X-ray diffraction studies on enzymes in the glycolytic pathway

Crystallizing the 6S and 8S spliceosomal assembly intermediates: a complex project

The small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) U1, U2, U4/6 and U5 are major constituents of the pre-mRNA processing spliceosome. They contain a common RNP core that is formed by the ordered binding of Sm proteins onto the single-stranded Sm site of the snRNA. Although spontaneous in vitro, assembly of the Sm core requires assistance from the PRMT5 and SMN complexes in vivo. To gain insight into the key steps of the assembly process, the crystal structures of two assembly intermediates of U snRNPs termed the 6S and 8S complexes have recently been reported. These multimeric protein complexes could only be crystallized after the application of various rescue strategies. The developed strategy leading to the crystallization and solution of the 8S crystal structure was subsequently used to guide a combination of rational crystal-contact optimization with surface-entropy reduction of crystals of the related 6S complex. Conversely, the resulting high-resolution 6S crystal structure was used during the restrained refinement of the 8S crystal structure.

Optimization of crystallization conditions for biological macromolecules

For the successful X-ray structure determination of macromolecules, it is first necessary to identify, usually by matrix screening, conditions that yield some sort of crystals. Initial crystals are frequently microcrystals or clusters, and often have unfavorable morphologies or yield poor diffraction intensities. It is therefore generally necessary to improve upon these initial conditions in order to obtain better crystals of sufficient quality for X-ray data collection. Even when the initial samples are suitable, often marginally, refinement of conditions is recommended in order to obtain the highest quality crystals that can be grown. The quality of an X-ray structure determination is directly correlated with the size and the perfection of the crystalline samples; thus, refinement of conditions should always be a primary component of crystal growth. The improvement process is referred to as optimization, and it entails sequential, incremental changes in the chemical parameters that influence crystallization, such as pH, ionic strength and precipitant concentration, as well as physical parameters such as temperature, sample volume and overall methodology. It also includes the application of some unique procedures and approaches, and the addition of novel components such as detergents, ligands or other small molecules that may enhance nucleation or crystal development. Here, an attempt is made to provide guidance on how optimization might best be applied to crystal-growth problems, and what parameters and factors might most profitably be explored to accelerate and achieve success.

Large-scale experimental studies show unexpected amino acid effects on protein expression and solubility in vivo in E. coli

The biochemical and physical factors controlling protein expression level and solubility in vivo remain incompletely characterized. To gain insight into the primary sequence features influencing these outcomes, we performed statistical analyses of results from the high-throughput protein-production pipeline of the Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium. Proteins expressed in E. coli and consistently purified were scored independently for expression and solubility levels. These parameters nonetheless show a very strong positive correlation. We used logistic regressions to determine whether they are systematically influenced by fractional amino acid composition or several bulk sequence parameters including hydrophobicity, sidechain entropy, electrostatic charge, and predicted backbone disorder. Decreasing hydrophobicity correlates with higher expression and solubility levels, but this correlation apparently derives solely from the beneficial effect of three charged amino acids, at least for bacterial proteins. In fact, the three most hydrophobic residues showed very different correlations with solubility level. Leu showed the strongest negative correlation among amino acids, while Ile showed a slightly positive correlation in most data segments. Several other amino acids also had unexpected effects. Notably, Arg correlated with decreased expression and, most surprisingly, solubility of bacterial proteins, an effect only partially attributable to rare codons. However, rare codons did significantly reduce expression despite use of a codon-enhanced strain. Additional analyses suggest that positively but not negatively charged amino acids may reduce translation efficiency in E. coli irrespective of codon usage. While some observed effects may reflect indirect evolutionary correlations, others may reflect basic physicochemical phenomena. We used these results to construct and validate predictors of expression and solubility levels and overall protein usability, and we propose new strategies to be explored for engineering improved protein expression and solubility.

It's all in the crystals…

Macromolecular crystallography relies on the availability and quality of single crystals; these are typically obtained through extensive screening, which has a very low intrinsic success rate. Crystallization is not a completely stochastic process and many proteins do not succumb to crystallization because of specific microscopic features of their molecular surfaces. It follows that rational surface engineering through site-directed mutagenesis should allow a systematic and significant improvement in crystallization success rates. Here, one such established strategy, surface-entropy reduction (SER), is discussed, including its successes, limitations and possible future developments.

