title: Functional stability of rhodopsin in a bicelle system: evaluating G protein activation by rhodopsin in bicelles.
abstract: Rhodopsin is a prototypical member of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This photoreceptor is responsible for initiating the visual signaling transduction cascade upon interaction with its heterotrimeric G protein, transducin (Gt), after light activation. Like all transmembrane proteins, rhodopsin is embedded within a phospholipid bilayer. Many studies have proposed that the membrane composition of this bilayer is an important factor for receptor function during the activation process. Here we describe the methods and assays used to evaluate the function of purified and reconstituted rhodopsin in bicelles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 442 Robinson Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232-6600, USA.
authors.forename: Ali I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.forename: Heidi E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hamm
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; D012243:Rhodopsin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins