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), play a significant role in various physiological processes. Many of these proteins are difficult to express in large quantities, imposing crucial experimental restrictions. Nevertheless, there is now a wide variety of studies available utilizing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques that expand experimental accessibility by using relatively small quantities of protein. Here, we give an overview starting from basic strategies in EPR on membrane proteins with a focus on GPCRs, while emphasizing several applications from recent years. We highlight how the arsenal of EPR-based techniques may provide significant further contributions to understanding the complex molecular machinery and energetic phenomena responsible for seamless workflow in essential biological processes.
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4
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Ligand modulation of the conformational dynamics of the A 2A adenosine receptor revealed by single-molecule fluorescence. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5910. [PMID: 33723285 PMCID: PMC7960716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest class of transmembrane proteins, making them an important target for therapeutics. Activation of these receptors is modulated by orthosteric ligands, which stabilize one or several states within a complex conformational ensemble. The intra- and inter-state dynamics, however, is not well documented. Here, we used single-molecule fluorescence to measure ligand-modulated conformational dynamics of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) on nanosecond to millisecond timescales. Experiments were performed on detergent-purified A2R in either the ligand-free (apo) state, or when bound to an inverse, partial or full agonist ligand. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) was performed on detergent-solubilized A2AR to resolve active and inactive states via the separation between transmembrane (TM) helices 4 and 6. The ligand-dependent changes of the smFRET distributions are consistent with conformational selection and with inter-state exchange lifetimes ≥ 3 ms. Local conformational dynamics around residue 2296.31 on TM6 was measured using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), which captures dynamic quenching due to photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between a covalently-attached dye and proximal aromatic residues. Global analysis of PET-FCS data revealed fast (150-350 ns), intermediate (50-60 μs) and slow (200-300 μs) conformational dynamics in A2AR, with lifetimes and amplitudes modulated by ligands and a G-protein mimetic (mini-Gs). Most notably, the agonist binding and the coupling to mini-Gs accelerates and increases the relative contribution of the sub-microsecond phase. Molecular dynamics simulations identified three tyrosine residues (Y112, Y2887.53, and Y2907.55) as being responsible for the dynamic quenching observed by PET-FCS and revealed associated helical motions around residue 2296.31 on TM6. This study provides a quantitative description of conformational dynamics in A2AR and supports the idea that ligands bias not only GPCR conformations but also the dynamics within and between distinct conformational states of the receptor.
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Capturing Peptide-GPCR Interactions and Their Dynamics. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204724. [PMID: 33076289 PMCID: PMC7587574 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many biological functions of peptides are mediated through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Upon ligand binding, GPCRs undergo conformational changes that facilitate the binding and activation of multiple effectors. GPCRs regulate nearly all physiological processes and are a favorite pharmacological target. In particular, drugs are sought after that elicit the recruitment of selected effectors only (biased ligands). Understanding how ligands bind to GPCRs and which conformational changes they induce is a fundamental step toward the development of more efficient and specific drugs. Moreover, it is emerging that the dynamic of the ligand–receptor interaction contributes to the specificity of both ligand recognition and effector recruitment, an aspect that is missing in structural snapshots from crystallography. We describe here biochemical and biophysical techniques to address ligand–receptor interactions in their structural and dynamic aspects, which include mutagenesis, crosslinking, spectroscopic techniques, and mass-spectrometry profiling. With a main focus on peptide receptors, we present methods to unveil the ligand–receptor contact interface and methods that address conformational changes both in the ligand and the GPCR. The presented studies highlight a wide structural heterogeneity among peptide receptors, reveal distinct structural changes occurring during ligand binding and a surprisingly high dynamics of the ligand–GPCR complexes.
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Pal S, Chattopadhyay A. Extramembranous Regions in G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Cinderella in Receptor Biology? J Membr Biol 2019; 252:483-497. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-019-00092-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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7
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Structure of the glucagon receptor in complex with a glucagon analogue. Nature 2018; 553:106-110. [PMID: 29300013 DOI: 10.1038/nature25153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Class B G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which consist of an extracellular domain (ECD) and a transmembrane domain (TMD), respond to secretin peptides to play a key part in hormonal homeostasis, and are important therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases. Previous work has suggested that peptide ligands bind to class B GPCRs according to a two-domain binding model, in which the C-terminal region of the peptide targets the ECD and the N-terminal region of the peptide binds to the TMD binding pocket. Recently, three structures of class B GPCRs in complex with peptide ligands have been solved. These structures provide essential insights into peptide ligand recognition by class B GPCRs. However, owing to resolution limitations, the specific molecular interactions for peptide binding to class B GPCRs remain ambiguous. Moreover, these previously solved structures have different ECD conformations relative to the TMD, which introduces questions regarding inter-domain conformational flexibility and the changes required for receptor activation. Here we report the 3.0 Å-resolution crystal structure of the full-length human glucagon receptor (GCGR) in complex with a glucagon analogue and partial agonist, NNC1702. This structure provides molecular details of the interactions between GCGR and the peptide ligand. It reveals a marked change in the relative orientation between the ECD and TMD of GCGR compared to the previously solved structure of the inactive GCGR-NNC0640-mAb1 complex. Notably, the stalk region and the first extracellular loop undergo major conformational changes in secondary structure during peptide binding, forming key interactions with the peptide. We further propose a dual-binding-site trigger model for GCGR activation-which requires conformational changes of the stalk, first extracellular loop and TMD-that extends our understanding of the previously established two-domain peptide-binding model of class B GPCRs.
