Chapter 5 Interactions between photoexcited rhodopsin and light-activated enzymes in rods

Rhodopsins: An Excitingly Versatile Protein Species for Research, Development and Creative Engineering

The first member and eponym of the rhodopsin family was identified in the 1930s as the visual pigment of the rod photoreceptor cell in the animal retina. It was found to be a membrane protein, owing its photosensitivity to the presence of a covalently bound chromophoric group. This group, derived from vitamin A, was appropriately dubbed retinal. In the 1970s a microbial counterpart of this species was discovered in an archaeon, being a membrane protein also harbouring retinal as a chromophore, and named bacteriorhodopsin. Since their discovery a photogenic panorama unfolded, where up to date new members and subspecies with a variety of light-driven functionality have been added to this family. The animal branch, meanwhile categorized as type-2 rhodopsins, turned out to form a large subclass in the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and are essential to multiple elements of light-dependent animal sensory physiology. The microbial branch, the type-1 rhodopsins, largely function as light-driven ion pumps or channels, but also contain sensory-active and enzyme-sustaining subspecies. In this review we will follow the development of this exciting membrane protein panorama in a representative number of highlights and will present a prospect of their extraordinary future potential.

Insight into the chromophore of rhodopsin and its Meta-II photointermediate by 19F solid-state NMR and chemical shift tensor calculations

19F nuclei are useful labels in solid-state NMR studies, since their chemical shift and tensor elements are very sensitive to the electrostatic and space-filling properties of their local environment. In this study we have exploited a fluorine substituent, strategically placed at the C-12-position of 11-cis retinal, the chromophore of visual rhodopsins. This label was used to explore the local environment of the chromophore in the ground state of bovine rhodopsin and its active photo-intermediate Meta II. In addition, the chemical shift and tensor elements of the chromophore in the free state in a membrane environment and the bound state in the protein were determined. Upon binding of the chromophore into rhodopsin and Meta II, the isotropic chemical shift changes in the opposite direction by +9.7 and -8.4 ppm, respectively. An unusually large isotropic shift difference of 35.9 ppm was observed between rhodopsin and Meta II. This partly originates in the light-triggered 11-cis to all-trans isomerization of the chromophore. The other part reflects the local conformational rearrangements in the chromophore and the binding pocket. These NMR data were correlated with the available X-ray structures of rhodopsin and Meta II using bond polarization theory. For this purpose hydrogen atoms have to be inserted and hereto a family of structures were derived that best correlated with the well-established 13C chemical shifts. Based upon these structures, a 12-F derivative was obtained that best corresponded with the experimentally determined 19F chemical shifts and tensor elements. The combined data indicate strong changes in the local environment of the C-12 position and a substantially different interaction pattern with the protein in Meta II as compared to rhodopsin.

Coupled HOOP signature correlates with quantum yield of isorhodopsin and analog pigments

With a quantum yield of 0.66±0.03 the photoisomerization efficiency of the visual pigment rhodopsin (11-cis⇒all-trans chromophore) is exceptionally high. This is currently explained by coherent coupling of the excited state electronic wavepacket with local vibrational nuclear modes, facilitating efficient cross-over at a conical intersection onto the photoproduct energy surface. The 9-cis counterpart of rhodopsin, dubbed isorhodopsin, has a much lower quantum yield (0.26±0.03), which, however, can be markedly enhanced by modification of the retinal chromophore (7,8-dihydro and 9-cyclopropyl derivatives). The coherent coupling in the excited state is promoted by torsional skeletal and coupled HOOP vibrational modes, in combination with a twisted conformation around the isomerization region. Since such torsion will strongly enhance the infrared intensity of coupled HOOP modes, we investigated FTIR difference spectra of rhodopsin, isorhodopsin and several analog pigments in the spectral range of isolated and coupled HCCH wags. As a result we propose that the coupled HOOP signature in these retinal pigments correlates with the distribution of torsion over counteracting segments in the retinylidene polyene chain. As such the HOOP signature can act as an indicator for the photoisomerization efficiency, and can explain the higher quantum yield of the 7,8-dihydro and 9-cyclopropyl-isorhodopsin analogs.

