1
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Bühl E, Resler T, Lam R, Asido M, Bamberg E, Schlesinger R, Bamann C, Heberle J, Wachtveitl J. Assessing the Role of R120 in the Gating of CrChR2 by Time-Resolved Spectroscopy from Femtoseconds to Seconds. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21832-21840. [PMID: 37773976 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The light-gated ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrChR2) is the most frequently used optogenetic tool in neurosciences. However, the precise molecular mechanism of the channel opening and the correlation among retinal isomerization, the photocycle, and the channel activity of the protein are missing. Here, we present electrophysiological and spectroscopic investigations on the R120H variant of CrChR2. R120 is a key residue in an extended network linking the retinal chromophore to several gates of the ion channel. We show that despite the deficient channel activity, the photocycle of the variant is intact. In a comparative study for R120H and the wild type, we resolve the vibrational changes in the spectral range of the retinal and amide I bands across the time range from femtoseconds to seconds. Analysis of the amide I mode reveals a significant impairment of the ultrafast protein response after retinal excitation. We conclude that channel opening in CrChR2 is prepared immediately after retinal excitation. Additionally, chromophore isomerization is essential for both photocycle and channel activities, although both processes can occur independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bühl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tom Resler
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rebecca Lam
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Strasse 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marvin Asido
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ernst Bamberg
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Strasse 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Bamann
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Strasse 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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2
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Bi X, Beck C, Gong Y. A kinetic-optimized CoChR variant with enhanced high-frequency spiking fidelity. Biophys J 2022; 121:4166-4178. [PMID: 36151721 PMCID: PMC9675021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins are a promising toolset for noninvasive optical manipulation of genetically identifiable neuron populations. Existing channelrhodopsins have generally suffered from a trade-off between two desired properties: fast channel kinetics and large photocurrent. Such a trade-off hinders spatiotemporally precise optogenetic activation during both one-photon and two-photon photostimulation. Furthermore, the simultaneous use of spectrally separated genetically encoded indicators and channelrhodopsins has generally suffered from non-negligible crosstalk in photocurrent or fluorescence. These limitations have hindered crosstalk-free dual-channel experiments needed to establish relationships between multiple neural populations. Recent large-scale transcriptome sequencing revealed one potent optogenetic actuator, the channelrhodopsin from species Chloromonas oogama (CoChR), which possessed high cyan light-driven photocurrent but slow channel kinetics. We rationally designed and engineered a kinetic-optimized CoChR variant that was faster than native CoChR while maintaining large photocurrent amplitude. When expressed in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons, our CoChR variant improved high-frequency spiking fidelity under one-photon illumination. Our CoChR variant's blue-shifted excitation spectrum enabled simultaneous cyan photostimulation and red calcium imaging with negligible photocurrent crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoke Bi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
| | - Connor Beck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Yiyang Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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3
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Walter M, Schubert L, Heberle J, Schlesinger R, Losi A. Time-resolved photoacoustics of channelrhodopsins: early energetics and light-driven volume changes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 22:477-486. [PMID: 36273368 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIn biological photoreceptors, the energy stored in early transient species is a key feature to drive the photocycle or a chain of reactions. Time-resolved photoacoustics (PA) can explore the energy landscape of transient species formed within few ns after photoexcitation, as well as volumetric changes (ΔV) of these intermediates with respect to the parental state. In this work, PA identified these important parameters for several channelrhodopsins, namely CaChR1 from Chlamydomonas augustae and CrChR2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and various variants. PA has access to the sub-ns formation of the early photoproduct P1 and to its relaxation, provided that this latter process occurs within a few μs. We found that ΔVP1 for CaChR1 is ca. 12 mL/mol, while it is much smaller for CrChR2 (4.7 mL/mol) and for H. salinarum bacteriorhodopsin (HsBR, ΔVK = 2.8 mL/mol). PA experiments on variants strongly indicate that part of this large ΔVP1 value for CaChR1 is caused by the protonation dynamics of the Schiff base counterion complex involving E169 and D299. PA data further show that the energy level of P1 is higher in CrChR2 (ca. 96 kJ/mol) than in CaChr1 (ca. 46 kJ/mol), comparable to the energy level of the K state of HsBR (60 kJ/mol). Instrumental to gain these molecular values from the raw PA data was the estimation of the quantum yield (Φ) for P1 formation via transient spectroscopy; for both channelrhodopsins, ΦP2 was evaluated as ca. 0.4.
Graphical Abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Walter
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luiz Schubert
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aba Losi
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area Delle Scienze 7/A, 43124, Parma, Italy.
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4
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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.
