Biosynthesis and NMR analysis of a 73-residue domain of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae G protein-coupled receptor

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor pheromone receptor (Ste2p) was used as a model G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). A 73-mer multidomain fragment of Ste2p (residues 267-339) containing the third extracellular loop, the seventh transmembrane domain, and 40 residues of the cytosolic tail (E3-M7-24-T40) was biosynthesized fused to a carrier protein. The multidomain fusion protein (designated M7FP) was purified to near homogeneity as judged by HPLC and characterized by mass spectrometry. In minimal medium, 30-40 mg of M7FP were obtained per liter of culture. The 73-residue peptide was released from its carrier by CNBr and obtained in wild-type, (15)N, and (13)C/(15)N forms. The E3-M7-24-T40 peptide integrated into 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] and dodecylphosphocholine micelles at concentrations (200-500 microM) suitable for NMR investigations. HSQC experiments performed in organic solvents and detergent micelles on (15)N-labeled E3-M7-24-T40 showed a clear dispersion of the nitrogen-amide proton correlation cross-peaks indicative of a pure, uniformly labeled molecule that assumed a partially ordered structure. NOE connectivities, chemical shift indices, J-coupling analysis, and structural modeling suggested that in trifluoroethanol/water (1:1) helical subdomains existed in both the transmembrane and cytoslic tail of the multidomain peptide. Similar conclusions were reached in chloroform/methanol/water (4:4:1). As the cytosolic tail participates in down-regulation of Ste2p, the helical regions in the Ste2p tail may play a role in protein-protein interactions involved in endocytosis.