Conductance changes produced by light in rod outer segments

MRI of Retinal Free Radical Production With Laminar Resolution In Vivo

Purpose

Recent studies have suggested the hypothesis that quench-assisted 1/T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures free radical production with laminar resolution in vivo without the need of a contrast agent. Here, we test this hypothesis further by examining the spatial and detection sensitivity of quench-assisted 1/T1 MRI to strain, age, or retinal cell layer-specific genetic manipulations.

Methods

We studied: adult wild-type mice; mice at postnatal day 7 (P7); cre dependent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific MnSOD knockout mice; doxycycline-treated Sod2^flox/flox mice lacking the cre transgene; and α-transducin knockout (Gnat1^−/−) mice on a C57Bl/6 background. Transretinal 1/T1 profiles were mapped in vivo in the dark without or with antioxidant treatment, or followed by light exposure. We calibrated profiles spatially using optical coherence tomography.

Results

Dark-adapted RPE-specific MnSOD knockout mice had greater than normal 1/T1 in the RPE and outer nuclear layers that was corrected to wild-type levels by antioxidant treatment. Dark and light Gnat1^−/− mice also had greater than normal outer retinal 1/T1 values. In adult wild-type mice, dark values of 1/T1 in the ellipsoid region and in the outer segment were suppressed by 13 minutes of light. By 29 minutes of light, 1/T1 reduction extended to the outer nuclear layer. Gnat1^−/− mice demonstrated a faster light-evoked suppression of 1/T1 values in the outer retina. In P7 mice, transretinal 1/T1 profiles were the same in dark and light.

Conclusions

Quench-assisted MRI has the laminar resolution and detection sensitivity to evaluate normal and pathologic production of free radicals in vivo.

Conformational energetics of rhodopsin modulated by nonlamellar-forming lipids

Rhodopsin is an important example of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in which 11-cis-retinal is the ligand and acts as an inverse agonist. Photolysis of rhodopsin leads to formation of the activated meta II state from its precursor meta I. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain how the membrane composition affects the meta I-meta II conformational equilibrium in the visual process. For rod disk membranes and recombinant membranes containing rhodopsin, the lipid properties have been discussed in terms of elastic deformation of the bilayer. Here we have investigated the relation of nonlamellar-forming lipids, such as dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), together with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), to the photochemistry of membrane-bound rhodopsin. We conducted flash photolysis experiments for bovine rhodopsin recombined with DOPE/DOPC mixtures (0:100 to 75:25) as a function of pH to explore the dependence of the photochemical activity on the monolayer curvature free energy of the membrane. It is well-known that DOPC forms bilayers, whereas DOPE has a propensity to adopt the nonlamellar, reverse hexagonal (H(II)) phase. In the case of neutral DOPE/DOPC recombinants, calculations of the membrane surface pH confirmed that an increase in DOPE favored the meta II state. Moreover, doubling the PE headgroup content versus the native rod membranes substituted for the polyunsaturated, docosahexaenoic acyl chains (22:6 omega 3), suggesting rhodopsin function is associated with a balance of forces within the bilayer. The data are interpreted by applying a flexible surface model, in which the meta II state is stabilized by lipids tending to form the H(II) phase, with a negative spontaneous curvature. A simple theory, based on principles of surface chemistry, for coupling the energetics of membrane proteins to material properties of the bilayer lipids is described. For rhodopsin, the free energy balance of the receptor and the lipids is altered by photoisomerization of retinal and involves curvature stress/strain of the membrane (frustration). A new biophysical principle is introduced: matching of the spontaneous curvature of the lipid bilayer to the mean curvature of the lipid/water interface adjacent to the protein, which balances the lipid/protein solvation energy. In this manner, the thermodynamic driving force for the meta I-meta II conformational change of rhodopsin is tightly controlled by mixtures of nonlamellar-forming lipids having distinctive material properties.