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Recent advances in biophysical studies of rhodopsins - Oligomerization, folding, and structure. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2017; 1865:1512-1521. [PMID: 28844743 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Retinal-binding proteins, mainly known as rhodopsins, function as photosensors and ion transporters in a wide range of organisms. From halobacterial light-driven proton pump, bacteriorhodopsin, to bovine photoreceptor, visual rhodopsin, they have served as prototypical α-helical membrane proteins in a large number of biophysical studies and aided in the development of many cutting-edge techniques of structural biology and biospectroscopy. In the last decade, microbial and animal rhodopsin families have expanded significantly, bringing into play a number of new interesting structures and functions. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in biophysical approaches to retinal-binding proteins, primarily microbial rhodopsins, including those in optical spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and electron paramagnetic resonance, as applied to such fundamental biological aspects as protein oligomerization, folding, and structure.
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Wang P, Chang AY, Novosad V, Chupin VV, Schaller RD, Rozhkova EA. Cell-Free Synthetic Biology Chassis for Nanocatalytic Photon-to-Hydrogen Conversion. ACS NANO 2017; 11:6739-6745. [PMID: 28602073 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We report on an entirely man-made nano-bio architecture fabricated through noncovalent assembly of a cell-free expressed transmembrane proton pump and TiO2 semiconductor nanoparticles as an efficient nanophotocatalyst for H2 evolution. The system produces hydrogen at a turnover of about 240 μmol of H2 (μmol protein)-1 h-1 and 17.74 mmol of H2 (μmol protein)-1 h-1 under monochromatic green and white light, respectively, at ambient conditions, in water at neutral pH and room temperature, with methanol as a sacrificial electron donor. Robustness and flexibility of this approach allow for systemic manipulation at the nanoparticle-bio interface toward directed evolution of energy transformation materials and artificial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439-4855, United States
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University , Jinan, Shandong 250100, People's Republic of China
| | - Angela Y Chang
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Valentyn Novosad
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne, Illinois 60439-4855, United States
| | - Vladimir V Chupin
- Laboratory Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, Department of General and Applied Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology , Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141701, Russia
| | - Richard D Schaller
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439-4855, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Elena A Rozhkova
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439-4855, United States
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The Synergetic Effects of Combining Structural Biology and EPR Spectroscopy on Membrane Proteins. CRYSTALS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst7040117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein structures as provided by structural biology such as X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy are key elements to understand the function of a protein on the molecular level. Nonetheless, they might be error-prone due to crystallization artifacts or, in particular in case of membrane-imbedded proteins, a mostly artificial environment. In this review, we will introduce different EPR spectroscopy methods as powerful tools to complement and validate structural data gaining insights in the dynamics of proteins and protein complexes such that functional cycles can be derived. We will highlight the use of EPR spectroscopy on membrane-embedded proteins and protein complexes ranging from receptors to secondary active transporters as structural information is still limited in this field and the lipid environment is a particular challenge.
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Consentius P, Gohlke U, Loll B, Alings C, Heinemann U, Wahl MC, Risse T. Combining EPR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to elucidate the structure and dynamics of conformationally constrained spin labels in T4 lysozyme single crystals. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:20723-20734. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03144k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Unraveling structural and dynamic details of spin labeled proteins using a combination of single crystal EPR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Consentius
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Ulrich Gohlke
- Medicine in the Helmholtz Association
- 13125 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Bernhard Loll
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Claudia Alings
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Udo Heinemann
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
- Medicine in the Helmholtz Association
| | - Markus C. Wahl
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
| | - Thomas Risse
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- 14195 Berlin
- Germany
- Berlin Joint EPR Laboratory, Freie Universität Berlin
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Nohr D, Rodriguez R, Weber S, Schleicher E. How can EPR spectroscopy help to unravel molecular mechanisms of flavin-dependent photoreceptors? Front Mol Biosci 2015; 2:49. [PMID: 26389123 PMCID: PMC4555020 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2015.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a well-established spectroscopic method for the examination of paramagnetic molecules. Proteins can contain paramagnetic moieties in form of stable cofactors, transiently formed intermediates, or spin labels artificially introduced to cysteine sites. The focus of this review is to evaluate potential scopes of application of EPR to the emerging field of optogenetics. The main objective for EPR spectroscopy in this context is to unravel the complex mechanisms of light-active proteins, from their primary photoreaction to downstream signal transduction. An overview of recent results from the family of flavin-containing, blue-light dependent photoreceptors is given. In detail, mechanistic similarities and differences are condensed from the three classes of flavoproteins, the cryptochromes, LOV (Light-oxygen-voltage), and BLUF (blue-light using FAD) domains. Additionally, a concept that includes spin-labeled proteins and examination using modern pulsed EPR is introduced, which allows for a precise mapping of light-induced conformational changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nohr
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ryan Rodriguez
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Weber
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erik Schleicher
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Freiburg, Germany
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