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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
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5
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Xin Q, Cheng J, Wang H, Zhang W, Lu H, Zhou J, Lo GV, Dou Y, Yuan S. Modeling the syn-cycle in the light activated opening of the channelrhodopsin-2 ion channel. RSC Adv 2022; 12:6515-6524. [PMID: 35424642 PMCID: PMC8981705 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08521b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The ion channel of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is activated by absorbing light. The light stimulates retinal to isomerize to start the photocycle. There are two pathways for photocycles, which are caused by isomerization of the retinal from all-trans, 15-anti to 13-cis, 15-anti in the dark-adapted state (anti-cycle) and from 13-cis, 15-syn to all-trans, 15-syn in the light-adapted state (syn-cycle). In this work, the structure of the syn-cycle intermediate and mechanism of channel opening were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. Due to the lack of crystal structure of intermediates in the syn-cycle of ChR2, the intermediate models were constructed from the homologous intermediates in the anti-cycle. The isomerization of retinal was shown to cause the central gate (CG) hydrogen bond network to rearrange, cutting the link between TM2 and TM7. TM2 is moved by the intrahelical hydrogen bond of E90 and K93, and induced the intracellular gate (ICG) to expand. The ion penetration pathway between TM1, TM2, TM3 and TM7 in the P500* state was observed by MD simulations. However, this channel is not fully opened compared with the homologous P500 state in the anti-cycle. In addition, the protons on Schiff bases were found to be unable to form hydrogen bonds with the counter residues (E123 and D253) in the P500* state, preventing an evolution of the P500* state to a P390-like state in the syn-cycle. Modelling the syn-cycle is a series of operations on the ChR2 crystal structure (PDB ID: 6EID). By replacement and isomerization, we obtained P500* and P480 intermediates. A feasible explanation that no P390* was observed in experiment was inferred.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xin
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
| | - Jie Cheng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Wenying Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
| | - Junpeng Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
| | - Glenn V. Lo
- Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Nicholls State University, P.O. Box 2022, Thibodaux, LA 70310, USA
| | - Yusheng Dou
- Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Nicholls State University, P.O. Box 2022, Thibodaux, LA 70310, USA
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 40065, China
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6
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Becker‐Baldus J, Leeder A, Brown LJ, Brown RCD, Bamann C, Glaubitz C. The Desensitized Channelrhodopsin‐2 Photointermediate Contains 13 ‐
cis
, 15 ‐
syn
Retinal Schiff Base. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202015797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker‐Baldus
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Goethe University Frankfurt Max-von-Laue-Str. 9 60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Alexander Leeder
- Department of Chemistry University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Lynda J. Brown
- Department of Chemistry University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | | | - Christian Bamann
- Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics Max-von-Laue-Str. 3 60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Clemens Glaubitz
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Goethe University Frankfurt Max-von-Laue-Str. 9 60438 Frankfurt Germany
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7
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Becker-Baldus J, Leeder A, Brown LJ, Brown RCD, Bamann C, Glaubitz C. The Desensitized Channelrhodopsin-2 Photointermediate Contains 13 -cis, 15 -syn Retinal Schiff Base. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:16442-16447. [PMID: 33973334 PMCID: PMC8362212 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202015797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Channelrhodopsin‐2 (ChR2) is a light‐gated cation channel and was used to lay the foundations of optogenetics. Its dark state X‐ray structure has been determined in 2017 for the wild‐type, which is the prototype for all other ChR variants. However, the mechanistic understanding of the channel function is still incomplete in terms of structural changes after photon absorption by the retinal chromophore and in the framework of functional models. Hence, detailed information needs to be collected on the dark state as well as on the different photointermediates. For ChR2 detailed knowledge on the chromophore configuration in the different states is still missing and a consensus has not been achieved. Using DNP‐enhanced solid‐state MAS NMR spectroscopy on proteoliposome samples, we unambiguously determined the chromophore configuration in the desensitized state, and we show that this state occurs towards the end of the photocycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker-Baldus
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexander Leeder
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Lynda J Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Richard C D Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Christian Bamann
- Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Clemens Glaubitz
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
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8
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Amino acid side chain contribution to protein FTIR spectra: impact on secondary structure evaluation. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2021; 50:641-651. [PMID: 33558954 PMCID: PMC8189991 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01507-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Prediction of protein secondary structure from FTIR spectra usually relies on the absorbance in the amide I–amide II region of the spectrum. It assumes that the absorbance in this spectral region, i.e., roughly 1700–1500 cm−1 is solely arising from amide contributions. Yet, it is accepted that, on the average, about 20% of the absorbance is due to amino acid side chains. The present paper evaluates the contribution of amino acid side chains in this spectral region and the potential to improve secondary structure prediction after correcting for their contribution. We show that the β-sheet content prediction is improved upon subtraction of amino acid side chain contributions in the amide I–amide II spectral range. Improvement is relatively important, for instance, the error of prediction of β-sheet content decreases from 5.42 to 4.97% when evaluated by ascending stepwise regression. Other methods tested such as partial least square regression and support vector machine have also improved accuracy for β-sheet content evaluation. The other structures such as α-helix do not significantly benefit from side chain contribution subtraction, in some cases prediction is even degraded. We show that co-linearity between secondary structure content and amino acid composition is not a main limitation for improving secondary structure prediction. We also show that, even though based on different criteria, secondary structures defined by DSSP and XTLSSTR both arrive at the same conclusion: only the β-sheet structure clearly benefits from side chain subtraction. It must be concluded that side chain contribution subtraction benefit for the evaluation of other secondary structure contents is limited by the very rough description of side chain absorbance which does not take into account the variations related to their environment. The study was performed on a large protein set. To deal with the large number of proteins present, we worked on protein microarrays deposited on BaF2 slides and FTIR spectra were acquired with an imaging system.
