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Abstract
Work from our laboratories over the last 35 years that has focused on Ste2p, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), and its tridecapeptide ligand α-factor is reviewed. Our work utilized the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system for understanding peptide-GPCR interactions. It explored the structure and function of synthetic α-factor analogs and biosynthetic receptor domains, as well as designed mutations of Ste2p. The results and conclusions are described using the nuclear magnetic resonance interrogation of synthetic Ste2p transmembrane domains (TMs), the fluorescence interrogation of agonist and antagonist binding, the biochemical crosslinking of peptide analogs to Ste2p, and the phenotypes of receptor mutants. We identified the ligand-binding domain in Ste2p, the functional assemblies of TMs, unexpected and interesting ligand analogs; gained insights into the bound α-factor structure; and unraveled the function and structures of various Ste2p domains, including the N-terminus, TMs, loops connecting the TMs, and the C-terminus. Our studies showed interactions between specific residues of Ste2p in an active state, but not resting state, and the effect of ligand activation on the dimerization of Ste2p. We show that, using a battery of different biochemical and genetic approaches, deep insight can be gained into the structure and conformational dynamics of GPCR-peptide interactions in the absence of a crystal structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Naider
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island, CUNY, 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Becker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, 610 Ken and Blaire Mossman Building, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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Ahn HJ, Kim HJ, Jin DH, Hong NJ. Spectrophotometric Determination of Affinities of α-Factors for Their G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.10367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hee Jun Ahn
- School of Biotechnology; Yeungnam University; Gyungbuk 712-749 Korea
| | - Hyung Jin Kim
- School of Biotechnology; Yeungnam University; Gyungbuk 712-749 Korea
| | - Dong Hoon Jin
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Department of Convergence Medicine; College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center; Seoul 138-736 Korea
| | - Nam Joo Hong
- School of Biotechnology; Yeungnam University; Gyungbuk 712-749 Korea
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Rymer JK, Hauser M, Bourdon AK, Campagna SR, Naider F, Becker JM. Novobiocin and peptide analogs of α-factor are positive allosteric modulators of the yeast G protein-coupled receptor Ste2p. Biochim Biophys Acta 2015; 1848:916-24. [PMID: 25576192 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2014.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the target of many drugs prescribed for human medicine and are therefore the subject of intense study. It has been recognized that compounds called allosteric modulators can regulate GPCR activity by binding to the receptor at sites distinct from, or overlapping with, that occupied by the orthosteric ligand. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of the interaction between putative allosteric modulators and Ste2p, a model GPCR expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that binds the tridecapeptide mating pheromone α-factor. Biological assays demonstrated that an eleven amino acid α-factor analog and the antibiotic novobiocin were positive allosteric modulators of Ste2p. Both compounds enhanced the biological activity of α-factor, but did not compete with α-factor binding to Ste2p. To determine if novobiocin and the 11-mer shared a common allosteric binding site, a biologically-active analog of the 11-mer peptide ([Bio-DOPA]11-mer) was chemically cross-linked to Ste2p in the presence and absence of novobiocin. Immunoblots probing for the Ste2p-[Bio-DOPA]11-mer complex revealed that novobiocin markedly decreased cross-linking of the [Bio-DOPA]11-mer to the receptor, but cross-linking of the α-factor analog [Bio-DOPA]13-mer, which interacts with the orthosteric binding site of the receptor, was minimally altered. This finding suggests that both novobiocin and [Bio-DOPA]11-mer compete for an allosteric binding site on the receptor. These results indicate that Ste2p may provide an excellent model system for studying allostery in a GPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Rymer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Melinda Hauser
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Allen K Bourdon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Shawn R Campagna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Fred Naider
- Department of Chemistry and Macromolecular Assemblies Institute, College of Staten Island, CUNY, New York, NY 10314, United States; Graduate School and University Center, CUNY, New York, NY 10314, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Becker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
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Cohen LS, Fracchiolla KE, Becker J, Naider F. Invited review GPCR structural characterization: Using fragments as building blocks to determine a complete structure. Biopolymers 2014; 102:223-43. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leah S. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
| | - Katrina E. Fracchiolla
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
| | - Jeff Becker
- Department of Microbiology; University of Tennessee; Knoxville TN 37996
| | - Fred Naider
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
- Department of Biochemistry; The Graduate Center; CUNY NY 10016-4309
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Tantry S, Ding FX, Dumont M, Becker JM, Naider F. Binding of fluorinated phenylalanine alpha-factor analogues to Ste2p: evidence for a cation-pi binding interaction between a peptide ligand and its cognate G protein-coupled receptor. Biochemistry 2010; 49:5007-15. [PMID: 20420459 DOI: 10.1021/bi100280f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ste2p, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), binds alpha-factor, WHWLQLKPGQPMY, a tridecapeptide pheromone secreted by yeast cells. Upon alpha-factor binding, Ste2p undergoes conformational changes activating a signal transduction system through its associated heterotrimeric G protein leading to the arrest of cell growth in the G1 phase to prepare cells for mating. Previous studies have indicated that Tyr at position 13 of alpha-factor interacts with Arg58 on transmembrane one (TM1) of Ste2p. This observation prompted this investigation to determine whether a cation-pi type of interaction occurred between these residues. Tyrosine at position 13 of alpha-factor was systematically substituted with analogous amino acids with varying cation-pi binding energies using solid-phase peptide synthesis, and these analogues were modified by derivatization of their Lys(7) residue with the fluorescent group 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) to serve as a useful probe for binding determination. Saturation binding of these peptides to Ste2p was assayed using whole yeast cells and a flow cytometer. In parallel the biological activities of the peptides were determined using a growth arrest assay. The data provide evidence for the presence of a cation-pi interaction between Arg58 of Ste2p and Tyr(13) of alpha-factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramanyam Tantry
