1
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Mohole M, Naglekar A, Sengupta D, Chattopadhyay A. Probing the energy landscape of the lipid interactions of the serotonin 1A receptor. Biophys Chem 2024; 313:107289. [PMID: 39002247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are lipid-regulated transmembrane proteins that play a central role in cell signaling and pharmacology. Although the role of membrane lipids in GPCR function is well established, the underlying GPCR-lipid interactions have not been thermodynamically characterized due to the complexity of these interactions. In this work, we estimate the energetics and dynamics of lipid association from coarse-grain simulations of the serotonin1A receptor embedded in a complex membrane. We show that lipids bind to the receptor with varying energetics of 1-4 kT, and timescales of 1-10 μs. The most favorable energetics and longest residence times are observed for cholesterol, glycosphingolipid GM1, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids. Multi-exponential fitting of the contact probability suggests distinct dynamic regimes, corresponding to ps, ns and μs timescales, that we correlate with the annular, intermediate and non-annular lipid sites. The timescales of lipid binding correspond to high barrier heights, despite their relatively weaker energetics. Our results highlight that GPCR-lipid interactions are driven by both thermodynamic interactions and the dynamical features of lipid binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura Mohole
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Amit Naglekar
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
| | - Amitabha Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
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2
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Ananchenko A, Gao RY, Dehez F, Baenziger JE. State-dependent binding of cholesterol and an anionic lipid to the muscle-type Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Commun Biol 2024; 7:437. [PMID: 38600247 PMCID: PMC11006840 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) to undergo agonist-induced conformational transitions requires the presence of cholesterol and/or anionic lipids. Here we use recently solved structures along with multiscale molecular dynamics simulations to examine lipid binding to the nAChR in bilayers that have defined effects on nAChR function. We examine how phosphatidic acid and cholesterol, lipids that support conformational transitions, individually compete for binding with phosphatidylcholine, a lipid that does not. We also examine how the two lipids work synergistically to stabilize an agonist-responsive nAChR. We identify rapidly exchanging lipid binding sites, including both phospholipid sites with a high affinity for phosphatidic acid and promiscuous cholesterol binding sites in the grooves between adjacent transmembrane α-helices. A high affinity cholesterol site is confirmed in the inner leaflet framed by a key tryptophan residue on the MX α-helix. Our data provide insight into the dynamic nature of lipid-nAChR interactions and set the stage for a detailed understanding of the mechanisms by which lipids facilitate nAChR function at the neuromuscular junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ananchenko
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rui Yan Gao
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - François Dehez
- CNRS, LPCT, Université de Lorraine, F-54000 Nancy, France.
| | - John E Baenziger
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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3
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Sandberg JW, Santiago-McRae E, Ennis J, Brannigan G. The density-threshold affinity: Calculating lipid binding affinities from unbiased coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Methods Enzymol 2024; 701:47-82. [PMID: 39025580 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Many membrane proteins are sensitive to their local lipid environment. As structural methods for membrane proteins have improved, there is growing evidence of direct, specific binding of lipids to protein surfaces. Unfortunately the workhorse of understanding protein-small molecule interactions, the binding affinity for a given site, is experimentally inaccessible for these systems. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations can be used to bridge this gap, and are relatively straightforward to learn. Such simulations allow users to observe spontaneous binding of lipids to membrane proteins and quantify localized densities of individual lipids or lipid fragments. In this chapter we outline a protocol for extracting binding affinities from these localized distributions, known as the "density threshold affinity." The density threshold affinity uses an adaptive and flexible definition of site occupancy that alleviates the need to distinguish between "bound'' lipids and bulk lipids that are simply diffusing through the site. Furthermore, the method allows "bead-level" resolution that is suitable for the case where lipids share binding sites, and circumvents ambiguities about a relevant reference state. This approach provides a convenient and straightforward method for comparing affinities of a single lipid species for multiple sites, multiple lipids for a single site, and/or a single lipid species modeled using multiple forcefields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse W Sandberg
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States
| | - Ezry Santiago-McRae
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States
| | - Jahmal Ennis
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States; Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, United States.
