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Atomic force microscopy-single-molecule force spectroscopy unveils GPCR cell surface architecture. Commun Biol 2022; 5:221. [PMID: 35273337 PMCID: PMC8913689 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03162-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest family of cell surface receptors. Despite considerable insights into their pharmacology, the GPCR architecture at the cell surface still remains largely unexplored. Herein, we present the specific unfolding of different GPCRs at the surface of living mammalian cells by atomic force microscopy-based single molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS). Mathematical analysis of the GPCR unfolding distances at resting state revealed the presence of different receptor populations relying on distinct oligomeric states which are receptor-specific and receptor expression-dependent. Moreover, we show that the oligomer size dictates the receptor spatial organization with nanoclusters of high-order oligomers while lower-order complexes spread over the whole cell surface. Finally, the receptor activity reshapes both the oligomeric populations and their spatial arrangement. These results add an additional level of complexity to the GPCR pharmacology until now considered to arise from a single receptor population at the cell surface. Atomic force microscopy-based single molecule force spectroscopy reveals the unfolding of G-protein coupled receptors on the surface of living mammalian cells.
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Mathelié-Guinlet M, Viela F, Dehullu J, Filimonava S, Rauceo JM, Lipke PN, Dufrêne YF. Single-cell fluidic force microscopy reveals stress-dependent molecular interactions in yeast mating. Commun Biol 2021; 4:33. [PMID: 33397995 PMCID: PMC7782832 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01498-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual agglutinins of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are proteins mediating cell aggregation during mating. Complementary agglutinins expressed by cells of opposite mating types "a" and "α" bind together to promote agglutination and facilitate fusion of haploid cells. By means of an innovative single-cell manipulation assay combining fluidic force microscopy with force spectroscopy, we unravel the strength of single specific bonds between a- and α-agglutinins (~100 pN) which require pheromone induction. Prolonged cell-cell contact strongly increases adhesion between mating cells, likely resulting from an increased expression of agglutinins. In addition, we highlight the critical role of disulfide bonds of the a-agglutinin and of histidine residue H273 of α-agglutinin. Most interestingly, we find that mechanical tension enhances the interaction strength, pointing to a model where physical stress induces conformational changes in the agglutinins, from a weak-binding folded state, to a strong-binding extended state. Our single-cell technology shows promises for understanding and controlling the complex mechanism of yeast sexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Mathelié-Guinlet
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Felipe Viela
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Dehullu
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Sviatlana Filimonava
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10019, USA
| | - Jason M Rauceo
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10019, USA
| | - Peter N Lipke
- Biology Department, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Force-clamp spectroscopy identifies a catch bond mechanism in a Gram-positive pathogen. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5431. [PMID: 33110079 PMCID: PMC7591895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19216-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical forces have profound effects on cellular behavior, physiology, and disease. Perhaps the most intruiguing and fascinating example is the formation of catch-bonds that strengthen cellular adhesion under shear stresses. Today mannose-binding by the Escherichia coli FimH adhesin remains one of the rare microbial catch-bond thoroughly characterized at the molecular level. Here we provide a quantitative demonstration of a catch-bond in living Gram-positive pathogens using force-clamp spectroscopy. We show that the dock, lock, and latch interaction between staphylococcal surface protein SpsD and fibrinogen is strong, and exhibits an unusual catch-slip transition. The bond lifetime first grows with force, but ultimately decreases to behave as a slip bond beyond a critical force (~1 nN) that is orders of magnitude higher than for previously investigated complexes. This catch-bond, never reported for a staphylococcal adhesin, provides the pathogen with a mechanism to tightly control its adhesive function during colonization and infection.