Crystallization scale preparation of a stable GPCR signaling complex between constitutively active rhodopsin and G-protein

The activation of the G-protein transducin (Gt) by rhodopsin (Rho) has been intensively studied for several decades. It is the best understood example of GPCR activation mechanism and serves as a template for other GPCRs. The structure of the Rho/G protein complex, which is transiently formed during the signaling reaction, is of particular interest. It can help understanding the molecular details of how retinal isomerization leads to the G protein activation, as well as shed some light on how GPCR recognizes its cognate G protein. The native Rho/Gt complex isolated from bovine retina suffers from low stability and loss of the retinal ligand. Recently, we reported that constitutively active mutant of rhodopsin E113Q forms a Rho/Gt complex that is stable in detergent solution. Here, we introduce methods for a large scale preparation of the complex formed by the thermo-stabilized and constitutively active rhodopsin mutant N2C/M257Y/D282C(RhoM257Y) and the native Gt purified from bovine retinas. We demonstrate that the light-activated rhodopsin in this complex contains a covalently bound unprotonated retinal and therefore corresponds to the active metarhodopin II state; that the isolated complex is active and dissociates upon addition of GTPγS; and that the stoichiometry corresponds to a 1∶1 molar ratio of rhodopsin to the heterotrimeric G-protein. And finally, we show that the rhodopsin also forms stable complex with Gi. This complex has significantly higher thermostability than RhoM257Y/Gt complex and is resistant to a variety of detergents. Overall, our data suggest that the RhoM257Y/Gi complex is an ideal target for future structural and mechanistic studies of signaling in the visual system.

Preparation of an activated rhodopsin/transducin complex using a constitutively active mutant of rhodopsin

The interaction of rhodopsin and transducin has been the focus of study for more than 30 years, but only recently have efforts to purify an activated complex in detergent solution materialized. These efforts have used native rhodopsin isolated from bovine retina and employed either sucrose density gradient centrifugation or size exclusion chromatography to purify the complex. While there is general agreement on most properties of the activated complex, subunit stoichiometry is not yet settled, with rhodopsin/transducin molar ratios of both 2/1 and 1/1 reported. In this report, we introduce methods for preparation of the complex that include use of recombinant rhodopsin, so as to take advantage of mutations that confer constitutive activity and enhanced thermal stability on the protein, and immunoaffinity chromatography for purification of the complex. We show that chromatography on ConA-Sepharose can substitute for the immunoaffinity column and that bicelles can be used instead of detergent solution. We demonstrate the following: that rhodopsin has a covalently bound all-trans-retinal chromophore and therefore corresponds to the active metarhodopin II state; that transducin has an empty nucleotide-binding pocket; that the isolated complex is active and dissociates upon addition of guanine nucleotide; and finally that the stoichiometry corresponds reproducibly to a 1/1 molar ratio of rhodopsin to transducin.

Cyclopropyl and isopropyl derivatives of 11-cis and 9-cis retinals at C-9 and C-13: subtle steric differences with major effects on ligand efficacy in rhodopsin

Retinal is the natural ligand (chromophore) of the vertebrate rod visual pigment. It occurs in either the 11-cis (rhodopsin) or the 9-cis (isorhodopsin) configuration. In its evolution to a G protein coupled photoreceptor, rhodopsin has acquired exceptional photochemical properties. Illumination isomerizes the chromophore to the all-trans isomer, which acts as a full agonist. This process is extremely efficient, and there is abundant evidence that the C-9 and C-13 methyl groups of retinal play a pivotal role in this process. To examine the steric limits of the C-9 and C-13 methyl binding pocket of the binding site, we have prepared C-9 and C-13 cyclopropyl and isopropyl derivatives of its native ligands and of α-retinal at C-9. Most isopropyl analogues show very poor binding, except for 9-cis-13-isopropylretinal. Most cyclopropyl derivatives exhibit intermediate binding activity, except for 9-cis-13-cyclopropylretinal, which presents good binding activity. In general, the binding site shows preference for the 9-cis analogues over the 11-cis analogues. In fact, 13-isopropyl-9-cis-retinal acts as a superagonist after illumination. Another surprising finding was that 9-cyclopropylisorhodopsin is more like native rhodopsin with respect to spectral and photochemical properties, whereas 9-cyclopropylrhodopsin behaves more like native isorhodopsin in these aspects.