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4
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Ansell TB, Song W, Coupland CE, Carrique L, Corey RA, Duncan AL, Cassidy CK, Geurts MMG, Rasmussen T, Ward AB, Siebold C, Stansfeld PJ, Sansom MSP. LipIDens: simulation assisted interpretation of lipid densities in cryo-EM structures of membrane proteins. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7774. [PMID: 38012131 PMCID: PMC10682427 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43392-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) enables the determination of membrane protein structures in native-like environments. Characterising how membrane proteins interact with the surrounding membrane lipid environment is assisted by resolution of lipid-like densities visible in cryo-EM maps. Nevertheless, establishing the molecular identity of putative lipid and/or detergent densities remains challenging. Here we present LipIDens, a pipeline for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation-assisted interpretation of lipid and lipid-like densities in cryo-EM structures. The pipeline integrates the implementation and analysis of multi-scale MD simulations for identification, ranking and refinement of lipid binding poses which superpose onto cryo-EM map densities. Thus, LipIDens enables direct integration of experimental and computational structural approaches to facilitate the interpretation of lipid-like cryo-EM densities and to reveal the molecular identities of protein-lipid interactions within a bilayer environment. We demonstrate this by application of our open-source LipIDens code to ten diverse membrane protein structures which exhibit lipid-like densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bertie Ansell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Wanling Song
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- MSD R&D Innovation Centre, 120 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6UR, UK
| | - Claire E Coupland
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Loic Carrique
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Robin A Corey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Anna L Duncan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Lagelsandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - C Keith Cassidy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Maxwell M G Geurts
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Tim Rasmussen
- Biocenter and Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum, Universität Würzburg, Haus D15, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Christian Siebold
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Phillip J Stansfeld
- School of Life Sciences & Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Mark S P Sansom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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5
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Barrantes FJ. Structure and function meet at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-lipid interface. Pharmacol Res 2023; 190:106729. [PMID: 36931540 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is a transmembrane protein that mediates fast intercellular communication in response to the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is the best characterized and archetypal molecule in the superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). As a typical transmembrane macromolecule, it interacts extensively with its vicinal lipid microenvironment. Experimental evidence provides a wealth of information on receptor-lipid crosstalk: the nAChR exerts influence on its immediate membrane environment and conversely, the lipid moiety modulates ligand binding, affinity state transitions and gating of ion translocation functions of the receptor protein. Recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies have unveiled the occurrence of sites for phospholipids and cholesterol on the lipid-exposed regions of neuronal and electroplax nAChRs, confirming early spectroscopic and affinity labeling studies demonstrating the close contact of lipid molecules with the receptor transmembrane segments. This new data provides structural support to the postulated "lipid sensor" ability displayed by the outer ring of M4 transmembrane domains and their modulatory role on nAChR function, as we postulated a decade ago. Borrowing from the best characterized nAChR, the electroplax (muscle-type) receptor, and exploiting new structural information on the neuronal nAChR, it is now possible to achieve an improved depiction of these sites. In combination with site-directed mutagenesis, single-channel electrophysiology, and molecular dynamics studies, the new structural information delivers a more comprehensive portrayal of these lipid-sensitive loci, providing mechanistic explanations for their ability to modulate nAChR properties and raising the possibility of targetting them in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Barrantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) - Argentine Scientific & Technol. Research Council (CONICET), Av. Alicia Moreau de Justo 1600, C1107AAZ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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6
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Dietzen NM, Arcario MJ, Chen LJ, Petroff JT, Moreland KT, Krishnan K, Brannigan G, Covey DF, Cheng WW. Polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel through one of two binding sites. eLife 2022; 11:74306. [PMID: 34982031 PMCID: PMC8786314 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) inhibit pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) but the mechanism of inhibition is not well understood. The PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), inhibits agonist responses of the pLGIC, ELIC, more effectively than palmitic acid, similar to the effects observed in the GABAA receptor and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Using photo-affinity labeling and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we identified two fatty acid binding sites in the outer transmembrane domain (TMD) of ELIC. Fatty acid binding to the photolabeled sites is selective for DHA over palmitic acid, and specific for an agonist-bound state. Hexadecyl-methanethiosulfonate modification of one of the two fatty acid binding sites in the outer TMD recapitulates the inhibitory effect of PUFAs in ELIC. The results demonstrate that DHA selectively binds to multiple sites in the outer TMD of ELIC, but that state-dependent binding to a single intrasubunit site mediates DHA inhibition of ELIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah M Dietzen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - Mark J Arcario
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - Lawrence J Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - John T Petroff
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - K Trent Moreland
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - Kathiresan Krishnan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for the Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, United States.,Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Camden, United States
| | - Douglas F Covey
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States.,Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.,Taylor Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - Wayland Wl Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, United States
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7