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Mescola A, Dauvin M, Amoroso A, Duwez AS, Joris B. Single-molecule force spectroscopy to decipher the early signalling step in membrane-bound penicillin receptors embedded into a lipid bilayer. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:12275-12284. [PMID: 31211302 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02466b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanism by which the signal of the presence of an antibiotic is transduced from outside to inside the bacterial cell is of fundamental interest for the β-lactam antibiotic resistance problem, but remains difficult to accomplish. No approach has ever addressed entire penicillin receptors in a membrane environment. Here we describe a method to investigate the purified Bacillus licheniformis BlaR1 receptor -a membrane-bound penicillin receptor involved in β-lactam resistance- embedded into a lipid bilayer in absence or presence of penicillin. By selecting a mutated receptor blocked in its signal transduction pathway just after its activation by penicillin, we revealed the very first step of receptor signalling by unfolding the receptor from its C-terminal end by AFM-based single-molecule force spectroscopy. We showed that the presence of the antibiotic entails significant conformational changes within the receptor. Our approach opens an avenue to study signal-transduction pathways mediated by membrane-bound proteins in a membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mescola
- Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Marjorie Dauvin
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Ana Amoroso
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Anne-Sophie Duwez
- Molecular Systems, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Bernard Joris
- Bacterial physiology and genetics - Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-Integrative Biological Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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Senapati S, Poma AB, Cieplak M, Filipek S, Park PSH. Differentiating between Inactive and Active States of Rhodopsin by Atomic Force Microscopy in Native Membranes. Anal Chem 2019; 91:7226-7235. [PMID: 31074606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), present a challenge in studying their structural properties under physiological conditions. Moreover, to better understand the activity of proteins requires examination of single molecule behaviors rather than ensemble averaged behaviors. Force-distance curve-based AFM (FD-AFM) was utilized to directly probe and localize the conformational states of a GPCR within the membrane at nanoscale resolution based on the mechanical properties of the receptor. FD-AFM was applied to rhodopsin, the light receptor and a prototypical GPCR, embedded in native rod outer segment disc membranes from photoreceptor cells of the retina in mice. Both FD-AFM and computational studies on coarse-grained models of rhodopsin revealed that the active state of the receptor has a higher Young's modulus compared to the inactive state of the receptor. Thus, the inactive and active states of rhodopsin could be differentiated based on the stiffness of the receptor. Differentiating the states based on the Young's modulus allowed for the mapping of the different states within the membrane. Quantifying the active states present in the membrane containing the constitutively active G90D rhodopsin mutant or apoprotein opsin revealed that most receptors adopt an active state. Traditionally, constitutive activity of GPCRs has been described in terms of two-state models where the receptor can achieve only a single active state. FD-AFM data are inconsistent with a two-state model but instead require models that incorporate multiple active states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Senapati
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - Adolfo B Poma
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research , Polish Academy of Sciences , Pawińskiego 5B , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland.,Institute of Physics , Polish Academy of Sciences , Aleja Lotników 32/46 , 02-668 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Marek Cieplak
- Institute of Physics , Polish Academy of Sciences , Aleja Lotników 32/46 , 02-668 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Sławomir Filipek
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre , University of Warsaw , 02-093 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Paul S H Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
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Senapati S, Gragg M, Samuels IS, Parmar VM, Maeda A, Park PSH. Effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on rhodopsin content and packing in photoreceptor cell membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:1403-1413. [PMID: 29626443 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is enriched in photoreceptor cell membranes. DHA deficiency impairs vision due to photoreceptor cell dysfunction, which is caused, at least in part, by reduced activity of rhodopsin, the light receptor that initiates phototransduction. It is unclear how the depletion of membrane DHA impacts the structural properties of rhodopsin and, in turn, its activity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to assess the impact of DHA deficiency on membrane structure and rhodopsin organization. AFM revealed that signaling impairment in photoreceptor cells is independent of the oligomeric status of rhodopsin and causes adaptations in photoreceptor cells where the content and density of rhodopsin in the membrane is increased. Functional and structural changes caused by DHA deficiency were reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Senapati
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Megan Gragg
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ivy S Samuels
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Vipul M Parmar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Akiko Maeda
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Paul S-H Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Maity S, Ilieva N, Laio A, Torre V, Mazzolini M. New views on phototransduction from atomic force microscopy and single molecule force spectroscopy on native rods. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12000. [PMID: 28931892 PMCID: PMC5607320 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11912-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), we analyzed membrane proteins of the rod outer segments (OS). With this combined approach we were able to study the membrane proteins in their natural environment. In the plasma membrane we identified native cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels which are organized in single file strings. We also identified rhodopsin located both in the discs and in the plasma membrane. SMFS reveals strikingly different mechanical properties of rhodopsin unfolding in the two environments. Molecular dynamic simulations suggest that this difference is likely to be related to the higher hydrophobicity of the plasma membrane, due to the higher cholesterol concentration. This increases rhodopsin mechanical stability lowering the rate of transition towards its active form, hindering, in this manner, phototransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Maity
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-ISAS) via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nina Ilieva
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-ISAS) via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Laio