Novel structural features in two ZHX homeodomains derived from a systematic study of single and multiple domains

BACKGROUND

Zhx1 to 3 (zinc-fingers and homeoboxes) form a set of paralogous genes encoding multi-domain proteins. ZHX proteins consist of two zinc fingers followed by five homeodomains. ZHXs have biological roles in cell cycle control by acting as co-repressors of the transcriptional regulator Nuclear Factor Y. As part of a structural genomics project we have expressed single and multi-domain fragments of the different human ZHX genes for use in structure determination.

RESULTS

A total of 30 single and multiple domain ZHX1-3 constructs selected from bioinformatics protocols were screened for soluble expression in E. coli using high throughput methodologies. Two homeodomains were crystallized leading to structures for ZHX1 HD4 and ZHX2 HD2. ZHX1 HD4, although closest matched to homeodomains from 'homez' and 'engrailed', showed structural differences, notably an additional C-terminal helix (helix V) which wrapped over helix I thereby making extensive contacts. Although ZHX2 HD2-3 was successfully expressed and purified, proteolysis occurred during crystallization yielding crystals of just HD2. The structure of ZHX2 HD2 showed an unusual open conformation with helix I undergoing 'domain-swapping' to form a homodimer.

CONCLUSIONS

Although multiple-domain constructs of ZHX1 selected by bioinformatics studies could be expressed solubly, only single homeodomains yielded crystals. The crystal structure of ZHX1 HD4 showed additional hydrophobic interactions relative to many known homeodomains via extensive contacts formed by the novel C-terminal helix V with, in particular, helix I. Additionally, the replacement of some charged covariant residues (which are commonly observed to form salt bridges in non-homeotherms such as the Drosophila 'engrailed' homeodomain), by apolar residues further increases hydrophobic contacts within ZHX1 HD4, and potentially stability, relative to engrailed homeodomain. ZHX1 HD4 helix V points away from the normally observed DNA major groove binding site on homeodomains and thus would not obstruct the putative binding of nucleic acid. In contrast, for ZHX2 HD2 the observed altered conformation involving rearrangement of helix I, relative to the canonical homeodomain fold, disrupts the normal DNA binding site, although protein-protein binding is possible as observed in homodimer formation.

Application of protein engineering to enhance crystallizability and improve crystal properties

Until recently, protein crystallization has mostly been regarded as a stochastic event over which the investigator has little or no control. With the dramatic technological advances in synchrotron-radiation sources and detectors and the equally impressive progress in crystallographic software, including automated model building and validation, crystallization has increasingly become the rate-limiting step in X-ray diffraction studies of macromolecules. However, with the advent of recombinant methods it has also become possible to engineer target proteins and their complexes for higher propensity to form crystals with desirable X-ray diffraction qualities. As most proteins that are under investigation today are obtained by heterologous overexpression, these techniques hold the promise of becoming routine tools with the potential to transform classical crystallization screening into a more rational high-success-rate approach. This article presents an overview of protein-engineering methods designed to enhance crystallizability and discusses a number of examples of their successful application.

Crystallization of a pentapeptide-repeat protein by reductive cyclic pentylation of free amines with glutaraldehyde

The pentapeptide-repeat protein EfsQnr from Enterococcus faecalis protects DNA gyrase from inhibition by fluoroquinolones. EfsQnr was cloned and purified to homogeneity, but failed to produce diffraction-quality crystals in initial crystallization screens. Treatment of EfsQnr with glutaraldehyde and the strong reducing agent borane-dimethylamine resulted in a derivatized protein which produced crystals that diffracted to 1.6 A resolution; their structure was subsequently determined by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion. Analysis of the derivatized protein using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry indicated a mass increase of 68 Da per free amino group. Electron-density maps about a limited number of structurally ordered lysines indicated that the modification was a cyclic pentylation of free amines, producing piperidine groups.

