1
|
Pan D, Wang Z, Chen Y, Cao J. Melanopsin-mediated optical entrainment regulates circadian rhythms in vertebrates. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1054. [PMID: 37853054 PMCID: PMC10584931 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05432-7] [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: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanopsin (OPN4) is a light-sensitive protein that plays a vital role in the regulation of circadian rhythms and other nonvisual functions. Current research on OPN4 has focused on mammals; more evidence is needed from non-mammalian vertebrates to fully assess the significance of the non-visual photosensitization of OPN4 for circadian rhythm regulation. There are species differences in the regulatory mechanisms of OPN4 for vertebrate circadian rhythms, which may be due to the differences in the cutting variants, tissue localization, and photosensitive activation pathway of OPN4. We here summarize the distribution of OPN4 in mammals, birds, and teleost fish, and the classical excitation mode for the non-visual photosensitive function of OPN4 in mammals is discussed. In addition, the role of OPN4-expressing cells in regulating circadian rhythm in different vertebrates is highlighted, and the potential rhythmic regulatory effects of various neuropeptides or neurotransmitters expressed in mammalian OPN4-expressing ganglion cells are summarized among them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Laboratory of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Zixu Wang
- Laboratory of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoxing Chen
- Laboratory of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, 100193, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Laboratory of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, 100193, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
de Grip WJ, Ganapathy S. Rhodopsins: An Excitingly Versatile Protein Species for Research, Development and Creative Engineering. Front Chem 2022; 10:879609. [PMID: 35815212 PMCID: PMC9257189 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.879609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Willem J. de Grip
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bertolesi GE, Debnath N, Malik HR, Man LLH, McFarlane S. Type II Opsins in the Eye, the Pineal Complex and the Skin of Xenopus laevis: Using Changes in Skin Pigmentation as a Readout of Visual and Circadian Activity. Front Neuroanat 2022; 15:784478. [PMID: 35126061 PMCID: PMC8814574 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.784478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye, the pineal complex and the skin are important photosensitive organs. The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, senses light from the environment and adjusts skin color accordingly. For example, light reflected from the surface induces camouflage through background adaptation while light from above produces circadian variation in skin pigmentation. During embryogenesis, background adaptation, and circadian skin variation are segregated responses regulated by the secretion of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and melatonin through the photosensitivity of the eye and pineal complex, respectively. Changes in the color of skin pigmentation have been used as a readout of biochemical and physiological processes since the initial purification of pineal melatonin from pigs, and more recently have been employed to better understand the neuroendocrine circuit that regulates background adaptation. The identification of 37 type II opsin genes in the genome of the allotetraploid X. laevis, combined with analysis of their expression in the eye, pineal complex and skin, is contributing to the elucidation of the role of opsins in the different photosensitive organs, but also brings new questions and challenges. In this review, we analyze new findings regarding the anatomical localization and functions of type II opsins in sensing light. The contribution of X. laevis in revealing the neuroendocrine circuits that regulate background adaptation and circadian light variation through changes in skin pigmentation is discussed. Finally, the presence of opsins in X. laevis skin melanophores is presented and compared with the secretory melanocytes of birds and mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E. Bertolesi
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bertolesi GE, Debnath N, Atkinson-Leadbeater K, Niedzwiecka A, McFarlane S. Distinct type II opsins in the eye decode light properties for background adaptation and behavioural background preference. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6659-6676. [PMID: 34592025 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Crypsis increases survival by reducing predator detection. Xenopus laevis tadpoles decode light properties from the substrate to induce two responses: a cryptic coloration response where dorsal skin pigmentation is adjusted to the colour of the substrate (background adaptation) and a behavioural crypsis where organisms move to align with a specific colour surface (background preference). Both processes require organisms to detect reflected light from the substrate. We explored the relationship between background adaptation and preference and the light properties able to trigger both responses. We also analysed which retinal photosensor (type II opsin) is involved. Our results showed that these two processes are segregated mechanistically, as there is no correlation between the preference for a specific background with the level of skin pigmentation, and different dorsal retina-localized type II opsins appear to underlie the two crypsis modes. Indeed, inhibition of melanopsin affects background adaptation but not background preference. Instead, we propose pinopsin is the photosensor involved in background preference. pinopsin mRNA is co-expressed with mRNA for the sws1 cone photopigment in dorsally located photoreceptors. Importantly, the developmental onset of pinopsin expression aligns with the emergence of the preference for a white background, but after the background adaptation phenotype appears. Furthermore, white background preference of tadpoles is associated with increased pinopsin expression, a feature that is lost in premetamorphic froglets along with a preference for a white background. Thus, our data show a mechanistic dissociation between background adaptation and background preference, and we suggest melanopsin and pinopsin, respectively, initiate the two responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E Bertolesi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nilakshi Debnath
