Interactions of metarhodopsin II. Arrestin peptides compete with arrestin and transducin

Conformational differences between arrestin2 and pre-activated mutants as revealed by hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry

Arrestins are regulatory proteins that bind specifically to ligand-activated phosphorylated G protein-coupled receptors to terminate G protein-mediated signaling, cause the internalization of the receptor-arrestin complex, and initiate additional intracellular signaling cascades. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that arrestin normally exists in an inactive basal state and undergoes conformational activation in the process of receptor binding. "Pre-activated" phosphorylation-independent arrestin mutants display increased binding to ligand-activated but unphosphorylated receptors. The mutations are believed to expose key receptor-binding regions, allowing the mutants to mimic, to some extent, the transition of arrestin to its active state. In the present study, amide hydrogen exchange (HX) and mass spectrometry (MS) were used to examine the inactive conformation of wild-type arrestin2 and compare its solution conformation with two pre-activated mutants (R169E and 3A (I385A, V386A, F387A)). The results suggest an unexpected level of structural organization within arrestin elements containing clathrin and adaptin2-binding sites that were previously believed to be completely disordered. Increased deuterium incorporation was observed in both mutant forms compared with wild-type, indicating a change in the conformation of the mutants. Three regions demonstrated significant differences in deuterium incorporation: the first 33 residues of the N terminus and residues 243-255 (both previously implicated in receptor interaction), and residues 271-299. The results suggest that subtle differences in conformation are responsible for the significant difference in biological activity displayed by pre-activated arrestin mutants and that similar changes occur in the process of arrestin binding to the receptor.

Comparative Investigation of the LOV1 and LOV2 Domains inAdiantumPhytochrome3†

Phototropin (phot) is a blue-light photoreceptor for phototropic responses, relocation of chloroplasts, and stomata opening in plants. Phototropin has two chromophore-binding domains named LOV1 and LOV2 in its N-terminal half, each of which binds a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) noncovalently. The C-terminal half is a Ser/Thr kinase. A transgenic study of Arabidopsis suggested that only LOV2 domain is necessary for the kinase activity, whereas X-ray crystallographic structures of LOV1 and LOV2 domains are almost identical. These facts imply that the detailed structures and/or structural changes are different between LOV1 and LOV2 domains. In this study, we compared light-induced structural changes of the LOV1 and LOV2 domains of a phototropin, Adiantum phytochrome3 (phy3), by means of UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Photochemical properties of an adduct formation between FMN and a cysteine are essentially similar between phy3-LOV1 and phy3-LOV2. On the other hand, the S-H group of the reactive cysteine forms a hydrogen bond in phy3-LOV1, which is strengthened at low temperatures. This is possibly correlated with the fact that no adduct formation takes place for phy3-LOV1 at 77 K as revealed by the UV-visible absorption spectra. The most prominent difference was seen in the amide-I vibration that monitors the secondary structure of peptide backbone. Protein structural changes in phy3-LOV2 involve the regions of loops, alpha-helices, and beta-sheets, which differ significantly among various temperatures. Extended protein structural changes are probably correlated with the signal transduction activity of LOV2. In contrast, protein structural changes were very small in phy3-LOV1, and they were almost temperature independent. The photocycle of phy3-LOV1 takes 3.1 h, being more than 100 times longer than that of phy3-LOV2. These facts suggest that Adiantum phy3-LOV1 does not work for light sensing, being consistent with the previous transgenic study of Arabidopsis. It is likely that plants utilize a unique protein architecture (LOV domain) for different functions by regulating their protein structural changes.

Adaptors for clathrin coats: structure and function

Clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs) are responsible for the transport of proteins between various compartments of the secretory and endocytic systems. Clathrin forms a scaffold around these vesicles that is linked to membranes by clathrin adaptors. The adaptors simultaneously bind to clathrin and to transmembrane proteins and/or phospholipids and can also interact with each other and with other components of the CCV formation machinery. The result is a collection of proteins that can make multiple, moderate strength (microM Kd) interactions and thereby establish the dynamic regulatable networks to drive vesicle genesis at the correct time and place in the cell. This review focuses on the structure of clathrin adaptors and how these structures provide functional information on the mechanism of CCV formation.