Engineering membrane protein overproduction in Escherichia coli

Membrane proteins play a fundamental role in human disease and therapy, but suffer from a lack of structural and functional information compared to their soluble counterparts. The paucity of membrane protein structures is primarily due to the unparalleled difficulties in obtaining detergent-solubilized membrane proteins at sufficient levels and quality. We have developed an in vitro evolution strategy for optimizing the levels of detergent-solubilized membrane protein that can be overexpressed and purified from recombinant Escherichia coli. Libraries of random mutants for nine membrane proteins were screened for expression using a novel implementation of the colony filtration blot. In only one cycle of directed evolution were significant improvements of membrane protein yield obtained for five out of nine proteins. In one case, the yield of detergent-solubilized membrane protein was increased 40-fold.

An approach to crystallizing proteins by synthetic symmetrization

Previous studies of symmetry preferences in protein crystals suggest that symmetric proteins, such as homodimers, might crystallize more readily on average than asymmetric, monomeric proteins. Proteins that are naturally monomeric can be made homodimeric artificially by forming disulfide bonds between individual cysteine residues introduced by mutagenesis. Furthermore, by creating a variety of single-cysteine mutants, a series of distinct synthetic dimers can be generated for a given protein of interest, with each expected to gain advantage from its added symmetry and to exhibit a crystallization behavior distinct from the other constructs. This strategy was tested on phage T4 lysozyme, a protein whose crystallization as a monomer has been studied exhaustively. Experiments on three single-cysteine mutants, each prepared in dimeric form, yielded numerous novel crystal forms that cannot be realized by monomeric lysozyme. Six new crystal forms have been characterized. The results suggest that synthetic symmetrization may be a useful approach for enlarging the search space for crystallizing proteins.

Protein crystallization: virtual screening and optimization

Advances in genomics have yielded entire genetic sequences for a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. This accumulating information has escalated the demands for three-dimensional protein structure determinations. As a result, high-throughput structural genomics has become a major international research focus. This effort has already led to several significant improvements in X-ray crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance methodologies. Crystallography is currently the major contributor to three-dimensional protein structure information. However, the production of soluble, purified protein and diffraction-quality crystals are clearly the major roadblocks preventing the realization of high-throughput structure determination. This paper discusses a novel approach that may improve the efficiency and success rate for protein crystallization. An automated nanodispensing system is used to rapidly prepare crystallization conditions using minimal sample. Proteins are subjected to an incomplete factorial screen (balanced parameter screen), thereby efficiently searching the entire "crystallization space" for suitable conditions. The screen conditions and scored experimental results are subsequently analyzed using a neural network algorithm to predict new conditions likely to yield improved crystals. Results based on a small number of proteins suggest that the combination of a balanced incomplete factorial screen and neural network analysis may provide an efficient method for producing diffraction-quality protein crystals.

DNA shuffling as a tool for protein crystallization

The success of structural studies performed on an individual target in small scale or on many targets in the system-wide scale of structural genomics depends critically on three parameters: (i) obtaining an expression system capable of producing large quantities of the macromolecule(s) of interest, (ii) purifying this material in soluble form, and (iii) obtaining diffraction-quality crystals suitable for x-ray analysis. The attrition rate caused by these constraints is often quite high. Here, we present a strategy that addresses each of these three parameters simultaneously. Using DNA shuffling to introduce functional sequence variability into a protein of interest, we screened crude lysate supernatants for soluble variants that retain enzymatic activity. Crystallization trials performed on three WT and eight shuffled enzymes revealed two variants that crystallized readily. One of these was used to determine the high-resolution structure of the enzyme by x-ray analysis. The sequence diversity introduced through shuffling efficiently samples crystal packing space by modifying the surface properties of the enzyme. The approach demonstrated here does not require guidance as to the type of mutation necessary for improvements in expression, solubility, or crystallization. The method is scaleable and can be applied in situations where a single protein is being studied or in high-throughput structural genomics programs. Furthermore, it should be readily applied to structural studies of soluble proteins, membrane proteins, and macromolecular complexes.

Rational Protein Crystallization by Mutational Surface Engineering

Protein crystallization constitutes a limiting step in structure determination by X-ray diffraction. Even if single crystals are available, inadequate physical quality may seriously limit the resolution of the available data and consequently the accuracy of the atomic model. Recent studies show that targeted mutagenesis of surface patches containing residues with large flexible side chains and their replacement with smaller amino acids lead to effective preparation of X-ray quality crystals of proteins otherwise recalcitrant to crystallization. Furthermore, this technique can also be used to obtain crystals of superior quality as compared to those grown for the wild-type protein, sometimes increasing the effective resolution by as much as 1 A or more. Several recent examples of this new methodology suggest that the method has the potential to become a routine tool in protein crystallography.