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9
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Chen Y, Li J, Zhou Q, Liu Z, Li Q. Hexavalent chromium amplifies the developmental toxicity of graphene oxide during zebrafish embryogenesis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111487. [PMID: 33126181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Combined toxicity is a critical issue in risk assessment of contaminants. However, very little is known about the joint effects of graphene oxide (GO, a crucial 2-dimensional carbon material) and hexavalent chromium (Cr6+, a widespread heavy metal), particularly with respect to the critical period of embryogenesis. In this study, the combined toxicity of GO and Cr6+ was evaluated through embryo-larval toxicity test in Danio rerio (zebrafish). Results indicated that the co-exposure of Cr6+ (1 mg/L) and GO (0.01 mg/L) inhibited hatching and spontaneous movement of embryos, but no significant changes were found in the single Cr6+ or GO group. Compared with the single GO or Cr6+ exposure, their co-exposure (GO+Cr6+) significantly enhanced the teratogenicity in a concentration-dependent pattern, and the spinal curvature was observed as the main deformity. GO+Cr6+ changed the protein secondary structures of embryos result of the generation of ROS and oxidative stress. The degradations of vertical myosepta and cartilages were observed in co-exposure group, suggesting that GO+Cr6+ disrupted the development of musculoskeletal system. The genes col11a1a, col2a1a and postnb were down-regulated but the genes acta1b and mmp9 were up-regulated by GO+Cr6+. The interactions between Cr6+ and GO demonstrated that the morphology, structure, and surface properties of GO were modified by Cr6+. The enhanced defects and O-containing groups of GO could trap more β-sheets, induced oxidative stress, disturbed the development of skeletal muscles and cartilages in zebrafish. These data suggested that GO+Cr6+ enhanced their joint toxicity due to the variation of nanoparticle properties. This finding is important for assessing the ecological risk of graphene family nanomaterials in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Chen
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Jitong Li
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Children's Genetics and Metabolic Diseases/Henan Neural Development Engineering Research Center for Children, Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450018, China
| | - Qixing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Zhijie Liu
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Qiong Li
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
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10
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Nagasaka Y, Hososhima S, Kubo N, Nagata T, Kandori H, Inoue K, Yawo H. Gate-keeper of ion transport-a highly conserved helix-3 tryptophan in a channelrhodopsin chimera, C1C2/ChRWR. Biophys Physicobiol 2020; 17:59-70. [PMID: 33173715 PMCID: PMC7593130 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bsj-2020007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial rhodopsin is a large family of membrane proteins having seven transmembrane helices (TM1-7) with an all-trans retinal (ATR) chromophore that is covalently bound to Lys in the TM7. The Trp residue in the middle of TM3, which is homologous to W86 of bacteriorhodopsin (BR), is highly conserved among microbial rhodopsins with various light-driven functions. However, the significance of this Trp for the ion transport function of microbial rhodopsins has long remained unknown. Here, we replaced the W163 (BR W86 counterpart) of a channelrhodopsin (ChR), C1C2/ChRWR, which is a chimera between ChR1 and 2, with a smaller aromatic residue, Phe to verify its role in the ion transport. Under whole-cell patch clamp recordings from the ND7/23 cells that were transfected with the DNA plasmid coding human codon optimized C1C2/ChRWR (hWR) or its W163F mutant (hWR-W163F), the photocurrents were evoked by a pulsatile light at 475 nm. The ion-transporting activity of hWR was strongly altered by the W163F mutation in 3 points: (1) the H+ leak at positive membrane potential (Vm) and its light-adaptation, (2) the attenuation of cation channel activity and (3) the manifestation of outward H+ pump activity. All of these results strongly suggest that W163 has a role in stabilizing the structure involved in the gating-on and -off of the cation channel, the role of “gate keeper”. We can attribute the attenuation of cation channel activity to the incomplete gating-on and the H+ leak to the incomplete gating-off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiro Nagasaka
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.,Department of Advanced Materials Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Shoko Hososhima
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Naoko Kubo
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takashi Nagata
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.,Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO) , Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Hideki Kandori
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan.,OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Keiichi Inoue
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Hiromu Yawo
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
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11
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Abstract
Infrared difference spectroscopy probes vibrational changes of proteins upon their perturbation. Compared with other spectroscopic methods, it stands out by its sensitivity to the protonation state, H-bonding, and the conformation of different groups in proteins, including the peptide backbone, amino acid side chains, internal water molecules, or cofactors. In particular, the detection of protonation and H-bonding changes in a time-resolved manner, not easily obtained by other techniques, is one of the most successful applications of IR difference spectroscopy. The present review deals with the use of perturbations designed to specifically change the protein between two (or more) functionally relevant states, a strategy often referred to as reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy. In the first half of this contribution, I review the technique of reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy of proteins, with special emphasis given to the preparation of suitable samples and their characterization, strategies for the perturbation of proteins, and methodologies for time-resolved measurements (from nanoseconds to minutes). The second half of this contribution focuses on the spectral interpretation. It starts by reviewing how changes in H-bonding, medium polarity, and vibrational coupling affect vibrational frequencies, intensities, and bandwidths. It is followed by band assignments, a crucial aspect mostly performed with the help of isotopic labeling and site-directed mutagenesis, and complemented by integration and interpretation of the results in the context of the studied protein, an aspect increasingly supported by spectral calculations. Selected examples from the literature, predominately but not exclusively from retinal proteins, are used to illustrate the topics covered in this review.
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12
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Ritter E, Puskar L, Kim SY, Park JH, Hofmann KP, Bartl F, Hegemann P, Schade U. Féry Infrared Spectrometer for Single-Shot Analysis of Protein Dynamics. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:7672-7677. [PMID: 31763851 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Current submillisecond time-resolved broad-band infrared spectroscopy, one of the most frequently used techniques for studying structure-function relationships in life sciences, is typically limited to fast-cycling reactions that can be repeated thousands of times with high frequency. Notably, a majority of chemical and biological processes do not comply with this requirement. For example, the activation of vertebrate rhodopsin, a prototype of many protein receptors in biological organisms that mediate basic functions of life, including vision, smell, and taste, is irreversible. Here we present a dispersive single-shot Féry spectrometer setup that extends such spectroscopy to irreversible and slow-cycling systems by exploiting the unique properties of brilliant synchrotron infrared light combined with an advanced focal plane detector array embedded in a dispersive optical concept. We demonstrate our single-shot method on microbial actinorhodopsin with a slow photocycle and on vertebrate rhodopsin with irreversible activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eglof Ritter
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Experimentelle Biophysik , 10115 Berlin , Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Biophysikalische Chemie , 10115 Berlin , Germany
| | - Ljiljana Puskar
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie , 12498 Berlin , Germany
| | - So Young Kim
- Chonbuk National University , Division of Biotechnology, Advanced Institute of Environment and Bioscience , 54596 Iksan , Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hee Park
- Chonbuk National University , Division of Biotechnology, Advanced Institute of Environment and Bioscience , 54596 Iksan , Republic of Korea
| | | | - Franz Bartl
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Biophysikalische Chemie , 10115 Berlin , Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Experimentelle Biophysik , 10115 Berlin , Germany
| | - Ulrich Schade
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie , 12498 Berlin , Germany
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13
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Atomistic Insight into the Role of Threonine 127 in the Functional Mechanism of Channelrhodopsin-2. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9224905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) belong to the unique class of light-gated ion channels. The structure of channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrChR2) has been resolved, but the mechanistic link between light-induced isomerization of the chromophore retinal and channel gating remains elusive. Replacements of residues C128 and D156 (DC gate) resulted in drastic effects in channel closure. T127 is localized close to the retinal Schiff base and links the DC gate to the Schiff base. The homologous residue in bacteriorhodopsin (T89) has been shown to be crucial for the visible absorption maximum and dark–light adaptation, suggesting an interaction with the retinylidene chromophore, but the replacement had little effect on photocycle kinetics and proton pumping activity. Here, we show that the T127A and T127S variants of CrChR2 leave the visible absorption maximum unaffected. We inferred from hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations and resonance Raman spectroscopy that the hydroxylic side chain of T127 is hydrogen-bonded to E123 and the latter is hydrogen-bonded to the retinal Schiff base. The C=N–H vibration of the Schiff base in the T127A variant was 1674 cm−1, the highest among all rhodopsins reported to date. We also found heterogeneity in the Schiff base ground state vibrational properties due to different rotamer conformations of E123. The photoreaction of T127A is characterized by a long-lived P2380 state during which the Schiff base is deprotonated. The conservative replacement of T127S hardly affected the photocycle kinetics. Thus, we inferred that the hydroxyl group at position 127 is part of the proton transfer pathway from D156 to the Schiff base during rise of the P3530 intermediate. This finding provides molecular reasons for the evolutionary conservation of the chemically homologous residues threonine, serine, and cysteine at this position in all channelrhodopsins known so far.