Dynamics of arrestin-rhodopsin interactions: arrestin and retinal release are directly linked events

In this study, we address the mechanism of visual arrestin release from light-activated rhodopsin using fluorescently labeled arrestin mutants. We find that two mutants, I72C and S251C, when labeled with the small, solvent-sensitive fluorophore monobromobimane, exhibit spectral changes only upon binding light-activated, phosphorylated rhodopsin. Our analysis indicates that these changes are probably due to a burying of the probes at these sites in the rhodopsin-arrestin or phospholipid-arrestin interface. Using a fluorescence approach based on this observation, we demonstrate that arrestin and retinal release are linked and are described by similar activation energies. However, at physiological temperatures, we find that arrestin slows the rate of retinal release approximately 2-fold and abolishes the pH dependence of retinal release. Using fluorescence, EPR, and biochemical approaches, we also find intriguing evidence that arrestin binds to a post-Meta II photodecay product, possibly Meta III. We speculate that arrestin regulates levels of free retinal in the rod cell to help limit the formation of damaging oxidative retinal adducts. Such adducts may contribute to diseases like atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Thus, arrestin may serve to both attenuate rhodopsin signaling and protect the cell from excessive retinal levels under bright light conditions.

Mapping the arrestin-receptor interface. Structural elements responsible for receptor specificity of arrestin proteins

Arrestins selectively bind to phosphorylated activated forms of their cognate G protein-coupled receptors. Arrestin binding prevents further G protein activation and often redirects signaling to other pathways. The comparison of the high-resolution crystal structures of arrestin2, visual arrestin, and rhodopsin as well as earlier mutagenesis and peptide inhibition data collectively suggest that the elements on the concave sides of both arrestin domains most likely participate in receptor binding directly, thereby dictating its receptor preference. Using comparative binding of visual arrestin/arrestin2 chimeras to the preferred target of visual arrestin, light-activated phosphorylated rhodopsin (PRh*), and to the arrestin2 target, phosphorylated activated m2 muscarinic receptor (P-m2 mAChR*), we identified the elements that determine the receptor specificity of arrestins. We found that residues 49-90 (beta-strands V and VI and adjacent loops in the N-domain) and 237-268 (beta-strands XV and XVI in the C-domain) in visual arrestin and homologous regions in arrestin2 are largely responsible for their receptor preference. Only 35 amino acids (22 of which are nonconservative substitutions) in the two elements are different. Simultaneous exchange of both elements between visual arrestin and arrestin2 fully reverses their receptor specificity, demonstrating that these two elements in the two domains of arrestin are necessary and sufficient to determine their preferred receptor targets.

Arrestin and its splice variant Arr1-370A (p44). Mechanism and biological role of their interaction with rhodopsin

Deactivation of G-protein-coupled receptors relies on a timely blockade by arrestin. However, under dim light conditions, virtually all arrestin is in the rod inner segment, and the splice variant p(44) (Arr(1-370A)) is the stop protein responsible for receptor deactivation. Using size exclusion chromatography and biophysical assays for membrane-bound protein-protein interaction, membrane binding, and G-protein activation, we have investigated the interactions of Arr(1-370A) and proteolytically truncated Arr(3-367) with rhodopsin. We find that these short arrestins do not only interact with the phosphorylated active receptor but also with inactive phosphorylated rhodopsin or opsin in membranes or solution. Because of the latter interaction they are not soluble (like arrestin) but membrane-bound in the dark. Upon photoexcitation, Arr(3-367) and Arr(1-370A) interact with prephosphorylated rhodopsin faster than arrestin and start to quench G(t) activation on a subsecond time scale. The data indicate that in the course of rhodopsin deactivation, Arr(1-370A) is handed over from inactive to active phosphorylated rhodopsin. This mechanism could provide a new aspect of receptor shutoff in the single photon operating range of the rod cell.

Transition of arrestin into the active receptor-binding state requires an extended interdomain hinge

Arrestins selectively bind to the phosphorylated activated form of G protein-coupled receptors, thereby blocking further G protein activation. Structurally, arrestins consist of two domains topologically connected by a 12-residue long loop, which we term the "hinge" region. Both domains contain receptor-binding elements. The relative size and shape of arrestin and rhodopsin suggest that dramatic changes in arrestin conformation are required to bring all of its receptor-binding elements in contact with the cytoplasmic surface of the receptor. Here we use the visual arrestin/rhodopsin system to test the hypothesis that the transition of arrestin into its active receptor-binding state involves a movement of the two domains relative to each other that might be limited by the length of the hinge. We have introduced three insertions and 24 deletions in the hinge region and measured the binding of all of these mutants to light-activated phosphorylated (P-Rh*), dark phosphorylated (P-Rh), dark unphosphorylated (Rh), and light-activated unphosphorylated rhodopsin (Rh*). The addition of 1-3 extra residues to the hinge has no effect on arrestin function. In contrast, sequential elimination of 1-8 residues results in a progressive decrease in P-Rh* binding without changing arrestin selectivity for P-Rh*. These results suggest that there is a minimum length of the hinge region necessary for high affinity binding, consistent with the idea that the two domains move relative to each other in the process of arrestin transition into its active receptor-binding state. The same length of the hinge is also necessary for the binding of "constitutively active" arrestin mutants to P-Rh*, dark P-Rh, and Rh*, suggesting that the active (receptor-bound) arrestin conformation is essentially the same in both wild type and mutant forms.