The protein as a variable in protein crystallization

Strategies for growing protein crystals have for many years been essentially empirical, the protein, once purified to a certain homogeneity, being mixed with a selection of crystallization agents selected in a more or less trial-and-error fashion. Screening for the correct conditions has been made easier through automation and by the introduction of commercially available crystallization kits. Many parameters can be changed in these experiments, such as temperature, pH, and ionic strength, but perhaps the most important variable has been ignored, namely the protein. The crystallization properties of a protein vary greatly: some crystallize readily, whereas others have proven extremely difficult or even impossible to obtain in a crystalline state. The possibility of altering the intrinsic characteristics of a protein for crystallization has become a feasible strategy. Some historical perspectives and advances in this area will be reviewed.

Structural genomics of proteins from conserved biochemical pathways and processes

During the past year, X-ray crystallographers and solution NMR spectroscopists have made significant progress towards the complete structural characterization of conserved biochemical pathways and processes. Some of these advances were made in the context of nascent structural genomics programs, which promise to accelerate structural studies of biologically and medically important proteins. The results of high-throughput protein production, crystallization, structure determination, homology modeling and functional annotation published by two such programs have provided insight into the evolution and function of enzymes in the isoprenoid biosynthesis and ribulose monophosphate pathways.

The crystal structure of human phosphoglucose isomerase at 1.6 Å resolution: implications for catalytic mechanism, cytokine activity and haemolytic anaemia

Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) is a multifunctional protein, which, inside the cell, functions as a housekeeping enzyme of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis and, outside the cell, exerts wholly unrelated cytokine properties. We have determined the structure of human PGI to a resolution of 1.6 A using X-ray crystallography. The structure is highly similar to other PGIs, especially the architecture of the active site. Fortuitous binding of a sulphate molecule from the crystallisation solution has facilitated an accurate description of the substrate phosphate-binding site. Comparison with both native and inhibitor-bound rabbit PGI structures shows that two loops move closer to the active site upon binding inhibitor. Interestingly, the human structure most closely resembles the inhibitor-bound structure, suggesting that binding of the phosphate moiety of the substrate may trigger this conformational change. We suggest a new mechanism for catalysis that uses Glu357 as the base catalyst for the isomerase reaction rather than His388 as proposed previously. The human PGI structure has also provided a detailed framework with which to map mutations associated with non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia.

Recoverin, a calcium-binding protein in photoreceptors

Recoverin is a Ca2+-binding protein found primarily in vertebrate photoreceptors. The proposed physiological function of recoverin is based on the finding that recoverin inhibits light-stimulated phosphorylation of rhodopsin. Recoverin interacts with rod outer segment membranes in a Ca2+-dependent manner. This interaction requires N-terminal acylation of recoverin. Four types of fatty acids have been detected on the N-terminus of recoverin, but the functional significance of this heterogeneous acylation is not yet clear.

Future directions for rhodopsin structure and function studies

NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) may be useful for determining the structure of retinal and its environment in rhodopsin, but not for determining the complete protein structure. Aggregation and low yield of fragments of rhodopsin may make them difficult to study by NMR. A long-term multidisciplinary attack on rhodopsin structure is required.

More answers about cGMP-gated channels pose more questions

Our understanding of the molecular properties and cellular role of cGMP-gated channels in outer segments of vertebrate photo-receptors has come from over a decade of studies which have continuously altered and refined ideas about these channels. Further examination of this current view may lead to future surprises and further refine the understanding of cGMP-gated channels.

Cyclic nucleotides as regulators of light-adaptation in photoreceptors

Cyclic nucleotides can regulate the sensitivity of retinal rods to light through phosducin. The phosphorylation state of phosducin determines the amount of G available for activation by Rho*. Phosducin phosphorylation is regulated by cyclic nucleotides through their activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The regulation of phosphodiesterase activity by the noncatalytic cGMP binding sites as well as Ca2+/calmodulin dependent regulation of cGMP binding to the cation channel are also discussed.