Lipid headgroup and acyl chain composition modulate the MI-MII equilibrium of rhodopsin in recombinant membranes

A current paradigm for visual function centers on the metarhodopsin I (MI) to metarhodopsin II (MII) conformational transition as the trigger for an intracellular enzyme cascade leading to excitation of the retinal rod. We investigated the influences of the membrane lipid composition on this key triggering event in visual signal transduction using flash photolysis techniques. Bovine rhodopsin was combined with various phospholipids to form membrane recombinants in which the lipid acyl chain composition was held constant at that of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), while the identity of the lipid headgroups was varied. The ratio of MII/MI produced in these recombinants by an actinic flash at 28 degrees C was studied as a function of pH. The results were compared to the photochemical function observed for rhodopsin in native retinal rod outer segment (ROS) membranes, in total native ROS lipid recombinants, and in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) recombinants. In membrane recombinants incorporating lipids derived from egg PC, as well as in the total ROS lipids control and the native ROS disk membranes, MI and MII were found to coexist in a pH-dependent, acid-base equilibrium on the millisecond time scale. The recombinants of rhodopsin with egg PC, either alone or in combination with egg PC-derived phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or phosphatidylserine (PS), exhibited substantially reduced photochemical activity at pH 7.0. However, all recombinants comprising phospholipids with unsaturated acyl chains were capable of full native-like MII production at pH 5.0, confirming previous results [Gibson, N.J.. & Brown, M.F. (1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 169, 1028-1034]. It follows that energetic constraints on the MI and MII states imposed by egg PC-derived acyl chains can be offset by increased activity of H+ ions. The data reveal that the major effect of the membrane lipid composition is to alter the apparent pK for the MI-MII conformational equilibrium of rhodopsin [Gibson, N.J., & Brown, M.F. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 176, 915-921]. Recombinants containing only phosphocholine headgroups exhibited the lowest apparent pK values, whereas the presence of either 50 mol % PE or 15 mol % PS increased the apparent pK. The inability to obtain full native-like function in recombinants having egg PC-derived chains and a native-like headgroup composition indicates a significant role of the polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) chains (22:6 omega 3) of the native retinal rod membrane lipids. Temperature studies of the MI-MII transition enabled an investigation of lipid influences on the thermodynamic parameters of a membrane protein conformational change linked directly to function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Histidine residues regulate the transition of photoexcited rhodopsin to its active conformation, metarhodopsin II

The biologically active photoproduct of rhodopsin, metarhodopsin II (M II), exists in a pH-sensitive equilibrium with its precursor, metarhodopsin I (M I). Increasing acidity favors M II, with the midpoint of the pH titration curve at pH 6.4. To test the long-standing proposal that histidine protonation regulates this conformational transition, we characterized mutant rhodopsins in which each of the 6 histidines was replaced by phenylalanine or cysteine. Only mutants substituted at the 3 conserved histidines showed abnormal M I-M II equilibria. Those in which His-211 was replaced by phenylalanine or cysteine formed little or no M II at either extreme of pH, whereas mutants substituted at His-65 or at His-152 showed enhanced sensitivity to protons. The simplest interpretation of these results is that His-211 is the site where protonation strongly stabilizes the M II conformation and that His-65 and His-152 are sites where protonation modestly destabilizes the M II conformation.

Responses of retinal ganglion cells to eyeball deformation: a neurophysiological basis for "pressure phosphenes"

By means of microelectrodes, the activity of single neurons (on-center, off-center ganglion cells, latency class I and class II neurons) was recorded from the optic tract of anesthetized cats. Eyeball deformation in total darkness led fairly consistently to an activation of the on-center ganglion cells, while off-center ganglion cells were inhibited. The latency and strength of this activation or inhibition seemed to be mainly dependent on the strength of eyeball indentation and the location of the neurons relative to the point of eyeball indentation. Some on-center neurons (mostly latency class I) also exhibited a short activation at "deformation off". For comparison, the responses of retinal ganglion cells to eyeball deformation in a hydrostatically open system and to a sudden increase in the intraocular pressure (closed system) are described. The neurophysiological data are explained by the assumption that eyeball indentation leads to a nonuniform tangential stretch of the retina, which exerts a locally variable depolarization of horizontal cells. This horizontal cell depolarization leads either directly or via a feedback loop through cone pedicles to a depolarization of on-bipolars and a hyperpolarization of off-bipolars. These effects determine in turn the responses seen at the ganglion cell level. It is emphasized that eyeball deformation can be used as an independent tool in transmitter studies of the retina.

Light-induced conductivity changes of purple membrane suspensions in strong electrolytes

Measurements have been made of the modulated light-induced changes in conductivity and the associated relaxation times of bacteriorhodopsin in a variety of strong electrolytes, both unbuffered and buffered. The effects of pH and temperature variation have been studied as well as the effect of adding valinomycin. Two relaxation times can be distinguished: a fast lifetime associated with protonation-deprotonation, and a slow lifetime associated with ion binding. The ion-binding effects appear to be cation specific.

Light-induced conductivity changes in purple membrane suspensions

Small light-induced changes in the conductivity of light-adapted purple membrane suspended in strong electrolyte solutions were detected. The method used involved modulated light and a phase sensitive detector and it allowed us to detect accurately changes as small as 0.0001% in the conductivity of the suspension. The light-induced conductivity changes turned out to be composed of at least two different event: a small fast increase in conductivity (tau approximately 2 ms) followed by a slower and larger decrease in this parameter (tau = 70 ms-80 ms). The effects of pH and temperature on these changes were studied. Both events reached maximal values around neutral pH and approached zero at both high and low pH's. Heating the suspension decreased the photoconductivity change and Arrhenius plots of the data showed breaks around 31 degrees C. It is suggested that the conductivity changes reflect changes in the surface charge of the membrane and can be used to follow the kinetics of the conformational changes occurring in the system.

Antagonistic components of the late receptor potential in the barnacle photoreceptor arising from different stages of the pigment process

The late receptor potential (LRP) recorded in barnacle photoreceptor cells exhibits, at high light levels, a strong dependence on the color of the stimulus and of the preceding adaptation. Most strikingly, red illumination of a cell previously adapted to blue light results in a depolarization which may last for up to 30 min after the light goes off, while blue illumination of a cell previously adapted to red light cuts short this extended depolarization or prevents its induction by a closely following red light. Comparison of the action spectra for the stimulus-coincident LRP and for the extended depolarization and its curtailment with those previously measured for the early receptor potential (ERP) confirms that these phenomena derive from the same bi-stable pigment as the ERP. The stimulus-coincident response and the extended depolarization appear to arise from substantial activation of the stable 532 nm state of the pigment, while activation of the stable 495 state depresses or prevents the extended depolarization and probably also depresses the stimulus-coincident response. Since either process can precede the other, with mutually antagonistic effects, one is not simply the reversal of the other; they must be based on separate mechanisms. Furthermore, comparison with ERP kinetics shows that both processes involve mechanisms additional to the pigment changes, as seen in the ERP. A model is proposed and discussed for the LRP phenomena and their dependences on wavelength, intensity, and duration of illumination based on excitor-inhibitor interactions.

An analysis of light-induced admittance changes in rod outer segments

1. Measurements were made of the time course and amplitude of the change in real part of admittance, DeltaG, of a suspension of frog rod outer segments, following a flash of light bleaching about 1% of the rhodopsin content of the rods. The measurements, based on the use of a specially designed marginal oscillator, covered the frequency range between 500 Hz and 17 MHz.2. The components of response, previously described for rods prepared by a method involving exposure to strongly hypertonic sucrose solutions, are present in similar form when rods are isolated and maintained in isotonic solutions made up with equi-osmotic concentrations of NaCl and sucrose or with Na(2)SO(4).3. Component I, identified as a slowly developing positive DeltaG apparent at very low frequencies, is frequency-independent up to the characteristic frequency of admittance for the suspension, f(Y) (about 2 MHz for rods suspended in a solution having the conductivity of Ringer solution), but decreases at still higher frequencies.4. Component II, identified as a rapidly developing positive DeltaG which appears only above a critical frequency about 2.5 decades below f(Y), increases approximately logarithmically with frequency to reach a limiting amplitude in the region of f(Y).5. The amplitude of component II, DeltaG(II), measured in the region of f(Y), varies linearly with the conductivity of the suspending medium, G(o), under conditions in which the conductivity of the rod interior is also a linear function of the external conductivity. The relation for a flash bleaching 1% of the rhodopsin content of the dark-adapted rod is [Formula: see text]6. Measurements made on rods suspended in a low-conductivity solution, which has the effect of reducing the conductivity of the rod interior to about one ninth its value for rods suspended in Ringer solution, reveal a decline in component II for frequencies above 8 MHz.7. To explain the frequency dependence of component II and its dependence on conductivity, it is proposed that component II arises from a light-induced increase in conductance of the disk membranes which obstruct the longitudinal flow of current through the rod interior except at very high frequencies.8. The disk-membrane conductance increase for rods suspended in a solution having the conductivity of Ringer solution is calculated to be 4.3 x 10(-11) mho/rhodpsin molecule bleached, a value which is similar to what has been found for ionic channels operated by membrane potential change in the nerve membrane and by synaptic transmitter in the postjunctional membrane.9. No component of response has been observed which could be reliably attributed to a surface membrane conductance decrease of the type observed in receptor cells in the retina.