Arrestin: roles in the life and death of retinal neurons

G protein-coupled receptors are a large family of signaling molecules that respond to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli. The receptors relay the information encoded by the ligand through the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins and intracellular effector molecules. To ensure the appropriate regulation of the signaling cascade, it is vital to properly inactivate the receptor. This inactivation is achieved, in part, by the binding of a soluble protein, arrestin, which uncouples the receptor from the downstream G protein. In addition to the inactivation of G protein-coupled receptors, arrestins have also been implicated in the endocytosis of receptors and cross talk with other signaling pathways. Due to its central role in cellular signaling, misregulation or misfunction of arrestin can have dramatic affects on cell viability and have direct implications in human disease.

Insertional mutagenesis and immunochemical analysis of visual arrestin interaction with rhodopsin

Visual arrestin inactivates the phototransduction cascade by specifically binding to light-activated phosphorylated rhodopsin. This study describes the combined use of insertional mutagenesis and immunochemical approaches to probe the structural determinants of arrestin function. Recombinant arrestins with insertions of a 10-amino acid c-Myc tag (EQKLISEEDL) were expressed in yeast and characterized. When the tag was placed on the C terminus after amino acid 399, between amino acids 99 and 100 or between residues 162 and 163, binding to rhodopsin was found to be very similar to that of wild-type arrestin. Two stable mutants with Myc insertions in the 68-78 loop were also generated. Binding to rhodopsin was markedly decreased for one (72myc73) and completely abolished for the other (77myc78). Limited proteolysis assays using trypsin in the absence or presence of heparin were performed on all mutants and confirmed their overall conformational integrity. Rhodopsin binding to either 162myc163 or 72myc73 arrestins in solution was completely inhibited in the presence of less than a 2-fold molar excess of anti-Myc antibody relative to arrestin. In contrast, the antibody did not block the interaction of the 399myc or 99myc100 arrestins with rhodopsin. These results indicate that an interactive surface for rhodopsin is located on or near the concave region of the N-domain of arrestin.

Calcium-dependent assembly of centrin-G-protein complex in photoreceptor cells

Photoexcitation of rhodopsin activates a heterotrimeric G-protein cascade leading to cyclic GMP hydrolysis in vertebrate photoreceptors. Light-induced exchanges of the visual G-protein transducin between the outer and inner segment of rod photoreceptors occur through the narrow connecting cilium. Here we demonstrate that transducin colocalizes with the Ca(2+)-binding protein centrin 1 in a specific domain of this cilium. Coimmunoprecipitation, centrifugation, centrin overlay, size exclusion chromatography, and kinetic light-scattering experiments indicate that Ca(2+)-activated centrin 1 binds with high affinity and specificity to transducin. The assembly of centrin-G-protein complex is mediated by the betagamma-complex. The Ca(2+)-dependent assembly of a G protein with centrin is a novel aspect of the supply of signaling proteins in sensory cells and a potential link between molecular translocations and signal transduction in general.

Differential conformational requirements for activation of G proteins and the regulatory proteins arrestin and G protein-coupled receptor kinase in the G protein-coupled receptor for parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related protein

After stimulation with agonist, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate G proteins and become phosphorylated by G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), and most of them translocate cytosolic arrestin proteins to the cytoplasmic membrane. Agonist-activated GPCRs are specifically phosphorylated by GRKs and are targeted for endocytosis by arrestin proteins, suggesting a connection between GPCR conformational changes and interaction with GRKs and arrestins. Previously, we showed that by substitution of histidine for residues at the cytoplasmic side of helix 3 (H3) and helix 6 (H6) of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor (PTHR), a zinc metal ion-binding site is engineered that prevents PTH-stimulated G(s) activation (Sheikh, S. P., Vilardaga, J.-P., Baranski, T. J., Lichtarge, O., Iiri, T., Meng, E. C., Nissenson, R. A., and Bourne, H. R. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 17033-17041). These data suggest that relative movements between H3 and H6 are critical for G(s) activation. Does this molecular event play a similar role in activation of GRK and arrestin and in PTHR-mediated G(q) activation? To answer this question, we utilized the two previously described mutant forms of PTHR, H401 and H402, which contain a naturally present histidine residue at position 301 in H3 and a second substituted histidine residue at positions 401 and 402 in H6, respectively. Both mutant receptors showed inhibition of PTH-stimulated inositol phosphate and cAMP generation in the presence of increasing concentrations of Zn(II). However, the mutants showed no Zn(II)-dependent impairment of phosphorylation by GRK-2. Likewise, the mutants were indistinguishable from wild-type PTHR in the ability to translocate beta-arrestins/green fluorescent protein to the cell membrane and were also not affected by sensitivity to Zn(II). These results suggest that agonist-mediated phosphorylation and internalization of PTHR require conformational switches of the receptor distinct from the cAMP and inositol phosphate signaling state. Furthermore, PTHR sequestration does not appear to require G protein activation.

Crystal structure of beta-arrestin at 1.9 A: possible mechanism of receptor binding and membrane Translocation

BACKGROUND

Arrestins are responsible for the desensitization of many sequence-divergent G protein-coupled receptors. They compete with G proteins for binding to activated phosphorylated receptors, initiate receptor internalization, and activate additional signaling pathways.

RESULTS

In order to understand the structural basis for receptor binding and arrestin's function as an adaptor molecule, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of two truncated forms of bovine beta-arrestin in its cytosolic inactive state to 1.9 A. Mutational analysis and chimera studies identify the regions in beta-arrestin responsible for receptor binding specificity. beta-arrestin demonstrates high structural homology with the previously solved visual arrestin. All key structural elements responsible for arrestin's mechanism of activation are conserved.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on structural analysis and mutagenesis data, we propose a previously unappreciated part in beta-arrestin's mode of action by which a cationic amphipathic helix may function as a reversible membrane anchor. This novel activation mechanism would facilitate the formation of a high-affinity complex between beta-arrestin and an activated receptor regardless of its specific subtype. Like the interaction between beta-arrestin's polar core and the phosphorylated receptor, such a general activation mechanism would contribute to beta-arrestin's versatility as a regulator of many receptors.

Signaling states of rhodopsin: absorption of light in active metarhodopsin II generates an all-trans-retinal bound inactive state

Absorption of light in rhodopsin leads through 11-cis- and all-trans-retinal isomerization, proton transfers, and structural changes to the active G-protein binding meta-II state. When meta-II is photolysed by blue light absorption, the activating pathway is apparently reverted, and rhodopsin is photoregenerated. However, the product formed, a P subspecies with A(max) = 500 nm (P(500)), is different from the ground state based on the following observations: (i) the ground state fingerprint of 11-cis-retinal does not appear in the infrared spectra, although the proton transfers and structural changes are reverted; (ii) extraction of the retinal from P(500) does not yield the expected stoichiometric amount of 11-cis-retinal but predominantly yields all-trans-retinal; (iii) the infrared spectrum of P(500) is similar to the classical meta-III intermediate, which arises from meta-II by thermal decay; and (iv) both P(500) and meta-III can be photoconverted to meta-II with the same changes in the infrared spectrum and without a significant change in the isomerization state of the extracted chromophore. The data indicate the presence of a "second switch" between active and inactive conformations that operates by photolysis but without isomerization around the C(11)-C(12) double bond. This emphasizes the exclusivity of the ground state, which is only accessible by the metabolic regeneration with 11-cis-retinal.

An additional phosphate-binding element in arrestin molecule. Implications for the mechanism of arrestin activation

Arrestins quench the signaling of a wide variety of G protein-coupled receptors by virtue of high-affinity binding to phosphorylated activated receptors. The high selectivity of arrestins for this particular functional form of receptor ensures their timely binding and dissociation. In a continuing effort to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for arrestin's selectivity, we used the visual arrestin model to probe the functions of its N-terminal beta-strand I comprising the highly conserved hydrophobic element Val-Ile-Phe (residues 11-13) and the adjacent positively charged Lys(14) and Lys(15). Charge elimination and reversal in positions 14 and 15 dramatically reduce arrestin binding to phosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (P-Rh*). The same mutations in the context of various constitutively active arrestin mutants (which bind to P-Rh*, dark phosphorylated rhodopsin (P-Rh), and unphosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (Rh*)) have minimum impact on P-Rh* and Rh* binding and virtually eliminate P-Rh binding. These results suggest that the two lysines "guide" receptor-attached phosphates toward the phosphorylation-sensitive trigger Arg(175) and participate in phosphate binding in the active state of arrestin. The elimination of the hydrophobic side chains of residues 11-13 (triple mutation V11A, I12A, and F13A) moderately enhances arrestin binding to P-Rh and Rh*. The effects of triple mutation V11A, I12A, and F13A in the context of phosphorylation-independent mutants suggest that residues 11-13 play a dual role. They stabilize arrestin's basal conformation via interaction with hydrophobic elements in arrestin's C-tail and alpha-helix I as well as its active state by interactions with alternative partners. In the context of the recently solved crystal structure of arrestin's basal state, these findings allow us to propose a model of initial phosphate-driven structural rearrangements in arrestin that ultimately result in its transition into the active receptor-binding state.