Light- and nucleotide-dependent binding of phosphodiesterase to rod disk membranes: correlation with light-scattering changes and vesicle aggregation

Under conditions in which large guanosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate (cGMP)- and phosphodiesterase (PDE)-dependent changes in near-infrared transmission and vesicle aggregation and disaggregation occur, we have observed a striking change in the binding of PDE to rod disk membranes. The change in PDE binding is nucleotide and light dependent as are the light-scattering changes. The cGMP- and PDE-dependent light-scattering signal can be produced by a 500-nm light flash which bleaches 1/(1 X 10(7] rhodopsin molecules. Mg ions are an essential cofactor for the nucleotide-dependent PDE binding and light-scattering changes. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and other competitive inhibitors of PDE hydrolytic activity support increased PDE binding to the disk membrane, vesicle aggregation, and the light-scattering signal. However, treatments which block GTP-dependent activation of PDE hydrolytic activity (colchicine, GDP, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) also block these phenomena. Thus, GTP-dependent activation of PDE rather than its hydrolytic activity appears to be correlated with the light-scattering signal.     

Conformation changes of cuttlefish (Euprymna morsei) rhodopsin following photoconversion

Cuttlefish (Euprymna morsei) rhodopsin solubilized in lauryl ester of sucrose and its photoproduct, acid metarhodopsin, were examined by small-angle X-ray scattering and chromatofocusing to investigate the conformation changes of visual pigment following photoconversion. From spectroscopic studies, it was found that more than 93% of Euprymna rhodopsin could be converted to meta form under the condition of red light irradiation at neutral pH. Since almost pure acid metarhodopsin solution was prepared without changing the specimen concentration, the small-angle X-ray scattering intensities of both pigment-detergent complexes were directly compared. The radius of gyration increased on going from rhodopsin to acid metarhodopsin by approximately 1.5%. There were also discernible changes in the secondary peak intensities. The distribution function, derived by the Fourier transformation of intensity data, showed a significant change around 55 A. The maximum linear dimension of the rhodopsin-detergent complex was about 95 A and hardly changed after illumination. Intensity at zero angle did not change after illumination, suggesting that the aggregation did not occur. The change of the intensity profile could be due to the conformational change of the pigment-detergent monomers. The pI value of rhodopsin determined by chromatofocusing was 5.32 and that of acid metarhodopsin was 5.06, indicating that a few carboxyl groups are newly dissociated. The shift of the protein mass and the charge redistribution were observed following photoconversion.     

Structural study of rhodopsin in detergent micelles by small-angle neutron scattering

Monodisperse solutions of bovine rhodopsin monomers, devoid of lipid, associated with a linear polyoxyethylene alcohol detergent have been prepared. The composition and homogeneity of these complexes have been determined by hydrodynamic characterisation. Each rhodopsin molecule is associated with about 110 monomers of the detergent. These rhodopsin-detergent complexes have been studied by small-angle neutron scattering. Partial or total deuteration of the detergent, as well as variation of the ²H₂O/H₂O ratio in the solvent, were used to eliminate the detergent—solvent contrast at various protein—solvent contrasts. The size and shape of the detergent micelle and of the rhodopsin-detergent complexes were shown to be independent of solvent or detergent deuteration. Mixture of selectively deuterated detergent molecules allowed us to obtain an homogeneous scattering density for the detergent part of the micelles and therefore to eliminate totally its contribution to the scattering when it is contrast matched. Neutron scattering from rhodopsin alone was then measured even in highly deuterated solvents, with low incoherent background, as for a water-soluble protein. Supplementary neutron scattering measurements on rhodopsin-dodecyl dimethylamine oxide micelles confirmed essentially the results reported by Yeager (1975). Analysis of the neutron scattering data indicates that most of the hydrophobic residues of rhodopsin form a compact region which has zero hydration, this probably being the part which is embedded in the disc membrane, and that the unhydrated rhodopsin molecule is asymmetrically arranged with respect to the membrane. Comparison with the results of a small-angle X-ray scattering study (Sardet et al., 1976) implies that the peripheral regions on both sides of the membrane are highly hydrated. Several schematic models are discussed.     