Methyl Substituents at the 11 or 12 Position of Retinal Profoundly and Differentially Affect Photochemistry and Signalling Activity of Rhodopsin

The C-11=C-12 double bond of the retinylidene chromophore of rhodopsin holds a central position in its light-induced photoisomerization and hence the photosensory function of this visual pigment. To probe the local environment of the HC-11=C-12H element we have prepared the 11-methyl and 12-methyl derivatives of 11-Z retinal and incorporated these into opsin to generate the rhodopsin analogs 11-methyl and 12-methyl rhodopsin. These analog pigments form with much slower kinetics and lower efficiency than the native pigment. The initial photochemistry and the signaling activity of the analog pigments were investigated by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy, and by a G protein activation assay. Our data indicate that the ultrafast formation of the first photointermediate is strongly perturbed by the presence of an 11-methyl substituent, but much less by a 12-methyl substituent. These results support the current concept of the mechanism of the primary photoisomerization event in rhodopsin. An important stronghold of this concept is an out-of-plane movement of the C-12H element, which is facilitated by torsion as well as extended positive charge delocalization into the C-10-C-13 segment of the chromophore. We argue that this mechanism is maintained principally with a methyl substituent at C-12. In addition, we show that both an 11-methyl and a 12-methyl substitutent perturb the photointermediate cascade and finally yield a low-activity state of the receptor. The 11-methyl pigment retains about 30% of the G protein activation rate of native rhodopsin, while the 12-methyl chromophore behaves like an inverse agonist up to at least 20 degrees C, trapping the protein in a perturbed Meta-I-like conformation. We conclude that the isomerization region of the chromophore and the spatial structure of the binding site are finely tuned, in order to achieve a high photosensory potential with an efficient pathway to a high-activity state.

Evidence for a single heptahelical domain being turned on upon activation of a dimeric GPCR

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to form dimers, but the relevance of this phenomenon in G-protein activation is not known. Among the large GPCR family, metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are constitutive dimers. Here we examined whether both heptahelical domains (HDs) are turned on upon full receptor activation. To that aim, we measured G-protein coupling efficacy of dimeric mGlu receptors in which one subunit bears specific mutations. We show that a mutation in the third intracellular loop (i3 loop) known to prevent G-protein activation in a single subunit decreases coupling efficacy. However, when a single HD is blocked in its inactive state using an inverse agonist, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP), no decrease in receptor activity is observed. Interestingly, in a receptor dimer in which the subunit that binds MPEP is mutated in its i3 loop, MPEP enhances agonist-induced activity, reflecting a 'better' activation of the adjacent HD. These data are consistent with a model in which a single HD is turned on upon activation of such homodimeric receptors and raise important issues in deciphering the functional role of GPCR dimer formation for G-protein activation.

Arrestin migrates in photoreceptors in response to light: a study of arrestin localization using an arrestin-GFP fusion protein in transgenic frogs

Subcellular translocation of phototransduction proteins in response to light has previously been detected by immunocytochemistry. This movement is consistent with the hypothesis that migration is part of a basic cellular mechanism regulating photoreceptor sensitivity. In order to monitor the putative migration of arrestin in response to light, we expressed a functional fusion between the signal transduction protein arrestin and green fluorescent protein (GFP) in rod photoreceptors of transgenic Xenopus laevis. In addition to confirming reports that arrestin is translocated, this alternative approach generated unique observations, raising new questions regarding the nature and time scale of migration. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was performed on fixed frozen retinal sections from tadpoles exposed to three different lighting conditions. A consistent pattern of localization emerged in each case. During early light exposure, arrestin-GFP levels diminished in the inner segments (ISs) and simultaneously increased in the outer segments (OSs), initially at the base and eventually at the distal tips as time progressed. Arrestin-GFP reached the distal tips of the photoreceptors by 45-75 min at which time the ratio of arrestin-GFP fluorescence in the OSs compared to the ISs was maximal. When dark-adaptation was initiated after 45 min of light exposure, arrestin-GFP rapidly re-localized to the ISs and axoneme within 30 min. Curiously, prolonged periods of light exposure also resulted in re-localization of arrestin-GFP. Between 150 and 240 min of light adaptation the arrestin-GFP in the ROS gradually declined until the pattern of arrestin-GFP localization was indistinguishable from that of dark-adapted photoreceptors. This distribution pattern was observed over a wide range of lighting intensity (25-2700 lux). Immunocytochemical analysis of arrestin in wild-type Xenopus retinas gave similar results.

A green cone-like pigment in the ‘blind’ mole-rat Spalax ehrenbergi: functional expression and photochemical characterization

The degenerate subcutaneous eye of the blind mole rat belonging to the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies has been shown to contain a long wavelength sensitive (LWS) cone pigment. Baculovirus expression of this LWS pigment and subsequent IMAC purification yields a photosensitive protein, that according to absorbance maximum (530 +/- 2 nm), kinetics of late phototransitions, and transducin activation, has all characteristics of a functional green cone pigment. The absorbance spectrum of the Spalax pigment is strongly red-shifted relative to the very homologous mouse, rabbit and rat green cone pigments (508-510 nm). Also in contrast to the rodent pigments, the Spalax pigment exhibits anion-dependent spectral properties, displaying a 12 nm blue-shift upon substitution of chloride ions by nitrate ions. Finally, the slow part of the photocascade deviates in some aspects from that of sighted mammals. The possible relevance of these findings for the evolutionary adaptation of Spalax to a subterranean ecotope is discussed.

Molecular evolution of proteins involved in vertebrate phototransduction

Vision is one of the most important senses for vertebrates. As a result, vertebrates have evolved a highly organized system of retinal photoreceptors. Light triggers an enzymatic cascade, called the phototransduction cascade, that leads to the hyperpolarization of photoreceptors. It is expected that a systematic comparison of phototransduction cascades of various vertebrates can provide insights into the diversity of vertebrate photoreceptors and into the evolution of vertebrate vision. However, only a few attempts have been made to compare each phototransduction protein participating in this cascade. Here, we determine phylogenetic trees of the vertebrate phototransduction proteins and compare them. It is demonstrated that vertebrate opsin sequences fall into five fundamental subfamilies. It is speculated that this is crucial for the diversity of the spectral sensitivity observed in vertebrate photoreceptors and provides the vertebrates with the molecular tools to discriminate the color of incident light. Other phototransduction proteins can be classified into only a few subfamilies. Cones generally share isoforms of phototransduction proteins that are different from those found in rods. The difference in sensitivity to light between rods and cones is likely due to the difference in the molecular properties of these isoforms. The phototransduction proteins seem to have co-evolved as a system. Switching the expression of these isoforms may characterize individual vertebrate photoreceptors.

Light-dependent association of Src with photoreceptor rod outer segment membrane proteins in vivo

In vivo light exposure results in tyrosine phosphorylation of several rod outer segment (ROS) proteins (Ghalayini, A. J., Guo, X. X., Koutz, C. A, and Anderson, R. E. (1998) Exp. Eye Res. 66, 817-821). We now report the presence of Src in ROS and its increased association with bleached ROS membranes. Immunoprecipitation with anti-phosphotyrosine revealed that tyrosine kinase activity recovered from light-adapted ROS membranes was twice that recovered from dark-adapted ROS. Other experiments revealed the presence of both bleached rhodopsin and arrestin in immunoprecipitates of LROS, suggesting the formation of a multimeric complex containing Src, arrestin, and bleached rhodopsin. Additionally, when immobilized Src homology domains 2 and 3 (SH2 and SH3, respectively) were used to study the association of Src with ROS membranes, only bleached opsin and arrestin were found to associate with the SH2 domain of Src. These data strongly suggest that Src through its SH2 domain interacts with bleached rhodopsin and arrestin either directly or indirectly. Similar results were also obtained when dark-adapted and light-adapted retinas were used instead of ROS membranes. Our data strongly suggest that light exposure in vivo activates Src and promotes its association through its SH2 domain with a complex containing bleached rhodopsin and arrestin. A hypothesis for the functional significance of this phenomenon is presented.

Light-mediated activation of diacylglycerol kinase in rat and bovine rod outer segments

The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate is regulated by light in retinal rod outer segment (ROS) membranes. We recently reported that the activities of phosphatidylinositol synthetase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase are also higher in bleached (light-exposed) ROS (B-ROS). In this study, we investigated the effect of bleaching on diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase (DAG-kinase) activity in bovine and rat ROS membranes prepared from dark-adapted (D-ROS) or bleached (B-ROS) retinas. In bovine ROS, DAG-kinase activity toward endogenous DAG substrate was higher in B-ROS than in D-ROS. Quantification of DAG in both sets of membranes showed that the levels were the same, eliminating the possibility that the greater DAG-kinase activity was due to higher levels of endogenous substrate in B-ROS. DAG-kinase activity was also higher in B-ROS against an exogenous, water-soluable substrate (1, 2-didecanoyl-rac-glycerol), which competed with endogenous DAG substrate and saturated at approximately 2 mM. Immunoblot analysis with an anti-DAG-kinase gamma polyclonal antibody demonstrated that the gamma isoform was present in isolated bovine ROS. Immunocytochemistry of frozen bovine retinal sections confirmed the presence of DAG-kinase gamma immunoreactivity in ROS, as well as other retinal cells. Quantification of the immunoreactive products on western blots showed that more DAG-kinase gamma was present in B-ROS than in D-ROS. In an in vivo experiment, ROS prepared from rats exposed to 30 min of room light had greater DAG-kinase activity than ROS prepared from dark-adapted animals. Taken together, these data suggest that light exposure leads to the translocation of DAG-kinase from the cytosol to ROS membranes and that the greater DAG-kinase activity in B-ROS is due to the presence of more protein associated with ROS membranes.