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Anna Niedzwiecka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sarah McFarlane
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mei G, Cavini CM, Mamaeva N, Wang P, DeGrip WJ, Rothschild KJ. Optical Switching Between Long-lived States of Opsin Transmembrane Voltage Sensors. Photochem Photobiol 2021; 97:1001-1015. [PMID: 33817800 PMCID: PMC8596844 DOI: 10.1111/php.13428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Opsin-based transmembrane voltage sensors (OTVSs) are membrane proteins increasingly used in optogenetic applications to measure voltage changes across cellular membranes. In order to better understand the photophysical properties of OTVSs, we used a combination of UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and FT-Raman spectroscopy to characterize QuasAr2 and NovArch, two closely related mutants derived from the proton pump archaerhodopsin-3 (AR3). We find both QuasAr2 and NovArch can be optically cycled repeatedly between O-like and M-like states using 5-min exposure to red (660 nm) and near-UV (405 nm) light. Longer red-light exposure resulted in the formation of a long-lived photoproduct similar to pink membrane, previously found to be a photoproduct of the BR O intermediate with a 9-cis retinylidene chromophore configuration. However, unlike QuasAr2 whose O-like state is stable in the dark, NovArch exhibits an O-like state which slowly partially decays in the dark to a stable M-like form with a deprotonated Schiff base and a 13-cis,15-anti retinylidene chromophore configuration. These results reveal a previously unknown complexity in the photochemistry of OTVSs including the ability to optically switch between different long-lived states. The possible molecular basis of these newly discovered properties along with potential optogenetic and biotechnological applications are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaoxiang Mei
- Molecular Biophysics LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsPhotonics CenterBoston UniversityBostonMA
| | - Cesar M. Cavini
- Molecular Biophysics LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsPhotonics CenterBoston UniversityBostonMA
| | - Natalia Mamaeva
- Molecular Biophysics LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsPhotonics CenterBoston UniversityBostonMA
| | | | - Willem J. DeGrip
- Department of Biophysical Organic ChemistryLeiden Institute of ChemistryLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
- Department of BiochemistryRadboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Kenneth J. Rothschild
- Molecular Biophysics LaboratoryDepartment of PhysicsPhotonics CenterBoston UniversityBostonMA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
The regulation of skin pigmentation in response to environmental light by pineal Type II opsins and skin melanophore melatonin receptors. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2020; 212:112024. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.112024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
7
|
Duda M, Domagalik A, Orlowska-Feuer P, Krzysztynska-Kuleta O, Beldzik E, Smyk MK, Stachurska A, Oginska H, Jeczmien-Lazur JS, Fafrowicz M, Marek T, Lewandowski MH, Sarna T. Melanopsin: From a small molecule to brain functions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:190-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
8
|
Valdez-Lopez JC, Gulati S, Ortiz EA, Palczewski K, Robinson PR. Melanopsin Carboxy-terminus phosphorylation plasticity and bulk negative charge, not strict site specificity, achieves phototransduction deactivation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228121. [PMID: 32236094 PMCID: PMC7112210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanopsin is a visual pigment expressed in a small subset of ganglion cells in the mammalian retina known as intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and is implicated in regulating non-image forming functions such as circadian photoentrainment and pupil constriction and contrast sensitivity in image formation. Mouse melanopsin's Carboxy-terminus (C-terminus) possesses 38 serine and threonine residues, which can potentially serve as phosphorylation sites for a G-protein Receptor Kinase (GRK) and be involved in the deactivation of signal transduction. Previous studies suggest that S388, T389, S391, S392, S394, S395 on the proximal region of the C-terminus of mouse melanopsin are necessary for melanopsin deactivation. We expressed a series of mouse melanopsin C-terminal mutants in HEK293 cells and using calcium imaging, and we found that the necessary cluster of six serine and threonine residues, while being critical, are insufficient for proper melanopsin deactivation. Interestingly, the additional six serine and threonine residues adjacent to the required six sites, in either proximal or distal direction, are capable of restoring wild-type deactivation of melanopsin. These findings suggest an element of plasticity in the molecular basis of melanopsin phosphorylation and deactivation. In addition, C-terminal chimeric mutants and molecular modeling studies support the idea that the initial steps of deactivation and β-arrestin binding are centered around these critical phosphorylation sites (S388-S395). The degree of functional versatility described in this study, along with ipRGC biophysical heterogeneity and the possible use of multiple signal transduction cascades, might contribute to the diverse ipRGC light responses for use in non-image and image forming behaviors, even though all six sub types of ipRGCs express the same melanopsin gene OPN4.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Light Signal Transduction/physiology
- Models, Molecular
- Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
- Mutation
- Phosphorylation/physiology
- Protein Binding
- Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/genetics
- Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/genetics
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Rod Opsins/chemistry
- Rod Opsins/genetics
- Rod Opsins/metabolism
- Serine/genetics
- Serine/metabolism
- Threonine/genetics
- Threonine/metabolism
- beta-Arrestin 1/chemistry
- beta-Arrestin 1/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Valdez-Lopez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sahil Gulati
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Gatan Inc, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Elelbin A. Ortiz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Phyllis R. Robinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ehrenberg D, Varma N, Deupi X, Koyanagi M, Terakita A, Schertler GFX, Heberle J, Lesca E. The Two-Photon Reversible Reaction of the Bistable Jumping Spider Rhodopsin-1. Biophys J 2019; 116:1248-1258. [PMID: 30902364 PMCID: PMC6451042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bistable opsins are photopigments expressed in both invertebrates and vertebrates. These light-sensitive G-protein-coupled receptors undergo a reversible reaction upon illumination. A first photon initiates the cis to trans isomerization of the retinal chromophore—attached to the protein through a protonated Schiff base—and a series of transition states that eventually results in the formation of the thermally stable and active Meta state. Excitation by a second photon reverts this process to recover the original ground state. On the other hand, monostable opsins (e.g., bovine rhodopsin) lose their chromophore during the decay of the Meta II state (i.e., they bleach). Spectroscopic studies on the molecular details of the two-photon cycle in bistable opsins are limited. Here, we describe the successful expression and purification of recombinant rhodopsin-1 from the jumping spider Hasarius adansoni (JSR1). In its natural configuration, spectroscopic characterization of JSR1 is hampered by the similar absorption spectra in the visible spectrum of the inactive and active states. We solved this issue by separating their absorption spectra by replacing the endogenous 11-cis retinal chromophore with the blue-shifted 9-cis JSiR1. With this system, we used time-resolved ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy after pulsed laser excitation to obtain kinetic details of the rise and decay of the photocycle intermediates. We also used resonance Raman spectroscopy to elucidate structural changes of the retinal chromophore upon illumination. Our data clearly indicate that the protonated Schiff base is stable throughout the entire photoreaction. We additionally show that the accompanying conformational changes in the protein are different from those of monostable rhodopsin, as recorded by light-induced FTIR difference spectroscopy. Thus, we envisage JSR1 as becoming a model system for future studies on the reaction mechanisms of bistable opsins, e.g., by time-resolved x-ray crystallography.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Ehrenberg
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Niranjan Varma
- Division of Biology and Chemistry-Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland; Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Deupi
- Division of Neutrons and Muons-Laboratory for Scientific Computing and Modelling, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Mitsumasa Koyanagi
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akihisa Terakita
- Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Gebhard F X Schertler
- Division of Biology and Chemistry-Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland; Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Elena Lesca
- Division of Biology and Chemistry-Laboratory for Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland; Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Stachurska A, Sarna T. Regulation of Melanopsin Signaling: Key Interactions of the Nonvisual Photopigment. Photochem Photobiol 2018; 95:83-94. [DOI: 10.1111/php.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stachurska
- Labolatory of Imaging and Force Spectroscopy; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology; Jagiellonian University; Krakow Poland
| | - Tadeusz Sarna
- Department of Biophysics; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology; Jagiellonian University; Krakow Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Regulation of Reentrainment Function Is Dependent on a Certain Minimal Number of Intact Functional ipRGCs in rd Mice. J Ophthalmol 2017; 2017:6804853. [PMID: 29359039 PMCID: PMC5735630 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6804853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the effect of partial ablation of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (mcRGCs) on nonimage-forming (NIF) visual functions in rd mice lacking rods. Methods The rd mice were intravitreally injected with different doses (100 ng/μl, 200 ng/μl, and 400 ng/μl) of immunotoxin melanopsin-SAP. And then, the density of ipRGCs was examined. After establishing the animal models with different degrees of ipRGC damage, a wheel-running system was used to evaluate their reentrainment response. Results Intravitreal injection of melanopsin-SAP led to partial ablation of ipRGCs in a dose-dependent manner. The survival rates of ipRGCs in the 100 ng/μl, 200 ng/μl, and 400 ng/μl groups were 74.14% ± 4.15%, 39.25% ± 2.29%, and 38.38% ± 3.74%, respectively. The wheel-running experiments showed that more severe ipRGC loss was associated with a longer time needed for reentrainment. When the light/dark cycle was delayed by 8 h, the rd mice in the PBS control group took 4.67 ± 0.79 days to complete the synchronization with the shifted cycle, while those in the 100 ng/μl and 200 ng/μl groups required 7.90 ± 0.55 days and 11.00 ± 0.79 days to complete the synchronization with the new light/dark cycle, respectively. Conclusion Our study indicates that the regulation of some NIF visual functions is dependent on a certain minimal number of intact functional ipRGCs.
Collapse
|