Reversible Liposome Association Induced by LAH4: A Peptide with Potent Antimicrobial and Nucleic Acid Transfection Activities

We report on the reversible association of anionic liposomes induced by an antimicrobial peptide (LAH4). The process has been characterized for mixed membranes of POPC and POPS at molar ratios of 1:1, 3:1, and 9:1. Although the vesicles remain in suspension in the presence of excess amounts of peptide, the addition of more lipids results in surface charge neutralization, aggregation of the liposomes, and formation of micrometer-sized structures that coexist in equilibrium with vesicles in suspension. At low ratios of anionic lipids, vesicle aggregation is a reversible process, and vesicle disassembly is observed upon inversion of the surface charge by further supplementation with anionic vesicles. In contrast, a different process, membrane fusion, occurs in the presence of high phosphatidylserine concentrations. Upon binding to membranes containing low POPS concentrations, the peptide adopts an in-plane α-helical structure, a secondary structure that is conserved during vesicle association and dissociation. Our finding that peptides are essential for vesicle aggregation contributes to a better understanding of the activity of antimicrobial peptides, and suggests an additional layer of complexity in membrane-protein lipid interactions.     

Thermal denaturation of Bungarus fasciatus acetylcholinesterase: Is aggregation a driving force in protein unfolding?

A monomeric form of acetylcholinesterase from the venom of Bungarus fasciatus is converted to a partially unfolded molten globule species by thermal inactivation, and subsequently aggregates rapidly. To separate the kinetics of unfolding from those of aggregation, single molecules of the monomeric enzyme were encapsulated in reverse micelles of Brij 30 in 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, or in large unilamellar vesicles of egg lecithin/cholesterol at various protein/micelle (vesicle) ratios. The first-order rate constant for thermal inactivation at 45 degrees C, of single molecules entrapped within the reverse micelles (0.031 min(-1)), was higher than in aqueous solution (0.007 min(-1)) or in the presence of normal micelles (0.020 min(-1)). This clearly shows that aggregation does not provide the driving force for thermal inactivation of BfAChE. Within the large unilamellar vesicles, at average protein/vesicle ratios of 1:1 and 10:1, the first-order rate constants for thermal inactivation of the encapsulated monomeric acetylcholinesterase, at 53 degrees C, were 0.317 and 0.342 min(-1), respectively. A crosslinking technique, utilizing the photosensitive probe, hypericin, showed that thermal denaturation produces a distribution of species ranging from dimers through to large aggregates. Consequently, at a protein/vesicle ratio of 10:1, aggregation can occur upon thermal denaturation. Thus, these experiments also demonstrate that aggregation does not drive the thermal unfolding of Bungarus fasciatus acetylcholinesterase. Our experimental approach also permitted monitoring of recovery of enzymic activity after thermal denaturation in the absence of a competing aggregation process. Whereas no detectable recovery of enzymic activity could be observed in aqueous solution, up to 23% activity could be obtained for enzyme sequestered in the reverse micelles.     

Measurement of fast light-induced disc shrinkage within bovine rod outer segments by means of a light-scattering transient

A fast light-induced light-scattering transient, previously found in rod outer segment suspension, the so-called P-signal (Hofmann, K.P., Uhl, R., Hoffmann, W. and Kreutz, W. (1976) Biophys. Struct. Mechanism 2, 61–77), is described in more detail.The effect has the same action spectrum as rhodopsin bleaching. It is not regenerated with 11-cis retinal.The response is not linear with light-intensity for flashes which bleach more than 2.0% of rhodopsin; it saturates at an intensity corresponding to 15% rhodopsin bleaching.The wavelength- and scattering angle dependence lead to the conclusion that the change in light-scattering reflects a shrinkage of an osmotic compartment of the rod outer segment.The only compartment which we found to be intact in our rod outer segment preparations was the disc or rod sac; therefore, the effect must be attributed to a light-induced shrinkage of the rhodopsin-containing disc organelles.The overall effect (15% of rhodopsin is bleached) is in the range of 0.5–1.5% of the original volume.A light-induced passive cation-efflux from the disc, e.g. of Ca²⁺, can be ruled out as a possible molecular origin of the disc-shrinkage in our preparations.     

