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Kaipa JM, Krasnoselska G, Owens RJ, van den Heuvel J. Screening of Membrane Protein Production by Comparison of Transient Expression in Insect and Mammalian Cells. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050817. [PMID: 37238687 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins are difficult biomolecules to express and purify. In this paper, we compare the small-scale production of six selected eukaryotic integral membrane proteins in insect and mammalian cell expression systems using different techniques for gene delivery. The target proteins were C terminally fused to the green fluorescent marker protein GFP to enable sensitive monitoring. We show that the choice of expression systems makes a considerable difference to the yield and quality of the six selected membrane proteins. Virus-free transient gene expression (TGE) in insect High Five cells combined with solubilization in dodecylmaltoside plus cholesteryl hemisuccinate generated the most homogeneous samples for all six targets. Further, the affinity purification of the solubilized proteins using the Twin-Strep® tag improved protein quality in terms of yield and homogeneity compared to His-tag purification. TGE in High Five insect cells offers a fast and economically attractive alternative to the established methods that require either baculovirus construction and the infection of the insect cells or relatively expensive transient gene expression in mammalian cells for the production of integral membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ganna Krasnoselska
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 18.5, 42, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Structural Biology Division, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Joop van den Heuvel
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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Han CT, Nguyen KDQ, Berkow MW, Hussain S, Kiani A, Kinnebrew M, Idso MN, Baxter N, Chang E, Aye E, Winslow E, Rahman M, Seppälä S, O'Malley MA, Chmelka BF, Mertz B, Han S. Lipid membrane mimetics and oligomerization tune functional properties of proteorhodopsin. Biophys J 2023; 122:168-179. [PMID: 36352784 PMCID: PMC9822798 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional properties of proteorhodopsin (PR) have been found to be strongly modulated by oligomeric distributions and lipid membrane mimetics. This study aims to distinguish and explain their effects by investigating how oligomer formation impacts PR's function of proton transport in lipid-based membrane mimetic environments. We find that PR forms stable hexamers and pentamers in both E. coli membranes and synthetic liposomes. Compared with the monomers, the photocycle kinetics of PR oligomers is ∼2 and ∼4.5 times slower for transitions between the K and M and the M and N photointermediates, respectively, indicating that oligomerization significantly slows PR's rate of proton transport in liposomes. In contrast, the apparent pKa of the key proton acceptor residue D97 (pKaD97) of liposome-embedded PR persists at 6.2-6.6, regardless of cross-protomer modulation of D97, suggesting that the liposome environment helps maintain PR's functional activity at neutral pH. By comparison, when extracted directly from E. coli membranes into styrene-maleic acid lipid particles, the pKaD97 of monomer-enriched E50Q PR drastically increases to 8.9, implying that there is a very low active PR population at neutral pH to engage in PR's photocycle. These findings demonstrate that oligomerization impacts PR's photocycle kinetics, while lipid-based membrane mimetics strongly affect PR's active population via different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Ta Han
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Khanh Dinh Quoc Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Maxwell W Berkow
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Sunyia Hussain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Ahmad Kiani
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Maia Kinnebrew
- College of Creative Studies, Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Matthew N Idso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Naomi Baxter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Evelyn Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Emily Aye
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Elsa Winslow
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Mohammad Rahman
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Bradley F Chmelka
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Blake Mertz
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California.