Isolation of components of admittance change in rod outer segments

1. Rods were separated by equilibration on a bovine serum albumin (BSA) density gradient into two major fractions, differing in their response to light.2. In one fraction the response, measured as a change in the real part of admittance DeltaG, appeared to consist exclusively of component I, while in the other, component II was prominent.3. Evidence is presented that component I arose in damaged rods. This follows from observations on rods which have been deliberately damaged by freezing followed by thawing, or by fragmentation.4. In such damaged rods, component II was absent while component I was increased in amplitude.5. The frequency dependence of component I in isolation was characterized as a positive DeltaG of constant amplitude from low frequencies up to the characteristic frequency f(Y) for the major dispersion of admittance. Above this frequency, it declined to a variable extent.6. The frequency dependence of component II observed in isolation was consistent with the previous analysis.7. A negative-going DeltaG is described which was linear with the amount of rhodopsin bleached and which was frequency independent up to the highest frequency of measurement (17 MHz).8. The origins of component I and the negative component are discussed.

Light-induced changes in the electrical impedance of the isolated frog retina

1. An isolated frog retina was mounted in an impedance chamber and superfused on its vitread surface.2. Changes in the real part of the impedance (DeltaR) and also in the imaginary part were measured using alternating current in the frequency range 1-300 kHz passed from one surface of the retina to the other.3. Under most conditions, the response to a flash of light, measured at frequencies below about 100 kHz, was a decrease in the real part of the impedance (DeltaR < 0).4. The geometry of the electrodes was such that the system was particularly sensitive to changes in the impedance of the layer of photo-receptor outer segments. It was confirmed that most of DeltaR did arise here and that it was mediated by the absorption of light in rod photo-pigment.5. The magnitude of DeltaR increased when the channels between the outer segments were constricted, e.g. by osmotic swelling of the outer segments. In addition to this increase, a further increase was seen following the commencement of recording in most of the experiments from which usable measurements were obtained.6. In such retinas, the magnitude of DeltaR was greatest when measured at a frequency in the range 3-32 kHz, the largest changes being of the order of 0.1% of the resting value. A light flash bleaching about 1% of the pigment was sufficient to produce this. The onset of DeltaR was apparent within 1 msec of the flash (at 15 degrees C); it reached a maximum in 0.5-4 sec and then returned towards the base line.7. The main component of DeltaR was attributed to a decrease in the resistance of the spaces between the outer segments. In addition, there was a resistance increase which occurred at some other site, probably the surface membrane. The first of these components had an onset slightly more rapid than the second, and both occurred irrespective of whether the major cation in the superfusate was sodium or potassium.

Passive electrical properties of rod outer segments

1. Measurements on a packed suspension of randomly oriented, dark-adapted frog rods at frequencies of 15 c/s-0.5 Mc/s indicate a behaviour similar to that of other biological materials.2. Results are analysed on the assumption that the low-frequency limiting resistance is determined by current flowing in the suspending medium and that, of the rods, two thirds are oriented perpendicular to the applied field and one third parallel to it. Those parallel to the field are treated as non-conductors.3. From the high-frequency limiting resistance the conductivity of the rod interior is calculated to vary linearly with the conductivity of the medium. The slope of the relation of internal to external conductivity is 0.50 with a limiting internal conductivity (at zero external) of 280 mumho/cm.4. On the assumption that the suspension can be represented as a single-capacitance network, the characteristic frequency of impedance is used to calculate a capacitance for the rod surface of 1.54 muF/cm(2). On the assumption of a distribution in properties of the suspension according to the theory of Bruggeman, the capacitance is calculated to have a value of about one half this.5. At frequencies below 5 kc/s the impedance locus deviates from the curve describing the behaviour at higher frequencies. It is suggested that this may involve conduction in a thin layer extending along the surface of the rod.