Light-scattering from detergent-complexed biological macromolecules

A theory is described for Rayleigh light-scattering from solutions of detergent-complexed macromolecules applicable to measurements carried out under conditions of Donnan equilibrium. The theory shows that when scattering measurements are made on detergent-solubilized macromolecules in the presence of detergent micelles the apparent Mr is dependent on the extent of detergent binding and effective charge on the detergent-macromolecule complex and the micellar charge and aggregation number. Equations are given for the apparent Mr of the macromolecule under limiting conditions of high salt and low salt concentration. Low-angle laser-light-scattering measurements were made on lysozyme complexed with sodium n-dodecyl sulphate both in the absence and in the presence of detergent micelles. These experimentally obtained data were used in conjunction with the detergent-binding isotherm to test the theory at high ionic strength. Light-scattering measurements were also made on detergent-saturated complexes as a function of ionic strength and pH. The results are in reasonable accord with both the qualitative and the quantitative predictions of the theory.     

Free energy potential for aggregation of mixed phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine lipid vesicles in glucose polymer (dextran) solutions.

The energetics of lipid vesicle-vesicle aggregation in dextran (36,000 mol wt) solutions have been studied with the use of micromechanical experiments. The affinities (free energy reduction per unit area of contact) for vesicle-vesicle aggregation were determined from measurements of the tension induced in an initially flaccid vesicle membrane as it adhered to another vesicle. The experiments involved controlled aggregation of single vesicles by the following procedure: two giant (approximately 20 micron diam) vesicles were selected from a chamber on the microscope stage that contained the vesicle suspension and transferred to a second chamber that contained a dextran (36,000 mol wt) salt solution (120 mM); the vesicles were then maneuvered into position for contact. One vesicle was aspirated with sufficient suction pressure to create a rigid sphere outside the pipette; the other vesicle was allowed to spread over the rigid vesicle surface. The aggregation potential (affinity) was derived from the membrane tension vs. contact area. Vesicles were formed from mixture of egg lecithin (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS). For vesicles with a PC/PS ratio of 10:1, the affinity showed a linear increase with concentration of dextran; the values were on the order of 10(-1) ergs/cm2 at 10% by weight in grams. Similarly, pure PC vesicle aggregation was characterized by an affinity value of 1.5 X 10(-1) ergs/cm2 in 10% dextran by weight in grams. In 10% by weight in grams solutions of dextran, the free energy potential for vesicle aggregation decreased as the surface charge (PS) was increased; the affinity extrapolated to zero at a PC/PS ratio of 2:1. When adherent vesicle pairs were transferred into a dextran-free buffer, the vesicles did not spontaneously separate. They maintained adhesive contact until forceably separated, after which they would not read here. Thus, it appears that dextran forms a "cross-bridge" between the vesicle surfaces.     

Inactivation of photoexcited rhodopsin in retinal rods: the roles of rhodopsin kinase and 48-kDa protein (arrestin)

The inactivation of excited rhodopsin in the presence of ATP, rhodopsin kinase, and/or arrestin has been studied from its effect on the two subsequent steps in the light-induced enzymatic cascade: metarhodopsin II catalyzed activation of G-protein and G-protein-dependent activation of cGMP phosphodiesterase. The inactivation of G-protein (from light-scattering measurements) and that of phosphodiesterase (from measurements of cGMP hydrolysis) have been studied and compared in reconstituted systems containing various combinations of the proteins involved (rhodopsin, G-protein, phosphodiesterase, kinase, and arrestin). Our results show that rhodopsin kinase alone can terminate the activation of G-protein and that arrestin speeds up the process at a relative concentration similar to that reported in the rod (half-maximal effect at 50 nM for 4.4 microM rhodopsin). Measurements of rhodopsin phosphorylation under identical conditions show that in the presence of arrestin total metarhodopsin II inactivation is achieved when only 0.5-1.4 phosphates are bound per bleached rhodopsin, whereas in the absence of arrestin it requires binding of 12-16 phosphates per bleached rhodopsin. Phosphodiesterase activity can similarly be turned off by kinase, and the process is similarly accelerated by arrestin.     