Long term potentiation and CaM-sensitive adenylyl cyclase: Long-term prospects

The type I CaM-sensitive adenylyl cyclase is in a position to integrate signals from multiple inputs, consistent with the requirements for mediating long term potentiation (LTP). Biochemical and genetic evidence supports the idea that this enzyme plays an important role inc LTP. However, more work is needed before we will be certain of the role that CaM-sensitive adenylyl cyclases play in LTP.

Modulation of the cGMP-gated channel by calcium

Calcium acting through calmodulin has been shown to regulate the affinity of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels expressed in cell lines. But is calmodulin the Ca-sensor that normally regulates these channels?

How many light adaptation mechanisms are there?

The generally positive response to our target article indicates that most of the commentators accept our contention that light adaptation consists of multiple and possibly redundant mechanisms. The commentaries fall into three general categories. The first deals with putative mechanisms that we chose not to emphasize. The second is a more extended discussion of the role of calcium in adaptation. Finally, additional aspects of cGMP involvement in adaptation are considered. We discuss each of these points in turn.

Gene therapy, regulatory mechanisms, and protein function in vision

Hereditary retinal degeneration due to mutations in visual genes may be amenable to therapeutic interventions that modulate, either positively or negatively, the amount of protein product. Some of the proteins involved in phototransduction are rapidly moved by a lightdependent mechanism between the inner segment and the outer segment in rod photoreceptor cells, and this phenomenon is important in phototransduction.

A novel protein family of neuronal modulators

A number of proteins homologous to recoverin have been identified in the brains of the several vertebrate species. The brainderived members originally contain four EF-hand domains, but NH2- terminal domain is aberrant. Many of these proteins inhibited light-induced rhodopsin phosphorylation at high [Ca2+], suggesting that the brain-derived members may act as a Ca2+-sensitive modulator of receptor phosphorylation, as recoverin does.

The structure of rhodopsin and mechanisms of visual adaptation

Rapidly advancing studies on rhodopsin have focused on new strategies for crystallization of this integral membrane protein for x-ray analysis and on alternative methods for structural determination from nuclear magnetic resonance data. Functional studies of the interactions between the apoprotein and its chromophore have clarified the role of the chromophore in deactivation of opsin and in photoactivation of the pigment.

Crucial steps in photoreceptor adaptation: Regulation of phosphodiesterase and guanylate cyclase activities and Ca2+-buffering

This commentary discusses the balance of phosphodiesterase and guanylate cyclase activities in vertebrate photoreceptors at moderate light intensities. The rate of cGMP hydrolysis and synthesis seem to equal each other. Ca2+ as regulator of both enzyme activities is also effectively buffered in photoreceptor cells by cytoplasmic buffer components.

The atomic structure of visual rhodopsin: How and when?

Strong arguments are presented by Hargrave suggesting that the crystallization of visual rhodopsin for high resolution analysis by X-ray crystallography or electron microscopy is feasible. However, the effort needed to achieve this goal will most likely exceed the resources of a single laboratory and a concerted approach to the research is necessary.

Molecular insights gained from covalently tethering cGMP to the ligand-binding sites of retinal rod cGMP-gated channels

A photoaffinity analog of cGMP has been used to biochemically identify a new ligand-binding subunit of the retinal rod cGMP-activated ion channel, as well as amino acids in contact with cGMP in the original subunit. Covalent tethering of this probe to channels in excised menbrane patches has revealed a functional heteogeneity in the ligand-binding sites that may arise from the two biochemically identified subunits.

Genetic and functional complexity of inherited retinal degeneration

Recent findings emphasize the complexity, both genetic and functional, of the manifold genes and mutations causing inherited retinal degeneration in humans. Knowledge of the genetic bases of these diseases can contribute to design of rational therapy, as well as elucidating the function of each gene product in normal visual processes.

Channel structure and divalent cation regulation of phototransduction

The identification of additional subunits of the cGMP-gated cation channel suggests exciting questions about their regulatory roles and about structure/functional relationships. How do the different subunits interact? How is the complex assembled into the plasma membrane? Divalent cations have been implicated in the regulation of adaptation. One often overlooked cation is magnesium. Could this ion play a role in phototransduction?