A novel subtype of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase, GRK7, in teleost cone photoreceptors

Two kinds of retinal cDNA fragments (OIGRK-R and -C) encoding the putative G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) were isolated from medaka, Oryzias latipes. OIGRK-R appears to be closely related to the rhodopsin kinase (RK) found in the outer segments of mammalian photoreceptors, but the deduced amino acid sequence of OIGRK-C shows less than 50% identity to those of GRKs known to date, suggesting that OIGRK-C is a novel GRK subtype (GRK7). The mRNA of OIGRK-R is detectable in rods, and that of OIGRK-C is found in all four types of cone photoreceptor. The C-terminal of OIGRK-R has a consensus sequence for farnesylation, whereas, surprisingly, OIGRK-C has a consensus sequence for geranylgeranylation. Our result are consistent with the concept that lower vertebrates have rod- and cone-specific opsin kinases.

Arrestins expressed in killifish photoreceptor cells

Two kinds of cDNA fragments (KfhArr-R and KfhArr-C) encoding the putative arrestins of killifish, Oryzias latipes, were isolated. The distributions of these transcripts were investigated by in situ hybridization, and it was demonstrated that KfhArr-R and KfhArr-C are expressed in, respectively, rod and all four types of cone cells. The deduced amino acid sequences of KfhArr-R and KfhArr-C are closely related to human S-antigen (rod arrestin) and X-arrestin (cone arrestin), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of arrestin sequences suggests that vertebrate visual arrestins form a single cluster distinct from other arrestins and diverged to form rod and cone subtypes before the divergence between teleosts and tetrapods. It is speculated that the divergence pattern of vertebrate visual arrestins may prove to be reflected in the divergence of the proteins participating in the respective phototransduction cascades.

Daily variations in cGMP, guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase in the golden hamster retina

Daily variations in cGMP, guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity in golden hamster retina were studied. Cyclic GMP content exhibited significant variations throughout the 24-hr cycle with maximal values during the dark phase. In order to establish the relative participation of nucleotide synthesis and breakdown during a 24-hr cycle, guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity were measured in hamsters killed at eight intervals. Guanylate cyclase activity increased at night, peaking at 22.00 hr. Phosphodiesterase activity did not change significantly throughout the light-dark cycle. Light exposure during the night inhibited the nocturnal increase in cGMP content and guanylate cyclase activity, while phosphodiesterase remained unchanged. From these results, it might be presumed that in response to continuous (in a range of hr) light or dark stimuli, the retina would process the photic signal in a different way from that in the short term (in a range of msec).

Rods, cones and calcium

A transduction cascade in the outer segments of vertebrate photoreceptors amplifies the visual signal, resulting in the metabolism of cGMP and the closure of ionic channels. The intracellular calcium concentration declines after a light response, and this decline is the key regulator responsible for controlling the gain of the transduction cascade. Calcium turnover in the outer segment is determined by three processes: influx through light-sensitive channels; buffering within the outer segment; and extrusion by a Na/Ca,K exchange mechanism.

Synthetic phosphopeptide from rhodopsin sequence induces retinal arrestin binding to photoactivated unphosphorylated rhodopsin

A synthetic heptaphosphopeptide comprising the fully phosphorylated carboxyl terminal phosphorylation region of bovine rhodopsin, residues 330-348, was found to induce a conformational change in bovine arrestin. This caused an alteration of the pattern of limited proteolysis of arrestin similar to that induced by binding phosphorylated rhodopsin or heparin. Unlike heparin, the phosphopeptide also induced light-activated binding of arrestin to both unphosphorylated rhodopsin in disk membranes as well as to endoproteinase Asp-N-treated rhodopsin (des 330-348). These findings suggest that one function of phosphorylation of rhodopsin is to activate arrestin which can then bind to other regions of the surface of the photoactivated rhodopsin.