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14
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Giliberti V, Polito R, Ritter E, Broser M, Hegemann P, Puskar L, Schade U, Zanetti-Polzi L, Daidone I, Corni S, Rusconi F, Biagioni P, Baldassarre L, Ortolani M. Tip-Enhanced Infrared Difference-Nanospectroscopy of the Proton Pump Activity of Bacteriorhodopsin in Single Purple Membrane Patches. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:3104-3114. [PMID: 30950626 PMCID: PMC6745627 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Photosensitive proteins embedded in the cell membrane (about 5 nm thickness) act as photoactivated proton pumps, ion gates, enzymes, or more generally, as initiators of stimuli for the cell activity. They are composed of a protein backbone and a covalently bound cofactor (e.g. the retinal chromophore in bacteriorhodopsin (BR), channelrhodopsin, and other opsins). The light-induced conformational changes of both the cofactor and the protein are at the basis of the physiological functions of photosensitive proteins. Despite the dramatic development of microscopy techniques, investigating conformational changes of proteins at the membrane monolayer level is still a big challenge. Techniques based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) can detect electric currents through protein monolayers and even molecular binding forces in single-protein molecules but not the conformational changes. For the latter, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) using difference-spectroscopy mode is typically employed, but it is performed on macroscopic liquid suspensions or thick films containing large amounts of purified photosensitive proteins. In this work, we develop AFM-assisted, tip-enhanced infrared difference-nanospectroscopy to investigate light-induced conformational changes of the bacteriorhodopsin mutant D96N in single submicrometric native purple membrane patches. We obtain a significant improvement compared with the signal-to-noise ratio of standard IR nanospectroscopy techniques by exploiting the field enhancement in the plasmonic nanogap that forms between a gold-coated AFM probe tip and an ultraflat gold surface, as further supported by electromagnetic and thermal simulations. IR difference-spectra in the 1450-1800 cm-1 range are recorded from individual patches as thin as 10 nm, with a diameter of less than 500 nm, well beyond the diffraction limit for FTIR microspectroscopy. We find clear spectroscopic evidence of a branching of the photocycle for BR molecules in direct contact with the gold surfaces, with equal amounts of proteins either following the standard proton-pump photocycle or being trapped in an intermediate state not directly contributing to light-induced proton transport. Our results are particularly relevant for BR-based optoelectronic and energy-harvesting devices, where BR molecular monolayers are put in contact with metal surfaces, and, more generally, for AFM-based IR spectroscopy studies of conformational changes of proteins embedded in intrinsically heterogeneous native cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Giliberti
- Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Life NanoScience, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
- E-mail:
| | - Raffaella Polito
- Department
of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Eglof Ritter
- Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, Institut für
Biologie, Invalidenstraße
42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Broser
- Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, Institut für
Biologie, Invalidenstraße
42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, Institut für
Biologie, Invalidenstraße
42, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ljiljana Puskar
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schade
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Zanetti-Polzi
- Department
of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University
of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, I-67010 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Isabella Daidone
- Department
of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University
of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, I-67010 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Corni
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, I-35131 Padova, Italy
- CNR
Institute
of Nanoscience, Via Campi
213/A, I-41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Rusconi
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Biagioni
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Leonetta Baldassarre
- Department
of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Ortolani
- Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Life NanoScience, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
- Department
of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, I-00185 Roma, Italy
- E-mail:
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15
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Saita M, Pranga-Sellnau F, Resler T, Schlesinger R, Heberle J, Lorenz-Fonfria VA. Photoexcitation of the P4480 State Induces a Secondary Photocycle That Potentially Desensitizes Channelrhodopsin-2. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:9899-9903. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b03931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Saita
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Pranga-Sellnau
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Resler
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Genetic Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor A. Lorenz-Fonfria
- Institute of Molecular Science, Universitat de València, 46980 Paterna, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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16
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Schwaighofer A, Montemurro M, Freitag S, Kristament C, Culzoni MJ, Lendl B. Beyond Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Mid-infrared Transmission Spectroscopy of Proteins in the Amide I and Amide II Region. Anal Chem 2018; 90:7072-7079. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schwaighofer
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Milagros Montemurro
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría (LADAQ), Cátedra de Química Analítica I, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Stephan Freitag
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Kristament
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - María J. Culzoni
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría (LADAQ), Cátedra de Química Analítica I, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Lendl
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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17