Structure of the cGMP-gated channel

The subunit structure of the cGMP-gated cation channel of rod photoreceptors is rapidly being defined, and in the process the mode of regulation by Ca2+-calmodulin unraveled. Intriguingly, early results suggest that additional subunits of unknown function are associated with the channel and remain to be identified.

Linking genotypes with phenotypes in human retinal degenerations: Implications for future research and treatment

Although undoubtedly it will be incomplete by the time it is published, the target article by Daiger et al. organizes mutations in genes that produce retinal degenerations in humans into categories of clinically relevant phenotypes. Such classifications should help us understand the link between altered photoreceptor cell proteins and subsequent cell death, and they may yield insight into methods for preventing consequent blindness.

Genetic and clinical heterogeneity in tapetal retinal dystrophies

Large scale DNA-mutation screening in patients with hereditary retinal diseases greatly enhances our knowledge about retinal function and diseases. Scientists, clinicians, patients, and families involved with retinal disorders may directly benefit from these developments. However, certain aspects of this expanding knowledge, such as the correlation between genotype and phenotype, may be much more complicated than we expect at present.

The determination of rhodopsin structure may require alternative approaches

The structure of rhodopsin is a subject of intense interest. Solving the structure by traditional methods has proved exceedingly challenging. It may therefore be useful to confront the problem by a combination of alternate techniques. These include FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscopy) on the intact protein. Furthermore, additional insights may be gained through structural investigations of discrete rhodopsin domains.

Na-Ca + K exchanger and Ca2+ homeostasis in retinal rod outer segments: Inactivation of the Ca2+ efflux mode and possible involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores in Ca2+ homeostasis

Inactivation of the Ca2+ extrusion mode of the retinal rod Na- Ca + K exchanger is suggested to be the mechanism that prevents lowering of cytosolic free Ca2+ to < 1 nM when rod cells are saturated for a prolonged time under bright light conditions. Under these conditions, Ca2+ fluxes across disk membranes can contribute significantly to Ca2+ homeostasis in rods.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the structure and function of rhodopsin

Magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR methods provide a means of obtaining high resolution structural data on rhodopsin and its photoin termediates. Current work has focused on the structure of the retinal chromophore and its interactions with surrounding protein charges. The recent development of MAS NMR methods for measuring internuclear distances with a resolution of ∼0.2 will complement diffraction methods for addressing key mechanistic questions.

Glutamate accumulation in the photoreceptor-presumed final common path of photoreceptor cell death

Genetic abnormalities of three factors related to the photoreceptor mechanism have been reported in both animal models and humans. Apoptotic mechanism has also been suggested as a final common pathway of photoreceptor cell death. Our findings of increased level of glutamate in photoreceptor cells in rds mice suggest that amino acid might mediate between these two pathological mechanisms.

Unique lipids and unique properties of retinal proteins

Amino-terminal heteroacylation has been identified in retinal proteins including recoverin and α subunit of G-protein, transducin. The tissue-specific modification seems to mediate not only a proteinmembrane interaction but also a specific protein-protein interaction. The mechanism generating the heterogeneity and its physiological role are still unclear, but an interesting idea for the latter postulates a fine regulation of the signal transduction pathway by distinct N-acyl groups.

Further insight into the structural and regulatory properties of the cGMP-gated channel

Recent studies from several different laboratories have provided further insight into structure-function relationships of cyclic nucleotide-gated channel and in particular the cCMPgated channel of rod photoreceptors. Site-directed mutagenesis and rod-olfactory chimeria constructs have defined important amino acids and peptide segments of the channel that are important in ion blockage, ligand specificity, and gating properties. Molecular cloning studies have indicated that cyclic nucleotide-gated channels consist of two subunits that are required to reproduce the properties of the native channels. Biochemical analysis of the cGMP-gated channel of rodcells have indicated that the 240 kDa protein that co-purifies with the 63 kDa channel subunit contains both the previously cloned second subunit of the channel and a glutamic acid-rich protein. The regulatory properties of the cGMP-gated channel from rod cells has also been studied in more detail. Studies indicate that the beta subunit of the cGMP-gated channel of rod cells contains the binding site for calmodulin. Interaction of calmodulin with the channel alters the apparent affinity of the channel for cGMP in all in vitro systems that have been studied. The significance of these recent studies are discussed in relation to the commentaries on the target article.