Pineal opsin: a nonvisual opsin expressed in chick pineal

Pineal opsin (P-opsin), an opsin from chick that is highly expressed in pineal but is not detectable in retina, was cloned by the polymerase chain reaction. It is likely that the P-opsin lineage diverged from the retinal opsins early in opsin evolution. The amino acid sequence of P-opsin is 42 to 46 percent identical to that of the retinal opsins. P-opsin is a seven-membrane spanning, G protein-linked receptor with a Schiff-base lysine in the seventh membrane span and a Schiff-base counterion in the third membrane span. The primary sequence of P-opsin suggests that it will be maximally sensitive to approximately 500-nanometer light and produce a slow and prolonged phototransduction response consistent with the nonvisual function of pineal photoreception.

Activation of a GTP-binding protein and a GTP-binding-protein-coupled receptor kinase (beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase-1) by a muscarinic receptor m2 mutant lacking phosphorylation sites

A mutant of the human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor m2 subtype (m2 receptor), lacking a large part of the third intracellular loop, was expressed and purified using the baculovirus/insect cell culture system. The mutant was not phosphorylated by beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase, as expected from the previous assignment of phosphorylation sites to the central part of the third intracellular loop. However, the m2 receptor mutant was capable of stimulating beta-adrenergic-receptor-kinase-1-mediated phosphorylation of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the m2 phosphorylation sites in an agonist-dependent manner. Both mutant and wild-type m2 receptors reconstituted with the guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G protein), G(o) and G(i)2, displayed guanine-nucleotide-sensitive high-affinity agonist binding, as assessed by displacement of [3H]quinuclidinyl-benzilate binding with carbamoylcholine, and both stimulated guanosine 5'-3-O-[35S]thiotriphosphate ([35S]GTP[S]) binding in the presence of carbamoylcholine and GDP. The Ki values of carbamoylcholine effects on [3H]quinuclidinyl-benzilate binding were indistinguishable for the mutant and wild-type m2 receptors. Moreover, the phosphorylation of the wild-type m2 receptor by beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase-1 did not affect m2 interaction with G proteins as assessed by the binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate or [35S]GTP[S]. These results indicate that (a) the m2 receptor serves both as an activator and as a substrate of beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase, and (b) a large part of the third intracellular loop of the m2 receptor does not contribute to interaction with G proteins and its phosphorylation by beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase does not uncouple the receptor and G proteins in reconstituted lipid vesicles.

Location of agonist-dependent-phosphorylation sites in the third intracellular loop of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (m2 subtype)

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR, human m2 subtype) expressed in Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells using the baculovirus system were purified and subjected to phosphorylation by a mAChR kinase, which was partially purified from porcine cerebrum. Two bands with apparent molecular masses of 59 kDa and 39 kDa as determined by SDS/PAGE were found to be phosphorylated in an agonist-dependent manner. Both bands were labeled by the irreversible muscarinic ligand [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard. Molecular masses of the [32P]phosphorylated or [3H]propylbenzilylcholine-mustard-labeled bands decreased following treatment with N-glycanase. The 59-kDa and 39-kDa bands were converted to 52-kDa and 32-kDa bands, respectively, indicating that both the 59-kDa and 39-kDa bands contain the amino-terminal region where glycosylation sites are present. The ratio of incorporated [32P]phosphate and bound [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard was essentially the same for the 59-kDa and 39-kDa bands, indicating that all the phosphorylation sites reside in the sequence of 39 kDa from the amino-terminal region. The amounts of incorporated [32P]phosphate were estimated to be 10-11/receptor, with 7-8 serine and 3-4 threonine, but no phosphorylated tyrosine residues. Further treatment of [32P]phosphorylated or [3H]propylbenzilylcholine-mustard-labeled receptors with V8 protease indicated that the phosphorylation sites were not present in 30-kDa amino-terminal segment. These results indicate that the phosphorylation sites are localized in the range 30-39 kDa from the amino terminus, which consists of primarily the central part of the third intracellular loop. Consistent with this conclusion, a fusion protein containing glutathione S-transferase linked to a peptide corresponding to residues 227-324 of the central part of the third intracellular loop was found to be phosphorylated by the mAChR kinase in a heparin-sensitive manner.