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, Staten Island, New York 10314, USA
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Umanah GKE, Son C, Ding F, Naider F, Becker JM. Cross-linking of a DOPA-containing peptide ligand into its G protein-coupled receptor. Biochemistry 2009; 48:2033-44. [PMID: 19152328 DOI: 10.1021/bi802061z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between a 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) labeled analogue of the tridecapeptide alpha-factor (W-H-W-L-Q-L-K-P-G-Q-P-M-Y) and Ste2p, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), has been analyzed by periodate-mediated cross-linking. Chemically synthesized alpha-factor with DOPA substituting for tyrosine at position 13 and biotin tagged onto lysine(7)([Lys(7)(BioACA),Nle(12),DOPA(13)]alpha-factor; Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor) was used for cross-linking into Ste2p. The biological activity of Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor was about one-third that of native alpha-factor as determined by growth arrest assay and exhibited about a 10-fold lower binding affinity to Ste2p. Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor cross-linked into Ste2p as demonstrated by Western blot analysis using a neutravidin-HRP conjugate to detect Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor. Cross-linking was inhibited by excess native alpha-factor and an alpha-factor antagonist. The Ste2p-ligand complex was purified using a metal ion affinity column, and after cyanogen bromide treatment, avidin affinity purification was used to capture Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor-Ste2p cross-linked peptides. MALDI-TOF spectrometric analyses of the cross-linked fragments showed that Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor reacted with the Phe(55)-Met(69) region of Ste2p. Cross-linking of Bio-DOPA-alpha-factor was reduced by 80% using a cysteine-less Ste2p (Cys59Ser). These results suggest an interaction between position 13 of alpha-factor and residue Cys(59) of Ste2p. This study is the first to report DOPA cross-linking of a peptide hormone to a GPCR and the first to identify a residue-to-residue cross-link between Ste2p and alpha-factor, thereby defining a specific contact point between the bound ligand and its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- George K E Umanah
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
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Naider F, Becker JM. The alpha-factor mating pheromone of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a model for studying the interaction of peptide hormones and G protein-coupled receptors. Peptides 2004; 25:1441-63. [PMID: 15374647 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2003] [Accepted: 11/25/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is initiated by the secretion of diffusible peptide pheromones that are recognized by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). This review summarizes the use of the alpha-factor (WHWLQLKPGQPMY)--GPCR (Ste2p) interaction as a paradigm to understand the recognition between medium-sized peptide hormones and their cognate receptors. Studies over the past 15 years have indicated that the alpha-factor is bent around the center of the pheromone and that residues near the amine terminus play a central role in triggering signal transduction. The bend in the center appears not to be rigid and this flexibility is likely necessary for conformational changes that occur as the receptor switches from the inactive to active state. The results of synthetic, biological, biochemical, molecular biological, and biophysical analyses have led to a preliminary model for the structure of the peptide bound to its receptor. Antagonists for Ste2p have changes near the N-terminus of alpha-factor, and mutated forms of Ste2p were discovered that appear to favor binding of these antagonists relative to agonists. Many features of this yeast recognition system are relevant to and have counterparts in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Naider
- Department of Chemistry, College of Staten Island and Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies of The City University of New York, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
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Akal-Strader A, Khare S, Xu D, Naider F, Becker JM. Residues in the first extracellular loop of a G protein-coupled receptor play a role in signal transduction. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:30581-90. [PMID: 12058045 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m204089200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone, alpha-factor (WHWLQLKPGQPMY), and Ste2p, its G protein-coupled receptor, were used as a model system to study ligand-receptor interaction. Cys-scanning mutagenesis on each residue of EL1, the first extracellular loop of Ste2p, was used to generate a library of 36 mutants with a single Cys residue substitution. Mutation of most residues of EL1 had only negligible effects on ligand affinity and biological activity of the mutant receptors. However, five mutants were identified that were either partially (L102C and T114C) or severely (N105C, S108C, and Y111C) compromised in signaling but retained binding affinities similar to those of wild-type receptor. Three-dimensional modeling, secondary structure predictions, and subsequent circular dichroism studies on a synthetic peptide with amino acid sequence corresponding to EL1 suggested the presence of a helix corresponding to EL1 residues 106 to 114 followed by two short beta-strands (residues 126 to 135). The distinctive periodicity of the five residues with a signal-deficient phenotype combined with biophysical studies suggested a functional involvement in receptor activation of a face on a 3(10) helix in this region of EL1. These studies indicate that EL1 plays an important role in the conformational switch that activates the Ste2p receptor to initiate the mating pheromone signal transduction pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayça Akal-Strader
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, M407 Walters Life Sciences Building, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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