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Sharp L, Brannigan G. Spontaneous lipid binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a native membrane. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:185102. [PMID: 34241006 DOI: 10.1063/5.0046333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and other pentameric ligand-gated ion channels are native to neuronal membranes with an unusual lipid composition. While it is well-established that these receptors can be significantly modulated by lipids, the underlying mechanisms have been primarily studied in model membranes with few lipid species. Here, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to probe specific binding of lipids in a complex quasi-neuronal membrane. We ran a total of 50 μs of simulations of a single nAChR in a membrane composed of 36 species of lipids. Competition between multiple lipid species produces a complex distribution. We find that overall, cholesterol selects for concave inter-subunit sites and polyunsaturated fatty acids select for convex M4 sites, while monounsaturated and saturated lipids are unenriched in the nAChR boundary. We propose the "density-threshold affinity" as a metric calculated from continuous density distributions, which reduces to a standard affinity in two-state binding. We find that the density-threshold affinity for M4 weakens with chain rigidity, which suggests that flexible chains may help relax packing defects caused by the conical protein shape. For any site, PE headgroups have the strongest affinity of all phospholipid headgroups, but anionic lipids still yield moderately high affinities for the M4 sites as expected. We observe cooperative effects between anionic headgroups and saturated chains at the M4 site in the inner leaflet. We also analyze affinities for individual anionic headgroups. When combined, these insights may reconcile several apparently contradictory experiments on the role of anionic phospholipids in modulating nAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Sharp
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, USA
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, USA
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8
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Dämgen MA, Biggin PC. State-dependent protein-lipid interactions of a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel in a neuronal membrane. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1007856. [PMID: 33571182 PMCID: PMC7904231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are receptor proteins that are sensitive to their membrane environment, but the mechanism for how lipids modulate function under physiological conditions in a state dependent manner is not known. The glycine receptor is a pLGIC whose structure has been resolved in different functional states. Using a realistic model of a neuronal membrane coupled with coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that some key lipid-protein interactions are dependent on the receptor state, suggesting that lipids may regulate the receptor's conformational dynamics. Comparison with existing structural data confirms known lipid binding sites, but we also predict further protein-lipid interactions including a site at the communication interface between the extracellular and transmembrane domain. Moreover, in the active state, cholesterol can bind to the binding site of the positive allosteric modulator ivermectin. These protein-lipid interaction sites could in future be exploited for the rational design of lipid-like allosteric drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A. Dämgen
- Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip C. Biggin
- Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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9
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Orädd F, Andersson M. Tracking Membrane Protein Dynamics in Real Time. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:51-64. [PMID: 33409541 PMCID: PMC7936944 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-020-00165-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Membrane proteins govern critical cellular processes and are central to human health and associated disease. Understanding of membrane protein function is obscured by the vast ranges of structural dynamics—both in the spatial and time regime—displayed in the protein and surrounding membrane. The membrane lipids have emerged as allosteric modulators of membrane protein function, which further adds to the complexity. In this review, we discuss several examples of membrane dependency. A particular focus is on how molecular dynamics (MD) simulation have aided to map membrane protein dynamics and how enhanced sampling methods can enable observing the otherwise inaccessible biological time scale. Also, time-resolved X-ray scattering in solution is highlighted as a powerful tool to track membrane protein dynamics, in particular when combined with MD simulation to identify transient intermediate states. Finally, we discuss future directions of how to further develop this promising approach to determine structural dynamics of both the protein and the surrounding lipids. Graphic Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Orädd
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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10
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Direct and indirect cholesterol effects on membrane proteins with special focus on potassium channels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158706. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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11
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Tong A, Petroff JT, Hsu FF, Schmidpeter PA, Nimigean CM, Sharp L, Brannigan G, Cheng WW. Direct binding of phosphatidylglycerol at specific sites modulates desensitization of a ligand-gated ion channel. eLife 2019; 8:50766. [PMID: 31724949 PMCID: PMC6855808 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are essential determinants of synaptic transmission, and are modulated by specific lipids including anionic phospholipids. The exact modulatory effect of anionic phospholipids in pLGICs and the mechanism of this effect are not well understood. Using native mass spectrometry, coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations and functional assays, we show that the anionic phospholipid, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), preferentially binds to and stabilizes the pLGIC, Erwinia ligand-gated ion channel (ELIC), and decreases ELIC desensitization. Mutations of five arginines located in the interfacial regions of the transmembrane domain (TMD) reduce POPG binding, and a subset of these mutations increase ELIC desensitization. In contrast, a mutation that decreases ELIC desensitization, increases POPG binding. The results support a mechanism by which POPG stabilizes the open state of ELIC relative to the desensitized state by direct binding at specific sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailing Tong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, United States
| | - John T Petroff
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, United States
| | - Fong-Fu Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mass Spectrometry Resource, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Washington University, Saint Louis, United States
| | | | - Crina M Nimigean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Liam Sharp
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, United States