Arrestin function in inactivation of G protein-coupled receptor rhodopsin in vivo

Arrestins have been implicated in the regulation of many G protein-coupled receptor signaling cascades. Mutations in two Drosophila photoreceptor-specific arrestin genes, arrestin 1 and arrestin 2, were generated. Analysis of the light response in these mutants shows that the Arr1 and Arr2 proteins are mediators of rhodopsin inactivation and are essential for the termination of the phototransduction cascade in vivo. The saturation of arrestin function by an excess of activated rhodopsin is responsible for a continuously activated state of the photoreceptors known as the prolonged depolarized afterpotential. In the absence of arrestins, photoreceptors undergo light-dependent retinal degeneration as a result of the continued activity of the phototransduction cascade. These results demonstrate the fundamental requirement for members of the arrestin protein family in the regulation of G protein-coupled receptors and signaling cascades in vivo.

Phosphorylation sites in bovine rhodopsin

Bovine rhodopsin has been phosphorylated in rod outer segments by ATP and endogenous rhodopsin kinase. Mono-, di-, and triphosphorylated rhodopsins have been prepared by chromatofocusing. Nearly all of the phosphate is found in peptide 330-348, formed by digestion of phosphorhodopsins with endoproteinase Asp-N. Sequence analysis of the phosphopeptides shows that monophosphorylated rhodopsin consists of a mixture containing rhodopsins phosphorylated at 338Ser and 343Ser. Diphosphorylated rhodopsin is phosphorylated at both 338Ser and 343Ser. When rhodopsin becomes triphosphorylated it does not become phosphorylated on 334Ser but appears to become phosphorylated on one or more of the four threonine residues: 335Thr, 336Thr, 340Thr, and 342Thr.

Interaction of rhodopsin, G-protein and kinase in octopus photoreceptors

Light induced phosphorylation of octopus rhodopsin was greatly enhanced by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S), suggesting that the kinases are involved in regulating interaction between rhodopsin and G-protein. We determined phosphorylated peptides of octopus rhodopsin in the presence or absence of GTP gamma S. Possible phosphorylation sites for octopus rhodopsin enhanced by GTP gamma S were Thr329, Thr330 and/or Thr336, which suggest that the G-protein associates with cytoplasmic loops including C-terminal peptide in the seventh helix of octopus rhodopsin.

Role of beta gamma subunits of G proteins in targeting the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase to membrane-bound receptors

The rate and extent of the agonist-dependent phosphorylation of beta 2-adrenergic receptors and rhodopsin by beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK) are markedly enhanced on addition of G protein beta gamma subunits. With a model peptide substrate it was demonstrated that direct activation of the kinase could not account for this effect. G protein beta gamma subunits were shown to interact directly with the COOH-terminal region of beta ARK, and formation of this beta ARK-beta gamma complex resulted in receptor-facilitated membrane localization of the enzyme. The beta gamma subunits of transducin were less effective at both enhancing the rate of receptor phosphorylation and binding to the COOH-terminus of beta ARK, suggesting that the enzyme preferentially binds specific beta gamma complexes. The beta gamma-mediated membrane localization of beta ARK serves to intimately link receptor activation to beta ARK-mediated desensitization.

Structural properties of arrestin studied by chemical modification and circular dichroism

A unique conformation of arrestin is crucial for its interaction with phosphorylated photolyzed rhodopsin. Conformational changes in arrestin were investigated using chemical modification and circular dichroism. We studied the kinetics of sulfhydryl modification of bovine arrestin in order to determine whether its conformation is altered by the presence of ligands or salts at different ionic strengths. We found that all three cysteines (stoichiometry was 2.7 +/- 0.06 3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl sulfide (NbS)/arrestin) are accessible for modification by NbS2. Under pseudo-first-order conditions (30-100-fold excess of NbS2 over arrestin), the modifications of the 3 cysteines are indistinguishable. At higher concentrations of NbS2 (150-300-fold excess), the pseudo-first-order plot is not linear, and the reaction can be resolved into two processes that involve two classes of sulfhydryl groups. Addition of CaCl2, MgCl2, inorganic phosphate, MgATP, or MgGTP had little effect on the rate of modification of the cysteine residues; however, heparin and inositol hexakisphosphate, which have been shown to induce conformational changes in arrestin, block modification of one sulfhydryl group of arrestin and accelerate the modification of the remaining two. Analysis of CD spectra revealed that arrestin has virtually no alpha-helical structure, about 40% beta-structure, about 18% beta-turns, and about 40% other structure. The CD spectrum for arrestin did not change in the presence of heparin. These studies suggest that arrestin exists in equilibrium between two or more conformational states. However, it is proposed that conversion between these conformations occur without altering significantly the secondary structure of arrestin.

