title: Rhodopsin-G-protein interactions monitored by resonance energy transfer.
abstract: Resonance energy transfer measurements were implemented to monitor the specific interactions between G-protein and rhodopsin in phospholipid vesicles reconstituted with the purified proteins. Fluorescently labeled G-protein was extracted from bleached rod outer segments (ROS) reacted with several sulfhydryl reagents: N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (P), monobromobimane (B), 7-(diethylamino)-3-(4-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (C), and N-(4-anilino-1-naphthyl)maleimide (A). Limited labeling of ROS, resulting in the modification of less than a single -SH residue per G-protein molecule and less than 0.2 residue per rhodopsin, did not impair the specific in situ interactions between rhodopsin and G-protein. This was demonstrated by preservation of their light-activated tight association and Gpp(NH)p binding and their fast dissociation with excess GTP. The distribution of fluorescent label among the three subunits of G-protein revealed a highly reactive -SH group in the gamma subunit accessible to labeling when G-protein was bound specifically to bleached rhodopsin. Recombination of purified fluorescent derivatives of G-protein with purified rhodopsin reconstituted in lipid vesicles restored the light-activated Gpp(NH)p binding to a level comparable to that measured with unlabeled G-protein. Similar observations were obtained with ROS depleted of peripheral proteins. Likewise, modification of up to two -SH groups per rhodopsin molecule with the fluorescent reagents did not affect the functional recombination of G-protein with rhodopsin in reconstituted lipid vesicles or in depleted ROS. Interactions between rhodopsin and G-protein were monitored by resonance energy transfer measurements, with the following fluorescent conjugates as donor/acceptor couples: P-rhodopsin/C-G-protein, P-rhodopsin/B-G-protein, and P-G-protein/C-rhodopsin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Borochov-Neori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004735:Energy Transfer; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006165:Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011485:Protein Binding; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D006165:Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; D012243:Rhodopsin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins