title: Effect of n-alcohols on the structure and stability of the Drosophila odorant binding protein LUSH.
abstract: LUSH is an odorant binding protein expressed in the olfactory organs of Drosophila melanogaster that is required for the detection of alcohol in adult flies. Here we demonstrate that, in the absence of ligand, in vitro LUSH exists in a partial molten globule state. The presence of short-chain n-alcohols at pharmacologically relevant concentrations less than 50 mM shifts the conformational equilibrium to a more compact state that exhibits reduced binding of the fluorescent dye 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid. Equilibrium unfolding studies of LUSH-alcohol complexes reveal that, for a series of short-chain n-alcohols, each methylene group can contribute approximately 1 K cal mol(-1) to the overall stability of the protein-alcohol complex. Using NMR spectroscopy, we have identified the regions of LUSH that show increased conformational stability on binding alcohols. These residues primarily line the alcohol-binding pocket. The results presented here provide a direct measure of the degree of stability that alcohol imparts on LUSH. These observations may represent a model for how ethanol can stabilize alternative protein conformations in alcohol-sensitive human proteins and ultimately lead to the observed changes in higher order function throughout the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 12801 East 17th Avenue M/S 8303, P.O. Box 6511, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Brigid K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Schoen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Anna B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Thode
authors.forename: Sylvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: David N M
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates / Q000737:chemistry; D009812:Odorants; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009282:Naphthalenesulfonates; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C045648:odorant-binding protein