Hydroxylamine-dependent inhibition of rhodopsin phosphorylation in the isolated retina

Hydroxylamine (NH2OH), a substance known to accelerate the decay of the metarhodopsin II bleaching intermediate of rhodopsin, was examined for its effect on the light-dependent phosphorylation of rhodopsin in the intact, isolated retina. Groups of ovine and bovine retinas that had been pre-incubated in darkness with 32P-inorganic phosphate were supplemented with NH2OH at final concentrations of up to 20 mM, then irradiated and further incubated in darkness. Rod outer segments isolated from the incubated retinas were subjected to SDS-PAGE; the gel was analysed for 32P (autoradiography) and protein (Coomassie staining), to determine the specific radioactivity (ratio of 32P and protein levels; '32P/opsin') of the opsin monomer band. Among retinas of a given experimental group, 32P/opsin declined with increasing concentration of added NH2OH. The relative value of 32P/opsin exhibited by controls (0 mM NH2OH) was halved in the presence of about 1-2 mM NH2OH, and was reduced by greater than or equal to 80% in the presence of 20 mM NH2OH. Supplementation of the retina with 20 mM NH2OH 1 min after irradiation caused relatively little reduction in 32P/opsin. The results indicate that the light-dependent phosphorylation of rhodopsin in situ is substantially inhibited by NH2OH at millimolar levels. The data are discussed in relation to previous electrophysiological studies that have examined rod dark adaptation in NH2OH-treated retinas.

cGMP phosphodiesterase dependent light-induced scattering changes in suspensions of retinal disc membranes

Light-induced GTP-dependent scattering changes are studied in suspensions of retinal disc membranes to which one or both of the purified proteins involved in the phototransduction mechanism (G-protein and cGMP phosphodiesterase) are reassociated; a scattering change which depends on the presence of both G-protein (G) and inhibited cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) and on an ATPase-dependent process, previously described in Bennett [(1986) Eur. J. Biochem. 157, 487-495] is compared to the signal observed in the absence of PDE or of ATP and to PDE activity. The same signal can also be induced either in the dark or in the light by addition of preactivated G in the presence of inhibited PDE. This PDE-dependent scattering change is composed of two components (fast and slow); the variation of the amplitude and kinetics of both components with PDE or G concentration is similar to the variation of the active PDE state with two activator GGTP molecules (G with GTP bound), calculated with dissociation constants previously reported for the interaction between GGTP and PDE [Bennett, N., & Clerc, A. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 7418-7424]. The two components are therefore proposed to be associated with processes which depend on the formation of the active PDE state with two activators.

[Pineal body in vertebrates: a model for investigations of receptor and effector mechanisms of neuronal systems]

Cell and molecular biological investigations have greatly contributed to our understanding of receptor and effector mechanisms in sensory, neuronal, and endocrine cells. A fascinating aspect of this line of research is how such mechanisms have evolved and how they interact with each other. As shown in this contribution, the vertebrate pineal organ is an interesting model to study these problems, because it undergoes a conspicuous transformation during phylogeny, comprises two well-characterized receptor mechanisms (photoreception and adrenoreception), and acts upon its targets via neuronal and neuroendocrine signals.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinases

Rhodopsin kinase and the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK) catalyse the phosphorylation of the activated forms of the G-protein-coupled receptors, rhodopsin and the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR), respectively. The interaction between receptor and kinase is independent of second messengers and appears to involve a multipoint attachment of kinase and substrate with the specificity being restricted by both the primary amino acid sequence and conformation of the substrate. Kinetic, functional and sequence information reveals that rhodopsin kinase and beta ARK are closely related, suggesting they may be members of a family of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases.

The visual input stage of the mammalian circadian pacemaking system: I. Is there a clock in the mammalian eye?

Threads of evidence from recent experimentation in retinal morphology, neurochemistry, electrophysiology, and visual perception point toward rhythmic ocular processes that may be integral components of circadian entrainment in mammals. Components of retinal cell biology (rod outer-segment disk shedding, inner-segment degradation, melatonin and dopamine synthesis, electrophysiological responses) show self-sustaining circadian oscillations whose phase can be controlled by light-dark cycles. A complete phase response curve in visual sensitivity can be generated from light-pulse-induced phase shifting. Following lesions of the suprachiasmatic nuclei, circadian rhythms of visual detectability and rod outer-segment disk shedding persist, even though behavioral activity becomes arrhythmic. We discuss the converging evidence for an ocular circadian timing system in terms of interactions between rhythmic retinal processes and the central suprachiasmatic pacemaker, and propose that retinal phase shifts to light provide a critical input signal.