Influence of dilution on the physical state of model bile systems: NMR and quasi-elastic light-scattering investigations

Multinuclear (1H and 31P) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and quasi-elastic light scattering have been used to characterize molecular aggregates formed in dilute sodium taurocholate--egg lecithin solutions. When mixed micelles (1.25 g/dL) are diluted with 150 mM aqueous sodium chloride, light-scattering measurements suggest a transformation from mixed micelles to unilamellar vesicle species. Decreased 1H NMR line widths for bile salt resonances are consistent with predominance of a monomer form. The concurrent appearance of a second phospholipid choline methyl resonance indicates two types of phospholipid environment in slow chemical exchange: this behavior is consistent with small unilamellar vesicles. The appearance of bilayer vesicles in dilute model bile solutions is confirmed by addition of a lanthanide shift reagent (Pr3+), which splits the 1H or 31P head-group peak into two components with distinct chemical shift sensitivities. These mixed micelle and vesicle aggregates are also distinguished by their susceptibility to the lipolytic enzyme phospholipase A2 from cobra venom.     

Effects of detergent micelles on the recombination reaction of opsin and 11-cis-retinal

When detergent-solubilized proteins interact with hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules in the presence of detergent micelles, the solubility of the latter species in the micelles must be included in both thermodynamic and kinetic treatments. In this paper, we derive equations which describe the distribution of species present at equilibrium for a system in which a detergent-solubilized protein binds a hydrophobic (or amphiphilic) ligand. We have applied the formalism developed in this paper to the reaction describing the formation of rhodopsin from its apoprotein and 11-cis-retinal. Qualitatively, the results demonstrate that a significant portion of the observed decrease in the extent of recombination for rhodopsin solubilized in either sodium cholate or Tween 80 may be attributed to the partition of retinal into detergent micelles and that a detergent-induced protein denaturation need not be invoked to explain the data. We also discuss results for rhodopsin solubilized in a nonionic detergent (octaethylene glycol n-dodecyl ether) in which the detergent is clearly causing irreversible loss of the capability to recombine with 11-cis-retinal.     

Interaction of bovine rhodopsin with calcium ions. I: the metarhodopsin I--II reaction and the regeneration of rhodopsin.

The formation of metarhodopsin II in various bovine rhodopsin preparations (rod outer segment (ROS) suspensions and rhodopsin-detergent solutions) was measured by means of flash spectrophotometry. The half-lifetime and formation of metarhodopsin II in ROS did not depend on the calcium concentration in the range of less than 10(-9) M (using EGTA ro EDTA) to 15 x 10(-3) M calcium at pH values of 5.0, 7.1, and 9.0 (Table 1). The regeneration of rhodopsin from opsin by adding 11-cis retinal to ROS-suspensions and rhodopsin digitonin solutions was measured spectrophotometrically. It was not substantially different in either saline, one containing less than 10(-7) M calcium (by adding EGTA), the other containing 10(-3) M calcium (Table 2).     

Periodic cell aggregation in suspensions of Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract. Periodic activities of Dictyostelium discoideum can be observed in cell suspension as two types of oscillations in the light-scattering properties, spike-shaped and sinusoidal. Responses of suspended cells to applied chemoattractants are also reflected by transient changes in light scattering. Alterations in the light-scattering properties are due to structural changes such as changes in cell shape and/or changes in the size of cell aggregates. Therefore, changes in the aggregation state during autonomous oscillations and during attractant-induced responses were investigated. In order to be able to withdraw multiple samples and larger sample volumes from optically monitored cell suspensions, a photometer comprising glass fiber optics immersable in a cell suspension was constructed. Samples were fixed with formaldehyde and photographed. The aggregation state of the samples was quantified by counting the number of particles (cells and cell aggregates) per volume. Folic acid elicited in suspensions of undifferentiated cells a transient decrease in the number of particles per volume as did cAMP in suspensions of preaggregation cells. Periodic changes in the number of particles per volume occurred synchronously with spike-shaped and sinusoidal oscillations. The relative amplitude of the oscillations in particle number was larger during sinusoids than during spikes. Photographs showed periodic changes in the aggregate size during sinusoidal oscillations. In each cycle, the cell-aggregation phase was followed by a phase of partial disaggregation. The recurring loosening of cell-cell contacts may be relevant for sorting out the different cell types. The potential role of contact site as synchronizer and as constituent of an oscillator is discussed.     