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Schultz BJ, Mohrmann H, Lorenz-Fonfria VA, Heberle J. Protein dynamics observed by tunable mid-IR quantum cascade lasers across the time range from 10ns to 1s. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2018; 188:666-674. [PMID: 28110813 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2017.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a spectrometer based on tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for recording time-resolved absorption spectra of proteins in the mid-infrared range. We illustrate its performance by recording time-resolved difference spectra of bacteriorhodopsin in the carboxylic range (1800-1700cm-1) and on the CO rebinding reaction of myoglobin (1960-1840cm-1), at a spectral resolution of 1cm-1. The spectrometric setup covers the time range from 4ns to nearly a second with a response time of 10-15ns. Absorption changes as low as 1×10-4 are detected in single-shot experiments at t>1μs, and of 5×10-6 in kinetics obtained after averaging 100 shots. While previous time-resolved IR experiments have mostly been conducted on hydrated films of proteins, we demonstrate here that the brilliance of tunable quantum cascade lasers is superior to perform ns time-resolved experiments even in aqueous solution (H2O).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd-Joachim Schultz
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hendrik Mohrmann
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor A Lorenz-Fonfria
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain; Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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18
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Guo Y, Wolff FE, Schapiro I, Elstner M, Marazzi M. Different hydrogen bonding environments of the retinal protonated Schiff base control the photoisomerization in channelrhodopsin-2. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27501-27509. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05210g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The first event of the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) photocycle, i.e. trans-to-cis photoisomerization, is studied by means of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics, taking into account the flexible retinal environment in the ground state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Guo
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- 76131 Karlsruhe
- Germany
| | - Franziska E. Wolff
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- 76131 Karlsruhe
- Germany
| | - Igor Schapiro
- Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics Research
- Institute of Chemistry
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem
- Israel
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- 76131 Karlsruhe
- Germany
| | - Marco Marazzi
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- 76131 Karlsruhe
- Germany
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19
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pH-sensitive vibrational probe reveals a cytoplasmic protonated cluster in bacteriorhodopsin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E10909-E10918. [PMID: 29203649 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707993114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infrared spectroscopy has been used in the past to probe the dynamics of internal proton transfer reactions taking place during the functional mechanism of proteins but has remained mostly silent to protonation changes in the aqueous medium. Here, by selectively monitoring vibrational changes of buffer molecules with a temporal resolution of 6 µs, we have traced proton release and uptake events in the light-driven proton-pump bacteriorhodopsin and correlate these to other molecular processes within the protein. We demonstrate that two distinct chemical entities contribute to the temporal evolution and spectral shape of the continuum band, an unusually broad band extending from 2,300 to well below 1,700 cm-1 The first contribution corresponds to deprotonation of the proton release complex (PRC), a complex in the extracellular domain of bacteriorhodopsin where an excess proton is shared by a cluster of internal water molecules and/or ionic E194/E204 carboxylic groups. We assign the second component of the continuum band to the proton uptake complex, a cluster with an excess proton reminiscent to the PRC but located in the cytoplasmic domain and possibly stabilized by D38. Our findings refine the current interpretation of the continuum band and call for a reevaluation of the last proton transfer steps in bacteriorhodopsin.
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20
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Kaufmann JCD, Krause BS, Grimm C, Ritter E, Hegemann P, Bartl FJ. Proton transfer reactions in the red light-activatable channelrhodopsin variant ReaChR and their relevance for its function. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:14205-14216. [PMID: 28659342 PMCID: PMC5572910 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.779629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels widely used for activating selected cells in large cellular networks. ChR variants with a red-shifted absorption maximum, such as the modified Volvox carteri ChR1 red-activatable channelrhodopsin ("ReaChR," λmax = 527 nm), are of particular interest because longer wavelengths allow optical excitation of cells in deeper layers of organic tissue. In all ChRs investigated so far, proton transfer reactions and hydrogen bond changes are crucial for the formation of the ion-conducting pore and the selectivity for protons versus cations, such as Na+, K+, and Ca2+ (1). By using a combination of electrophysiological measurements and UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, we characterized the proton transfer events in the photocycle of ReaChR and describe their relevance for its function. 1) The central gate residue Glu130 (Glu90 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Cr) ChR2) (i) undergoes a hydrogen bond change in D → K transition and (ii) deprotonates in K → M transition. Its negative charge in the open state is decisive for proton selectivity. 2) The counter-ion Asp293 (Asp253 in CrChR2) receives the retinal Schiff base proton during M-state formation. Starting from M, a photocycle branching occurs involving (i) a direct M → D transition and (ii) formation of late photointermediates N and O. 3) The DC pair residue Asp196 (Asp156 in CrChR2) deprotonates in N → O transition. Interestingly, the D196N mutation increases 15-syn-retinal at the expense of 15-anti, which is the predominant isomer in the wild type, and abolishes the peak current in electrophysiological measurements. This suggests that the peak current is formed by 15-anti species, whereas 15-syn species contribute only to the stationary current.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel C D Kaufmann
- From the Institut für medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,.
