Abstract
Purpose:
To elucidate the functional role of central 139-loop on the receptor-binding surface of arrestin-1
Methods:
Deletions of 139-loop and mutations that disrupt its interactions with other elements of the molecule were introduced in wild type arrestin-1 and its enhanced 3A mutant with high binding to unphosphorylated light-activated rhodopsin (Rh*). We tested binding selectivity and thermal stability of these mutants
Results:
Using intra-molecular distance measurements by DEER we detected large movement of arrestin-1 139-loop to the side, away from the incoming receptor, upon its binding to active phosphorhodopsin (P-Rh*). Therefore, we hypothesized that elimination of this loop would promote rhodopsin binding. Deletions of increasing length in 139-loop progressively enhanced arrestin-1 binding to non-preferred forms of rhodopsin: Rh*, dark P-Rh, and phospho-opsin. The interactions of 139-loop with the neighboring finger loop involved in receptor binding were disrupted by charge eliminations and reversals on both sides. These milder perturbations increased arrestin-1 binding to non-preferred forms of rhodopsin, but to a lesser extent. In all cases an increase in binding to Rh*, dark P-Rh, and phospho-opsin correlated with a decrease in thermal stability of the mutants. Similar effects of deletions and mutations in 139-loop on both binding selectivity and thermal stability were observed in the context of WT arrestin-1 and an enhanced 3A mutant. which demonstrates higher binding to non-preferred forms of rhodopsin
Conclusions:
Central 139 loop is an earlier unappreciated element stabilizing basal arrestin-1 conformation and precluding its binding to non-preferred forms of rhodopsin. Thermal stability of the basal state of arrestin-1 directly correlates with its selectivity for P-Rh*. NIH grants EY011500, GM077561, and GM081756 (VVG).
Keywords: 714 signal transduction •
659 protein structure/function •
648 photoreceptors