Orientation of Intermediates in the Bleaching of Shear-Oriented Rhodopsin

Cattle rhodopsin can be highly oriented by shearing a wet paste of digitonin micelles of this visual pigment between two quartz slides. This orients the rhodopsin micelles so that their chromophores lie mainly parallel to the direction of shear. In such preparations the orientation of rhodopsin and intermediates of its bleaching by light have been measured with plane-polarized light from -195°C to room temperature. The chromophore maintains essentially the same orientation as in rhodopsin in all the intermediates of bleaching: bathorhodopsin (prelumirhodopsin), lumirhodopsin, and metarhodopsins I and II. When, however, the retinaldehyde chromophore is hydrolyzed from opsin in the presence of hydroxylamine, the retinaldehyde oxime that results rotates so as to lie mainly across the direction of shear. That is, the retinal oxime, though free, orients itself upon the oriented matrix of the opsin-digitonin micelles. These experiments show the rhodopsin-digitonin micelle to be markedly asymmetric, with the chromophore lying parallel to its long axis. The asymmetry could originate in the formation of the micelle, in rhodopsin itself, or by its linear polymerization under the conditions of the experiment. If rhodopsin itself is markedly asymmetric, for which there is some evidence, then, since in the rod outer segments its chromophores lie parallel to the disk membranes, the molecules themselves must lie with their long axes parallel to the membranes.     

Segregation of modified bacteriorhodopsin aggregations in reconstituted vesicle membrane induced by the change of thermodynamical parameters

It was clearly shown that the change in thermodynamical parameters could cause the segregation of membrane protein aggregations in the phospholipid membrane. At first, reconstituted vesicles were prepared with a membrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin and a constituent phospholipid of biomembranes, L-alpha-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine. When the temperature of the suspension was decreased or the osmotic pressure was increased by adding poly(ethylene glycol) to this vesicle suspension at 23 degrees, the circular dichroism spectra showed a typical band indicating bacteriorhodopsin trimer formation implying their aggregation. This suggests that the aggregation of trimers proceeded by adding poly(ethylene glycol) into vesicle suspension, just as it proceeded by decreasing the temperature. Next, vesicles were prepared with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bacteriorhodopsin, photoemissive bacteriorhodopsin and L-alpha-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine. The excitation energy transfer between the two modified proteins was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. In this case, however, when poly(ethylene glycol) was added into the suspension, the yield of the excitation energy transfer decreased. This result indicates that modified proteins aggregate separately in a segregated form in the vesicle membrane.     

Assembly of the membrane attack complex of complement on small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles

Light-scattering intensity was shown to be a reliable, direct, and quantitative technique for monitoring the assembly of the membrane attack complex of complement (proteins C5b-6, C7, C8, and C9) on small unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The assembly on vesicles occurred in a simple fashion; complexes of C5b-7 bound noncooperatively to the vesicles, and final assembly of C5b-9 did not induce vesicle aggregation or fragmentation. When C5b-6 and C7 were mixed in the presence of vesicles but at molar protein/vesicle ratios of less than 1, there was quantitative binding of C5b-7 to the vesicles with no concomitant aggregation of C5b-7. If C7 was added at a slower rate, quantitative binding was obtained at molar C5b-7/vesicle ratios of up to 5. The latter observations (a) were consistent with the proposal that C5b-7 aggregation and membrane binding were competitive events and (b) defined conditions under which light-scattering intensity measurements could monitor C5b-9 assembly on vesicles without contribution from the fluid-phase assembly. The C8/C5b-7 ratio in the phospholipid-C5b-8 complex was 0.97 +/- 0.12, and the maximum ratio of C9/C5b-8 in the final complex was 16.2 +/- 2.0. One C9 molecule associated rapidly with each phospholipid-C5b-8, followed by slower incorporation of the remaining C9 molecules. The initial velocity of the slow phase of C9 addition was easily saturated with C9 and gave an activation energy of 37 kcal/mol. This was identical with the value measured for the analogous process in the fluid-phase assembly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sulfhydryl group modification of photoreceptor G-protein prevents its light-induced binding to rhodopsin