| | | | | | | | | | - Franz J Bartl
- From the Institut für medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany,; Institut für Biologie, Biophysikalische Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Govorunova EG, Sineshchekov OA, Li H, Spudich JL. Microbial Rhodopsins: Diversity, Mechanisms, and Optogenetic Applications. Annu Rev Biochem 2017; 86:845-872. [PMID: 28301742 PMCID: PMC5747503 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-101910-144233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microbial rhodopsins are a family of photoactive retinylidene proteins widespread throughout the microbial world. They are notable for their diversity of function, using variations of a shared seven-transmembrane helix design and similar photochemical reactions to carry out distinctly different light-driven energy and sensory transduction processes. Their study has contributed to our understanding of how evolution modifies protein scaffolds to create new protein chemistry, and their use as tools to control membrane potential with light is fundamental to optogenetics for research and clinical applications. We review the currently known functions and present more in-depth assessment of three functionally and structurally distinct types discovered over the past two years: (a) anion channelrhodopsins (ACRs) from cryptophyte algae, which enable efficient optogenetic neural suppression; (b) cryptophyte cation channelrhodopsins (CCRs), structurally distinct from the green algae CCRs used extensively for neural activation and from cryptophyte ACRs; and
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena G Govorunova
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030; , , ,
| | - Oleg A Sineshchekov
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030; , , ,
| | - Hai Li
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030; , , ,
| | - John L Spudich
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030; , , ,
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22
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Yamauchi Y, Konno M, Ito S, Tsunoda SP, Inoue K, Kandori H. Molecular properties of a DTD channelrhodopsin from Guillardia theta. Biophys Physicobiol 2017. [PMID: 28630812 PMCID: PMC5468465 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.14.0_57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial rhodopsins are membrane proteins found widely in archaea, eubacteria and eukaryotes (fungal and algal species). They have various functions, such as light-driven ion pumps, light-gated ion channels, light sensors and light-activated enzymes. A light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (BR) contains a DTD motif at positions 85, 89, and 96, which is unique to archaeal proton pumps. Recently, channelrhodopsins (ChRs) containing the DTD motif, whose sequential identity is ~20% similar to BR and to cation ChRs in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CrCCRs), were found. While extensive studies on ChRs have been performed with CrCCR2, the molecular properties of DTD ChRs remain an intrigue. In this paper, we studied a DTD rhodopsin from G. theta (GtCCR4) using electrophysiological measurements, flash photolysis, and low-temperature difference FTIR spectroscopy. Electrophysiological measurements clearly showed that GtCCR4 functions as a light-gated cation channel, similar to other G. theta DTD ChRs (GtCCR1-3). Light-driven proton pump activity was also suggested for GtCCR4. Both electrophysiological and flash photolysis experiments showed that channel closing occurs upon reprotonation of the Schiff base, suggesting that the dynamics of retinal and channels are tightly coupled in GtCCR4. From Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at 77 K, we found that the primary reaction is an all-trans to a 13-cis photoisomerization, like other microbial rhodopsins, although perturbations in the secondary structure were much smaller in GtCCR4 than in CrCCR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeka Yamauchi
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Masae Konno
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Shota Ito
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Satoshi P Tsunoda
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Keiichi Inoue
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.,Frontier Research Institute for Material Science, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Hideki Kandori
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan.,OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
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23
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Urmann D, Lorenz C, Linker SM, Braun M, Wachtveitl J, Bamann C. Photochemical Properties of the Red-shifted Channelrhodopsin Chrimson. Photochem Photobiol 2017; 93:782-795. [DOI: 10.1111/php.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David Urmann
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Charlotte Lorenz
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry; Max Planck Institute of Biophysics; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Stephanie M. Linker
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry; Max Planck Institute of Biophysics; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Markus Braun
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Josef Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt; Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Christian Bamann
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry; Max Planck Institute of Biophysics; Frankfurt am Main Germany
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24
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Krause BS, Grimm C, Kaufmann JCD, Schneider F, Sakmar TP, Bartl FJ, Hegemann P. Complex Photochemistry within the Green-Absorbing Channelrhodopsin ReaChR. Biophys J 2017; 112:1166-1175. [PMID: 28355544 PMCID: PMC5374998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-activated ion channels widely employed for photostimulation of excitable cells. This study focuses on ReaChR, a chimeric ChR variant with optimal properties for optogenetic applications. We combined electrophysiological recordings with infrared and UV-visible spectroscopic measurements to investigate photocurrents and photochemical properties of ReaChR. Our data imply that ReaChR is green-light activated (λmax = 532 nm) with a non-rhodopsin-like action spectrum peaking at 610 nm for stationary photocurrents. This unusual spectral feature is associated with photoconversion of a previously unknown light-sensitive, blue-shifted photocycle intermediate L (λmax = 495 nm), which is accumulated under continuous illumination. To explain the complex photochemical reactions, we propose a symmetrical two-cycle-model based on the two C15=N isomers of the retinal cofactor with either syn- or anti-configuration, each comprising six consecutive states D, K, L, M, N, and O. Ion conduction involves two states per cycle, the late M- (M2) with a deprotonated retinal Schiff base and the consecutive green-absorbing N-state that both equilibrate via reversible reprotonation. In our model, a fraction of the deprotonated M-intermediate of the anti-cycle may be photoconverted-as the L-state-back to its inherent dark state, or to its M-state pendant (M') of the syn-cycle. The latter reaction pathway requires a C13=C14, C15=N double-isomerization of the retinal chromophore, whereas the intracircular photoconversion of M back to D involves only one C13=C14 double-bond isomerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S Krause
- Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christiane Grimm
- Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joel C D Kaufmann
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Schneider
- Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas P Sakmar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Franz J Bartl
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Institute of Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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25
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Mezzetti A, Leibl W. Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy in the study of photosynthetic systems. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2017; 131:121-144. [PMID: 27678250 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-016-0305-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Time-resolved (TR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy in the nanosecond to second timescale has been extensively used, in the last 30 years, in the study of photosynthetic systems. Interesting results have also been obtained at lower time resolution (minutes or even hours). In this review, we first describe the used techniques-dispersive IR, laser diode IR, rapid-scan Fourier transform (FT)IR, step-scan FTIR-underlying the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Then, the main TR-IR results obtained so far in the investigation of photosynthetic reactions (in reaction centers, in light-harvesting systems, but also in entire membranes or even in living organisms) are presented. Finally, after the general conclusions, the perspectives in the field of TR-IR applied to photosynthesis are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Mezzetti
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 7197, Laboratoire de Réactivité de Surfaces, 4 Pl. Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France.
