Three-dimensional structure of an oncogene protein: catalytic domain of human c-H-ras p21

The crystal structure at 2.7 A resolution of the normal human c-H-ras oncogene protein lacking a flexible carboxyl-terminal 18 residue reveals that the protein consists of a six-stranded beta sheet, four alpha helices, and nine connecting loops. Four loops are involved in interactions with bound guanosine diphosphate: one with the phosphates, another with the ribose, and two with the guanine base. Most of the transforming proteins (in vivo and in vitro) have single amino acid substitutions at one of a few key positions in three of these four loops plus one additional loop. The biological functions of the remaining five loops and other exposed regions are at present unknown. However, one loop corresponds to the binding site for a neutralizing monoclonal antibody and another to a putative "effector region"; mutations in the latter region do not alter guanine nucleotide binding or guanosine triphosphatase activity but they do reduce the transforming activity of activated proteins. The data provide a structural basis for understanding the known biochemical properties of normal as well as activated ras oncogene proteins and indicate additional regions in the molecule that may possibly participate in other cellular functions.

Deprotonation of the Schiff base of rhodopsin is obligate in the activation of the G protein

Photolysis of rhodopsin leads to the formation of an activated intermediate that activates a G protein, thus beginning the visual cascade. This activated form of rhodopsin appears coincident in time with the spectroscopically defined intermediate, metarhodopsin II. Metarhodopsin I, the precursor of metarhodopsin II, contains a protonated Schiff base, whereas metarhodopsin II does not. The question of whether the deprotonation of the protonated Schiff base is obligate in the formation of activated rhodopsin was addressed by monomethylating the active-site lysine of permethylated rhodopsin and determining whether this pigment can activate the G protein upon photolysis. The photolysis of the new pigment, which absorbs at 520 nm, led to the formation of a relatively stable metarhodopsin I-like intermediate with a lambda max of approximately equal to 485 nm, with no apparent formation of either metarhodopsin II- or metarhodopsin III-like intermediates. The only probe available to detect formation of the active form of rhodopsin is G protein activation. Photolysis of the pigment in the presence of the G protein did not lead to measurable activation of the GTPase activity of the latter. These studies establish a functional link between Schiff base deprotonation and activation of the G protein. It is concluded that proton transfer from the protonated Schiff base of rhodopsin is obligate for the initiation of visual transduction.