title: Suramin affects coupling of rhodopsin to transducin.
abstract: Suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea, is under investigation for the treatment of several cancers. It interferes with signal transduction through G(s), G(i), and G(o), but structural and kinetic aspects of the molecular mechanism are not well understood. Here, we have investigated the influence of suramin on coupling of bovine rhodopsin to G(t), where G-protein activation and receptor structure can be monitored by spectroscopic in vitro assays. G(t) fluorescence changes in response to rhodopsin-catalyzed nucleotide exchange reveal that suramin inhibits G(t) activation by slowing down the rate of complex formation between metarhodopsin-II and G(t). The metarhodopsin-I/-II photoproduct equilibrium, GTPase activity, and nucleotide uptake by G(t) are unaffected. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the structure of rhodopsin, metarhodopsin-II, and the metarhodopsin-II G(t) complex is also not altered. Instead, suramin dissociates G(t) from disk membranes in the dark, whereas metarhodopsin-II G(t) complexes are stable. Förster resonance energy transfer suggests a suramin-binding site near Trp(207) on the G(t alpha) subunit (K(d) approximately 0.5 microM). The kinetic analyses and the structural data are consistent with a specific perturbation by suramin of the membrane attachment site on G(t alpha). Disruption of membrane anchoring may contribute to some of the effects of suramin exerted on other G-proteins.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekulare Medizin und Zellforschung, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Gopala
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishna Aradhyam
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fahmy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002417:Cattle; D002453:Cell Cycle; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000737:chemistry*; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015293:Transducin / Q000737:chemistry*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013498:Suramin; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D014364:Tryptophan; D012243:Rhodopsin; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D015293:Transducin