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), IBITECS, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Winfried Leibl
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), IBITECS, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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26
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Kottke T, Lórenz-Fonfría VA, Heberle J. The Grateful Infrared: Sequential Protein Structural Changes Resolved by Infrared Difference Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2016; 121:335-350. [PMID: 28100053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b09222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The catalytic activity of proteins is a function of structural changes. Very often these are as minute as protonation changes, hydrogen bonding changes, and amino acid side chain reorientations. To resolve these, a methodology is afforded that not only provides the molecular sensitivity but allows for tracing the sequence of these hierarchical reactions at the same time. This feature article showcases results from time-resolved IR spectroscopy on channelrhodopsin (ChR), light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domain protein, and cryptochrome (CRY). All three proteins are activated by blue light, but their biological role is drastically different. Channelrhodopsin is a transmembrane retinylidene protein which represents the first light-activated ion channel of its kind and which is involved in primitive vision (phototaxis) of algae. LOV and CRY are flavin-binding proteins acting as photoreceptors in a variety of signal transduction mechanisms in all kingdoms of life. Beyond their biological relevance, these proteins are employed in exciting optogenetic applications. We show here how IR difference absorption resolves crucial structural changes of the protein after photonic activation of the chromophore. Time-resolved techniques are introduced that cover the time range from nanoseconds to minutes along with some technical considerations. Finally, we provide an outlook toward novel experimental approaches that are currently developed in our laboratories or are just in our minds ("Gedankenexperimente"). We believe that some of them have the potential to provide new science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman Kottke
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University , Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Joachim Heberle
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin , Arnimalle 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Schnedermann C, Muders V, Ehrenberg D, Schlesinger R, Kukura P, Heberle J. Vibronic Dynamics of the Ultrafast all-trans to 13-cis Photoisomerization of Retinal in Channelrhodopsin-1. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:4757-62. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b12251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Schnedermann
- Physical
and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks
Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Philipp Kukura
- Physical
and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks
Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom
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28
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Guo Y, Beyle FE, Bold BM, Watanabe HC, Koslowski A, Thiel W, Hegemann P, Marazzi M, Elstner M. Active site structure and absorption spectrum of channelrhodopsin-2 wild-type and C128T mutant. Chem Sci 2016; 7:3879-3891. [PMID: 30155032 PMCID: PMC6013792 DOI: 10.1039/c6sc00468g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We show by extensive ground state and absorption spectra simulations that the channelrhodopsin-2 active site samples three different hydrogen-bonding patterns.
In spite of considerable interest, the active site of channelrhodopsin still lacks a detailed atomistic description, the understanding of which could strongly enhance the development of novel optogenetics tools. We present a computational study combining different state-of-the-art techniques, including hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics schemes and high-level quantum chemical methods, to properly describe the hydrogen-bonding pattern between the retinal chromophore and its counterions in channelrhodopsin-2 Wild-Type and C128T mutant. Especially, we show by extensive ground state dynamics that the active site, containing a glutamic acid (E123) and a water molecule, is highly dynamic, sampling three different hydrogen-bonding patterns. This results in a broad absorption spectrum that is representative of the different structural motifs found. A comparison with bacteriorhodopsin, characterized by a pentagonal hydrogen-bonded active site structure, elucidates their different absorption properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Guo
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute of Physical Chemistry , KIT , Kaiserstrasse 12 , 76131 Karlsruhe , Germany . ;
| | - Franziska E Beyle
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute of Physical Chemistry , KIT , Kaiserstrasse 12 , 76131 Karlsruhe , Germany . ;
| | - Beatrix M Bold
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute of Physical Chemistry , KIT , Kaiserstrasse 12 , 76131 Karlsruhe , Germany . ;
| | - Hiroshi C Watanabe
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology , The University of Tokyo , 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku , Tokyo 153-8904 , Japan
| | - Axel Koslowski
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung , Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1 , 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr , Germany
| | - Walter Thiel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung , Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1 , 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr , Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Institute of Biology , Experimental Biophysics , Humboldt-Universität , Invalidenstraße 42 , D-10115 Berlin , Germany
| | - Marco Marazzi
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute of Physical Chemistry , KIT , Kaiserstrasse 12 , 76131 Karlsruhe , Germany . ;
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Department of Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute of Physical Chemistry , KIT , Kaiserstrasse 12 , 76131 Karlsruhe , Germany . ;
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29
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Abstract
After the discovery of Channelrhodopsin, a light-gated ion channel, only a few people saw the diverse range of applications for such a protein. Now, more than 10 years later Channelrhodopsins have become widely accepted as the ultimate tool to control the membrane potential of excitable cells via illumination. The demand for more application-specific Channelrhodopsin variants started a race between protein engineers to design improved variants. Even though many engineered variants have undisputable advantages compared to wild-type variants, many users are alienated by the tremendous amount of new variants and their perplexing names. Here, we review new variants whose efficacy has already been proven in neurophysiological experiments, or variants which are likely to extend the optogenetic toolbox. Variants are described based on their mechanistic and operational properties in terms of expression, kinetics, ion selectivity, and wavelength responsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Wietek
- Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Prigge
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzel 234, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
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30
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Temporal evolution of helix hydration in a light-gated ion channel correlates with ion conductance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E5796-804. [PMID: 26460012 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511462112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of channelrhodopsins introduced a new class of light-gated ion channels, which when genetically encoded in host cells resulted in the development of optogenetics. Channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CrChR2, is the most widely used optogenetic tool in neuroscience. To explore the connection between the gating mechanism and the influx and efflux of water molecules in CrChR2, we have integrated light-induced time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and electrophysiology. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that ion conductance tallies with peptide backbone amide I vibrational changes at 1,665(-) and 1,648(+) cm(-1). These two bands report on the hydration of transmembrane α-helices as concluded from vibrational coupling experiments. Lifetime distribution analysis shows that water influx proceeded in two temporally separated steps with time constants of 10 μs (30%) and 200 μs (70%), the latter phase concurrent with the start of ion conductance. Water efflux and the cessation of the ion conductance are synchronized as well, with a time constant of 10 ms. The temporal correlation between ion conductance and hydration of helices holds for fast (E123T) and slow (D156E) variants of CrChR2, strengthening its functional significance.
