To understand the dynamics of conformational changes during G protein activation, surface exposed cysteine residues on G alpha were fluorescently labeled. Limited trypsinolysis and mutational analysis of recombinant G alpha(t)/G alpha(il) determined that two cysteines are the major fluorescent labeling sites, Cys(210), located in the switch II region, and Cys(347) at the C terminus. Mutants with serines replacing Cys(210) (Chi6a) and Cy-347 (Chi6b) were single fluorescently labeled with lucifer yellow (LY), while a double mutant (Chi6ab) was no longer labeled. When Chi6b was labeled with LY on Cys(210), AlF4- caused a 220% increase in LY fluorescence, indicating that the fluorescent group at Cys(210) is a reporter of conformational change in the switch II region. Chi6a labeled at Cys(347) also showed an AlF4--dependent increase in LY fluorescence (91%), indicating that G alpha activation leads to a conformational change at the COOH terminus. Preactivation of the protein with AlF4- before labeling led to a decreased incorporation of LY into Cys(347) suggesting that G alpha activation buries Cys347. This COOH-terminal conformational change may provide the structural basis for communication between the GDP-binding site on G alpha and activated receptors, and may contribute to dissociation of activated G alpha subunit from activated receptor.

Conformational changes at the carboxyl terminus of G alpha occur during G protein activation

MAZZONI, MARIA ROSA;
1999-01-01

Abstract

To understand the dynamics of conformational changes during G protein activation, surface exposed cysteine residues on G alpha were fluorescently labeled. Limited trypsinolysis and mutational analysis of recombinant G alpha(t)/G alpha(il) determined that two cysteines are the major fluorescent labeling sites, Cys(210), located in the switch II region, and Cys(347) at the C terminus. Mutants with serines replacing Cys(210) (Chi6a) and Cy-347 (Chi6b) were single fluorescently labeled with lucifer yellow (LY), while a double mutant (Chi6ab) was no longer labeled. When Chi6b was labeled with LY on Cys(210), AlF4- caused a 220% increase in LY fluorescence, indicating that the fluorescent group at Cys(210) is a reporter of conformational change in the switch II region. Chi6a labeled at Cys(347) also showed an AlF4--dependent increase in LY fluorescence (91%), indicating that G alpha activation leads to a conformational change at the COOH terminus. Preactivation of the protein with AlF4- before labeling led to a decreased incorporation of LY into Cys(347) suggesting that G alpha activation buries Cys347. This COOH-terminal conformational change may provide the structural basis for communication between the GDP-binding site on G alpha and activated receptors, and may contribute to dissociation of activated G alpha subunit from activated receptor.
1999
Yang, C; Skiba, N; Mazzoni, MARIA ROSA; Hamm, H.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/163325
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