The effect of sulfhydryl modification on the light-induced interaction between rhodopsin and the peripheral GTP-binding protein of the photoreceptor membrane (G-protein) has been investigated by time-resolved near-infrared light-scattering and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It has been found that the modification of rhodopsin with the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) does not affect its light-induced interaction with the G-protein. Modification of G-protein with NEM or other sulfhydryl agents prevents any light-induced binding to rhodopsin. Dark-association of G to the membrane as well as the light-induced complex with rhodopsin (once formed) is insensitive to NEM.     

Free energy potential for aggregation of erythrocytes and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine vesicles in Dextran (36,500 MW) solutions and in plasma.

The free energy potential (affinity) for aggregation of human red blood cells and lipid vesicles in Dextran solutions and blood plasma has been quantitated by measuring to what extent a vesicle is encapsulated by the red cell surface. The free energy reduction per unit area of contact formation (affinity) was computed from the observation of the fractional extent of encapsulation at equilibrium with the use of a relation based on the elastic compliance of the red cell membrane as it is deformed to adhere to the vesicle surface. Micromanipulation methods were used to select and transfer single lipid vesicles (2-3 X 10(-4) cm diameter) from a chamber that contained the vesicle suspension to a separate chamber on the microscope stage that contained red cells in an EDTA buffer with Dextran or whole plasma. The vesicle and a red cell were maneuvered into close proximity and contact allowed to take place without forcing the cells together. To evaluate the effects of surface charge density and steric interactions on aggregation, vesicles were made from mixtures of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and bovine phosphatidylserine (PS) over a range of mole ratios (PC/PS)from (1:0) to (1:1); the vesicles were formed by rehydration in buffer. The Dextran solutions were made with a sharp-cut fraction of 36,500 MW in a concentration range of 0-10% by weight in grams (wt/wt).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transverse location of the retinal chromophore of rhodopsin in rod outer segment disc membranes

Diffusion-enhanced fluorescence energy transfer was used to study the structure of photoreceptor membranes from bovine retinal rod outer segments. The fluorescent energy donor was Tb³⁺ chelated to dipicolinate and the acceptor was the 11-cis retinal chromophore of rhodopsin in vesicles made from disc membranes. The rapid-diffusion limit for energy transfer was attained in these experiments because of the long excited state lifetime of the terbium donor (~2 ms). Under these conditions, energy transfer is very sensitive to a, the distance of closest approach between the donor and acceptor (Thomas et al., 1978). Vesicles containing terbium dipicolinate in their inner aqueous space were prepared by sonicating disc membranes in the presence of this chelate and chromatographing this mixture on a gel filtration column. The sidedness of rhodopsin in these vesicles was the same as in native disc membranes. The transfer efficiency from terbium to retinal in this sample was 43%. For an R₀ value of 46.7 Å and an average vesicle diameter of 650 Å, this corresponds to an a value of 22 Å from the inner aqueous space of the vesicle. The distance of closest approach from the external aqueous space, determined by adding terbium dipicolinate to a suspension of already formed vesicles, was found to be 28 Å. These values of a show that the retinal chromophore is far from both aqueous surfaces of the disc membrane. Hence, the transverse location of the retinal chromophore is near the center of the hydrophobic core of the disc membrane. These findings suggest that conformational changes induced by photoisomerization are transmitted through a distance of at least 20 Å within rhodopsin to trigger subsequent events in visual excitation.