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Volonté C, Amadio S. Rethinking purinergic concepts and updating the emerging role of P2X7 and P2X4 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropharmacology 2022; 221:109278. [PMID: 36202258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The topic of the present review regards the ubiquitous and phylogenetically most ancient prototype of intercellular signaling, the one mediated by extracellular nucleosides and nucleotides, bearing a strong influence on pathophysiological processes in the nervous system. Not by chance, purine and pyrimidine molecules are the most prevalent and ubiquitous chemical messengers in the animal and plant kingdoms, operating through a large plethora of purinergic metabolizing enzymes, P1 and P2 receptors, nucleoside and nucleotide channels and transporters. Because ectonucleotidases degrade the agonists of P2 receptors while simultaneously generate the agonists for P1 receptors, and because several agonists, or antagonists, simultaneously bind and activate, or inhibit, more than one receptor subtype, it follows that an all-inclusive "purinergic network" perspective should be better considered when looking at purinergic actions. This becomes particularly crucial during pathological conditions as for instance amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, where the contribution of purinergic signaling has been demonstrated to differ according to each target cell phenotype and stage of disease progression. Here we will present some newly updated results about P2X7 and P2X4 as the most thoroughly investigated P2 receptors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, being aware that the comprehension of their actions is still in progress, and that the purinergic rationale for studying this disease must be however wide-ranging and all-inclusive. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'Purinergic Signaling: 50 years'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Volonté
- CNR-Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti", Via Dei Taurini 19, 00185, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia-Cellular Neurobiology Unit, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - Susanna Amadio
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia-Cellular Neurobiology Unit, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
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Nguyen KDQ, Vigers M, Sefah E, Seppälä S, Hoover JP, Schonenbach NS, Mertz B, O'Malley MA, Han S. Homo-oligomerization of the human adenosine A 2A receptor is driven by the intrinsically disordered C-terminus. eLife 2021; 10:e66662. [PMID: 34269678 PMCID: PMC8328514 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have long been shown to exist as oligomers with functional properties distinct from those of the monomeric counterparts, but the driving factors of oligomerization remain relatively unexplored. Herein, we focus on the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), a model GPCR that forms oligomers both in vitro and in vivo. Combining experimental and computational approaches, we discover that the intrinsically disordered C-terminus of A2AR drives receptor homo-oligomerization. The formation of A2AR oligomers declines progressively with the shortening of the C-terminus. Multiple interaction types are responsible for A2AR oligomerization, including disulfide linkages, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. These interactions are enhanced by depletion interactions, giving rise to a tunable network of bonds that allow A2AR oligomers to adopt multiple interfaces. This study uncovers the disordered C-terminus as a prominent driving factor for the oligomerization of a GPCR, offering important insight into the effect of C-terminus modification on receptor oligomerization of A2AR and other GPCRs reconstituted in vitro for biophysical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh Dinh Quoc Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Michael Vigers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Eric Sefah
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Jennifer Paige Hoover
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Nicole Star Schonenbach
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Blake Mertz
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Michelle Ann O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
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León-Navarro DA, Albasanz JL, Martín M. Functional Cross-Talk between Adenosine and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:422-437. [PMID: 29663888 PMCID: PMC6520591 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180416093717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract: G-protein coupled receptors are transmembrane proteins widely expressed in cells and their transduction pathways are mediated by controlling second messenger levels through different G-protein interactions. Many of these receptors have been described as involved in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases and even considered as potential targets for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. Endogenous and synthetic allosteric and orthosteric selective ligands are able to modulate GPCRs at both gene and protein expression levels and can also modify their physiological function. GPCRs that coexist in the same cells can homo- and heteromerize, therefore, modulating their function. Adenosine receptors are GPCRs which stimulate or inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity through Gi/Gs protein and are involved in the control of neurotransmitter release as glutamate. In turn, metabotropic glutamate receptors are also GPCRs which inhibit adenylyl cyclase or stimulate phospholipase C activities through Gi or Gq proteins, respectively. In recent years, evidence of crosstalk mechanisms be-tween different GPCRs have been described. The aim of the present review was to summarize the described mechanisms of interaction and crosstalking between adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors, mainly of group I, in both in vitro and in vivo systems, and their possible use for the design of novel ligands for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Agustín León-Navarro
- Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Organica y Bioquimica. CRIB, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.,Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Avenida Camilo José Cela, 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José Luis Albasanz
- Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Organica y Bioquimica. CRIB, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.,Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Avenida Camilo José Cela, 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real, Camino Moledores s/n. 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Mairena Martín
- Departamento de Quimica Inorganica, Organica y Bioquimica. CRIB, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.,Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Avenida Camilo José Cela, 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.,Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real, Camino Moledores s/n. 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
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Lee AG. Interfacial Binding Sites for Cholesterol on G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Biophys J 2019; 116:1586-1597. [PMID: 31010663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A docking procedure is described that allows the transmembrane surface of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to be swept rapidly for potential binding sites for cholesterol at the bilayer interfaces on the two sides of the membrane. The procedure matches 89% of the cholesterols resolved in published GPCR crystal structures, when cholesterols likely to be crystal packing artifacts are excluded. Docking poses are shown to form distinct clusters on the protein surface, the clusters corresponding to "greasy hollows" between protein ridges. Docking poses depend on the angle of tilt of the GPCR in the surrounding lipid bilayer. It is suggested that thermal motion could alter the optimal binding pose for a cholesterol molecule, with the range of binding poses within a cluster providing a guide to the range of thermal motions likely for a cholesterol within a binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
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Idso MN, Baxter NR, Narayanan S, Chang E, Fisher J, Chmelka BF, Han S. Proteorhodopsin Function Is Primarily Mediated by Oligomerization in Different Micellar Surfactant Solutions. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:4180-4192. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b00922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Yoo JI, O’Malley MA. Tuning Vector Stability and Integration Frequency Elevates Functional GPCR Production and Homogeneity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1763-1772. [PMID: 29871481 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins play a valuable role in biotechnology, yet the difficulty of producing high yields of functional membrane protein limits their use in synthetic biology. The practical application of G protein-coupled receptors in whole cell biosensors, for example, is restricted to those that are functionally produced at the cell surface in the chosen host, limiting the range of detectable molecules. Here, we present a facile approach to significantly improve the yield and homogeneity of functional membrane proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by altering only the choice of expression vector. Expression of a model GPCR, the human adenosine A2a receptor, from commonly used centromeric and episomal vectors leads to low yields and cellular heterogeneity due to plasmid loss in 20-90% of the cell population. In contrast, homogeneous production of GPCR is attained using a multisite integrating vector or a novel, modified high copy vector that does not require genomic integration or addition of any selection agents. Finally, we introduce a FACS-based screen, which enables rapid isolation of cells with 4- to 15-fold increases in gene dosage and up to a 9-fold increase in functional protein yield without loss of homogeneity compared to a strain isolated through conventional, low-throughput methods. These results can be extended to improve the cellular homogeneity and yield of other membrane proteins, expanding the repertoire of useful receptors for synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin I. Yoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Michelle A. O’Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
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Farran B. An update on the physiological and therapeutic relevance of GPCR oligomers. Pharmacol Res 2017; 117:303-327. [PMID: 28087443 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The traditional view on GPCRs held that they function as single monomeric units composed of identical subunits. This notion was overturned by the discovery that GPCRs can form homo- and hetero-oligomers, some of which are obligatory, and can further assemble into receptor mosaics consisting of three or more protomers. Oligomerisation exerts significant impacts on receptor function and physiology, offering a platform for the diversification of receptor signalling, pharmacology, regulation, crosstalk, internalization and trafficking. Given their involvement in the modulation of crucial physiological processes, heteromers could constitute important therapeutic targets for a wide range of diseases, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, substance abuse or obesity. This review aims at depicting the current developments in GPCR oligomerisation research, documenting various class A, B and C GPCR heteromers detected in vitro and in vivo using biochemical and biophysical approaches, as well as recently identified higher-order oligomeric complexes. It explores the current understanding of dimerization dynamics and the possible interaction interfaces that drive oligomerisation. Most importantly, it provides an inventory of the wide range of physiological processes and pathophysiological conditions to which GPCR oligomers contribute, surveying some of the oligomers that constitute potential drug targets. Finally, it delineates the efforts to develop novel classes of ligands that specifically target and tether to receptor oligomers instead of a single monomeric entity, thus ameliorating their ability to modulate GPCR function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batoul Farran
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
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