Dynamics of Bacteriorhodopsin in the Dark-Adapted State from Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Side-chain dynamics of the α1B -adrenergic receptor determined by NMR via methyl relaxation

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are medically important membrane proteins that sample inactive, intermediate, and active conformational states characterized by relatively slow interconversions (~μs-ms). On a faster timescale (~ps-ns), the conformational landscape of GPCRs is governed by the rapid dynamics of amino acid side chains. Such dynamics are essential for protein functions such as ligand recognition and allostery. Unfortunately, technical challenges have almost entirely precluded the study of side-chain dynamics for GPCRs. Here, we investigate the rapid side-chain dynamics of a thermostabilized α1B -adrenergic receptor (α1B -AR) as probed by methyl relaxation. We determined order parameters for Ile, Leu, and Val methyl groups in the presence of inverse agonists that bind orthosterically (prazosin, tamsulosin) or allosterically (conopeptide ρ-TIA). Despite the differences in the ligands, the receptor's overall side-chain dynamics are very similar, including those of the apo form. However, ρ-TIA increases the flexibility of Ile1764×56 and possibly of Ile2145×49 , adjacent to Pro2155×50 of the highly conserved P5×50 I3×40 F6×44 motif crucial for receptor activation, suggesting differences in the mechanisms for orthosteric and allosteric receptor inactivation. Overall, increased Ile side-chain rigidity was found for residues closer to the center of the membrane bilayer, correlating with denser packing and lower protein surface exposure. In contrast to two microbial membrane proteins, in α1B -AR Leu exhibited higher flexibility than Ile side chains on average, correlating with the presence of Leu in less densely packed areas and with higher protein-surface exposure than Ile. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of studying receptor-wide side-chain dynamics in GPCRs to gain functional insights.

Deep mining of the protein energy landscape

For over half a century, it has been known that protein molecules naturally undergo extensive structural fluctuations, and that these internal motions are intimately related to their functional properties. The energy landscape view has provided a powerful framework for describing the various physical states that proteins visit during their lifetimes. This Perspective focuses on the commonly neglected and often disparaged axis of the protein energy landscape: entropy. Initially seen largely as a barrier to functionally relevant states of protein molecules, it has recently become clear that proteins retain considerable conformational entropy in the "native" state, and that this entropy can and often does contribute significantly to the free energy of fundamental protein properties, processes, and functions. NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and emerging crystallographic views have matured in parallel to illuminate dynamic disorder of the "ground state" of proteins and their importance in not only transiting between biologically interesting structures but also greatly influencing their stability, cooperativity, and contribution to critical properties such as allostery.

Function-Related Dynamics in Multi-Spanning Helical Membrane Proteins Revealed by Solution NMR

A primary biological function of multi-spanning membrane proteins is to transfer information and/or materials through a membrane by changing their conformations. Therefore, particular dynamics of the membrane proteins are tightly associated with their function. The semi-atomic resolution dynamics information revealed by NMR is able to discriminate function-related dynamics from random fluctuations. This review will discuss several studies in which quantitative dynamics information by solution NMR has contributed to revealing the structural basis of the function of multi-spanning membrane proteins, such as ion channels, GPCRs, and transporters.

Structures of the archaerhodopsin-3 transporter reveal that disordering of internal water networks underpins receptor sensitization

Many transmembrane receptors have a desensitized state, in which they are unable to respond to external stimuli. The family of microbial rhodopsin proteins includes one such group of receptors, whose inactive or dark-adapted (DA) state is established in the prolonged absence of light. Here, we present high-resolution crystal structures of the ground (light-adapted) and DA states of Archaerhodopsin-3 (AR3), solved to 1.1 Å and 1.3 Å resolution respectively. We observe significant differences between the two states in the dynamics of water molecules that are coupled via H-bonds to the retinal Schiff Base. Supporting QM/MM calculations reveal how the DA state permits a thermodynamic equilibrium between retinal isomers to be established, and how this same change is prevented in the ground state in the absence of light. We suggest that the different arrangement of internal water networks in AR3 is responsible for the faster photocycle kinetics compared to homologs.

GPCR Activation States Induced by Nanobodies and Mini-G Proteins Compared by NMR Spectroscopy

In this work, we examine methyl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the methionine ε-[¹³CH₃] labelled thermostabilized β₁ adrenergic receptor from turkey in association with a variety of different effectors, including mini-G_s and nanobody 60 (Nb60), which have not been previously studied in complex with β₁ adrenergic receptor (β₁AR) by NMR. Complexes with pindolol and Nb60 induce highly similar inactive states of the receptor, closely resembling the resting state conformational ensemble. We show that, upon binding of mini-Gs or nanobody 80 (Nb80), large allosteric changes throughout the receptor take place. The conformation of tβ₁AR stabilized by the native-like mini-G_s protein is highly similar to the conformation induced by the currently used surrogate Nb80. Interestingly, in both cases residual dynamics are present, which were not observed in the resting states. Finally, we reproduce a pharmaceutically relevant situation, where an antagonist abolishes the interaction of the receptor with the mini-G protein in a competitive manner, validating the functional integrity of our preparation. The presented system is therefore well suited for reproducing the individual steps of the activation cycle of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in vitro and serves as a basis for functional and pharmacological characterizations of more native-like systems in the future.