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-ISAS) via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Vincent Torre
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-ISAS) via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Monica Mazzolini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA-ISAS) via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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Rakshit T, Senapati S, Parmar VM, Sahu B, Maeda A, Park PSH. Adaptations in rod outer segment disc membranes in response to environmental lighting conditions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2017. [PMID: 28645515 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The light-sensing rod photoreceptor cell exhibits several adaptations in response to the lighting environment. While adaptations to short-term changes in lighting conditions have been examined in depth, adaptations to long-term changes in lighting conditions are less understood. Atomic force microscopy was used to characterize the structure of rod outer segment disc membranes, the site of photon absorption by the pigment rhodopsin, to better understand how photoreceptor cells respond to long-term lighting changes. Structural properties of the disc membrane changed in response to housing mice in constant dark or light conditions and these adaptive changes required output from the phototransduction cascade initiated by rhodopsin. Among these were changes in the packing density of rhodopsin in the membrane, which was independent of rhodopsin synthesis and specifically affected scotopic visual function as assessed by electroretinography. Studies here support the concept of photostasis, which maintains optimal photoreceptor cell function with implications in retinal degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatini Rakshit
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Subhadip Senapati
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Vipul M Parmar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Bhubanananda Sahu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Akiko Maeda
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Paul S-H Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Maity S, Marchesi A, Torre V, Mazzolini M. Structural Heterogeneity of CNGA1 Channels Revealed by Electrophysiology and Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy. ACS OMEGA 2016; 1:1205-1219. [PMID: 31457189 PMCID: PMC6640748 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6b00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The determination at atomic resolution of the three-dimensional molecular structure of membrane proteins such as receptors and several ion channels has been a major breakthrough in structural biology. The molecular structure of several members of the superfamily of voltage-gated ionic channels such as K+ and Na+ is now available. However, despite several attempts, the molecular structure at atomic resolution of the full cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channel, although a member of the same superfamily of voltage-gated ion channels, has not been obtained yet, neither by X-ray crystallography nor by electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM). It is possible that CNG channels have a high structural heterogeneity, making difficult crystallization and single-particle analysis. To address this issue, we have combined single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) and electrophysiological experiments to characterize the structural heterogeneity of CNGA1 channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The unfolding of the cytoplasmic domain had force peaks, occurring with a probability from 0.2 to 0.96. Force peaks during the unfolding of the transmembrane domain had a probability close to 1, but the distribution of the increase in contour length between two successive force peaks had multiple maxima differing by tens of nanometers. Concomitant electrophysiological experiments showed that the rundown in mutant channels S399C is highly variable and that the effect of thiol reagents when specific residues were mutated was consistent with a dynamic structural heterogeneity. These results show that CNGA1 channels have a wide spectrum of native conformations that are difficult to detect with X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM.
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Rhodopsin Forms Nanodomains in Rod Outer Segment Disc Membranes of the Cold-Blooded Xenopus laevis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141114. [PMID: 26492040 PMCID: PMC4619631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodopsin forms nanoscale domains (i.e., nanodomains) in rod outer segment disc membranes from mammalian species. It is unclear whether rhodopsin arranges in a similar manner in amphibian species, which are often used as a model system to investigate the function of rhodopsin and the structure of photoreceptor cells. Moreover, since samples are routinely prepared at low temperatures, it is unclear whether lipid phase separation effects in the membrane promote the observed nanodomain organization of rhodopsin from mammalian species. Rod outer segment disc membranes prepared from the cold-blooded frog Xenopus laevis were investigated by atomic force microscopy to visualize the organization of rhodopsin in the absence of lipid phase separation effects. Atomic force microscopy revealed that rhodopsin nanodomains form similarly as that observed previously in mammalian membranes. Formation of nanodomains in ROS disc membranes is independent of lipid phase separation and conserved among vertebrates.
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Rakshit T, Park PSH. Impact of reduced rhodopsin expression on the structure of rod outer segment disc membranes. Biochemistry 2015; 54:2885-94. [PMID: 25881629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Rhodopsin is the light receptor embedded in rod outer segment (ROS) disc membranes of photoreceptor cells that initiates vision via phototransduction. The relationship between rhodopsin expression and the formation of membrane structures in the ROS is unclear but important to better understand both normal function and pathological conditions. To determine the impact of reduced rhodopsin expression on the structure of ROS discs and the supramolecular organization of rhodopsin, ROS disc membrane samples from heterozygous rhodopsin knockout mice were examined by atomic force microscopy. Similar to rhodopsin in wild-type mice, rhodopsin formed nanodomains in ROS disc membranes of heterozygous knockout mice. The reduced rhodopsin expression in heterozygous knockout mice resulted in ROS disc membranes that were smaller compared to those in wild-type mice at all ages tested. Changes in ROS disc membrane properties were observed between 4 and 6 weeks of age in heterozygous knockout mice that were not present in age-matched wild-type mice. In 4 week old mice, the number and density of rhodopsin in ROS disc membranes was lower than that in age-matched wild-type mice. In contrast, 6 and 8 week old mice had more rhodopsin molecules present in disc membranes compared to 4 week old mice, which resulted in rhodopsin densities similar to those found in age-matched wild-type mice. Thus, mechanisms appear to be present that maintain a constant density of rhodopsin within ROS disc membranes even when reducing the expression of the light receptor by about half. These adaptive mechanisms, however, only occur after 4 weeks of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatini Rakshit
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Paul S-H Park
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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