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, United States.,Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Camden, United States
| | - Wayland Wl Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, United States
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12
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Moffett SX, Klein EA, Brannigan G, Martin JV. L-3,3',5-triiodothyronine and pregnenolone sulfate inhibit Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223272. [PMID: 31584962 PMCID: PMC6777777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is an excitatory pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC), homologous to the inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor targeted by pharmaceuticals and endogenous sedatives. Activation of the GABAA receptor by the neurosteroid allopregnanolone can be inhibited competitively by thyroid hormone (L-3,3’,5-triiodothyronine, or T3), but modulation of nAChR by T3 or neurosteroids has not been investigated. Here we show that allopregnanolone inhibits the nAChR from Torpedo californica at micromolar concentrations, as do T3 and the anionic neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate (PS). We test for the role of protein and ligand charge in mediated receptor inhibition by varying pH in a narrow range around physiological pH. We find that both T3 and PS become less potent with increasing pH, with remarkably similar trends in IC50 when T3 is neutral at pH < 7.3. After deprotonation of T3 (but no additional deprotonation of PS) at pH 7.3, T3 loses potency more slowly with increasing pH than PS. We interpret this result as indicating the negative charge is not required for inhibition but does increase activity. Finally, we show that both T3 and PS affect nAChR channel desensitization, which may implicate a binding site homologous to one that was recently indicated for accelerated desensitization of the GABAA receptor by PS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven X. Moffett
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Eric A. Klein
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Joseph V. Martin
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Rutgers University—Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Untangling Direct and Domain-Mediated Interactions Between Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in DHA-Rich Membranes. J Membr Biol 2019; 252:385-396. [PMID: 31321460 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-019-00079-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) self-associates to give rise to rapid muscle movement. While lipid domains have maintained nAChR aggregates in vitro, their specific roles in nAChR clustering are currently unknown. In the present study, we carried out coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations (CG-MD) of 1-4 nAChR molecules in two membrane environments: one mixture containing domain-forming, homoacidic lipids, and a second mixture consisting of heteroacidic lipids. Spontaneous dimerization of nAChRs was up to ten times more likely in domain-forming membranes; however, the effect was not significant in four-protein systems, suggesting that lipid domains are less critical to nAChR oligomerization when protein concentration is higher. With regard to lipid preferences, nAChRs consistently partitioned into liquid-disordered domains occupied by the omega-3 ([Formula: see text]-3) fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); enrichment of DHA boundary lipids increased with protein concentration, particularly in homoacidic membranes. This result suggests dimer formation blocks access of saturated chains and cholesterol, but not polyunsaturated chains, to boundary lipid sites.
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14
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Fabiani C, Antollini SS. Alzheimer's Disease as a Membrane Disorder: Spatial Cross-Talk Among Beta-Amyloid Peptides, Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Lipid Rafts. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:309. [PMID: 31379503 PMCID: PMC6657435 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological membranes show lateral and transverse asymmetric lipid distribution. Cholesterol (Chol) localizes in both hemilayers, but in the external one it is mostly condensed in lipid-ordered microdomains (raft domains), together with saturated phosphatidyl lipids and sphingolipids (including sphingomyelin and glycosphingolipids). Membrane asymmetries induce special membrane biophysical properties and behave as signals for several physiological and/or pathological processes. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with a perturbation in different membrane properties. Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein together with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration are the most characteristic cellular changes observed in this disease. The extracellular presence of Aβ peptides forming senile plaques, together with soluble oligomeric species of Aβ, are considered the major cause of the synaptic dysfunction of AD. The association between Aβ peptide and membrane lipids has been extensively studied. It has been postulated that Chol content and Chol distribution condition Aβ production and posterior accumulation in membranes and, hence, cell dysfunction. Several lines of evidence suggest that Aβ partitions in the cell membrane accumulate mostly in raft domains, the site where the cleavage of the precursor AβPP by β- and γ- secretase is also thought to occur. The main consequence of the pathogenesis of AD is the disruption of the cholinergic pathways in the cerebral cortex and in the basal forebrain. In parallel, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been extensively linked to membrane properties. Since its transmembrane domain exhibits extensive contacts with the surrounding lipids, the acetylcholine receptor function is conditioned by its lipid microenvironment. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is present in high-density clusters in the cell membrane where it localizes mainly in lipid-ordered domains. Perturbations of sphingomyelin or cholesterol composition alter acetylcholine receptor location. Therefore, Aβ processing, Aβ partitioning, and acetylcholine receptor location and function can be manipulated by changes in membrane lipid biophysics. Understanding these mechanisms should provide insights into new therapeutic strategies for prevention and/or treatment of AD. Here, we discuss the implications of lipid-protein interactions at the cell membrane level in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Fabiani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Silvia S Antollini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca CONICET-UNS, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Abstract
Of all the macromolecular assemblies of life, the least understood is the biomembrane. This is especially true in regard to its atomic structure. Ideas on biomembranes, developed in the last 200 years, culminated in the fluid mosaic model of the membrane. In this essay, I provide a historical outline of how we arrived at our current understanding of biomembranes and the models we use to describe them. A selection of direct experimental findings on the nano-scale structure of biomembranes is taken up to discuss their physical nature, and special emphasis is put on the surprising insights that arise from atomic scale descriptions.
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