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31
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Chen Y, Ren C, Ouyang S, Hu X, Zhou Q. Mitigation in Multiple Effects of Graphene Oxide Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryogenesis Driven by Humic Acid. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:10147-10154. [PMID: 26171725 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO) is a widely used carbonaceous nanomaterial. To date, the influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on GO toxicity in aquatic vertebrates has not been reported. During zebrafish embryogenesis, GO induced a significant hatching delay and cardiac edema. The intensive interactions of GO with the chorion induces damage to chorion protuberances, excessive generation of (•)OH, and changes in protein secondary structure. In contrast, humic acid (HA), a ubiquitous form of NOM, significantly relieved the above adverse effects. HA reduced the interactions between GO and the chorion and mitigated chorion damage by regulating the morphology, structures, and surface negative charges of GO. HA also altered the uptake and deposition of GO and decreased the aggregation of GO in embryonic yolk cells and deep layer cells. Furthermore, HA mitigated the mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress induced by GO. This work reveals a feasible antidotal mechanism for GO in the presence of NOM and avoids overestimating the risks of GO in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chaoxiu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shaohu Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Qixing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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32
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Enlightening the photoactive site of channelrhodopsin-2 by DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015. [PMID: 26216996 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1507713112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a light-gated ion channel. Over recent years, this ion channel has attracted considerable interest because of its unparalleled role in optogenetic applications. However, despite considerable efforts, an understanding of how molecular events during the photocycle, including the retinal trans-cis isomerization and the deprotonation/reprotonation of the Schiff base, are coupled to the channel-opening mechanism remains elusive. To elucidate this question, changes of conformation and configuration of several photocycle and conducting/nonconducting states need to be determined at atomic resolution. Here, we show that such data can be obtained by solid-state NMR enhanced by dynamic nuclear polarization applied to (15)N-labeled channelrhodopsin-2 carrying 14,15-(13)C2 retinal reconstituted into lipid bilayers. In its dark state, a pure all-trans retinal conformation with a stretched C14-C15 bond and a significant out-of-plane twist of the H-C14-C15-H dihedral angle could be observed. Using a combination of illumination, freezing, and thermal relaxation procedures, a number of intermediate states was generated and analyzed by DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR. Three distinct intermediates could be analyzed with high structural resolution: the early [Formula: see text] K-like state, the slowly decaying late intermediate [Formula: see text], and a third intermediate populated only under continuous illumination conditions. Our data provide novel insight into the photoactive site of channelrhodopsin-2 during the photocycle. They further show that DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR fills the gap for challenging membrane proteins between functional studies and X-ray-based structure analysis, which is required for resolving molecular mechanisms.
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33
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Resler T, Schultz BJ, Lórenz-Fonfría VA, Schlesinger R, Heberle J. Kinetic and vibrational isotope effects of proton transfer reactions in channelrhodopsin-2. Biophys J 2015; 109:287-97. [PMID: 26200864 PMCID: PMC4621815 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated cation channels. After blue-light excitation, the protein undergoes a photocycle with different intermediates. Here, we have recorded transient absorbance changes of ChR2 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in the visible and infrared regions with nanosecond time resolution, the latter being accomplished using tunable quantum cascade lasers. Because proton transfer reactions play a key role in channel gating, we determined vibrational as well as kinetic isotope effects (VIEs and KIEs) of carboxylic groups of various key aspartic and glutamic acid residues by monitoring their C=O stretching vibrations in H2O and in D2O. D156 exhibits a substantial KIE (>2) in its deprotonation and reprotonation, which substantiates its role as the internal proton donor to the retinal Schiff base. The unusual VIE of D156, upshifted from 1736 cm(-1) to 1738 cm(-1) in D2O, was scrutinized by studying the D156E variant. The C=O stretch of E156 shifted down by 8 cm(-1) in D2O, providing evidence for the accessibility of the carboxylic group. The C=O stretching band of E90 exhibits a VIE of 9 cm(-1) and a KIE of ∼2 for the de- and the reprotonation reactions during the lifetime of the late desensitized state. The KIE of 1 determined in the time range from 20 ns to 5 ms is incompatible with early deprotonation of E90.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Resler
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Genetic Biophysics at Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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34
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Ritter E, Puskar L, Bartl FJ, Aziz EF, Hegemann P, Schade U. Time-resolved infrared spectroscopic techniques as applied to channelrhodopsin. Front Mol Biosci 2015. [PMID: 26217670 PMCID: PMC4493399 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2015.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Among optogenetic tools, channelrhodopsins, the light gated ion channels of the plasma membrane from green algae, play the most important role. Properties like channel selectivity, timing parameters or color can be influenced by the exchange of selected amino acids. Although widely used, in the field of neurosciences for example, there is still little known about their photocycles and the mechanism of ion channel gating and conductance. One of the preferred methods for these studies is infrared spectroscopy since it allows observation of proteins and their function at a molecular level and in near-native environment. The absorption of a photon in channelrhodopsin leads to retinal isomerization within femtoseconds, the conductive states are reached in the microsecond time scale and the return into the fully dark-adapted state may take more than minutes. To be able to cover all these time regimes, a range of different spectroscopical approaches are necessary. This mini-review focuses on time-resolved applications of the infrared technique to study channelrhodopsins and other light triggered proteins. We will discuss the approaches with respect to their suitability to the investigation of channelrhodopsin and related proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eglof Ritter
- Experimentelle Biophysik, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ljiljana Puskar
- Methods for Material Development, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz J Bartl
- Institut für medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Emad F Aziz
- Methods for Material Development, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin, Germany ; Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Experimentelle Biophysik, Institut für Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schade
- Methods for Material Development, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie GmbH Berlin, Germany
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