Probing the Conformation States of Neurotensin Receptor 1 Variants by NMR Site-Directed Methyl Labeling.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key players in mediating signal transduction across the cell membrane. However, due to their intrinsic instability, many GPCRs are not suitable for structural investigations. Various approaches have been developed in recent years to remedy this situation, ranging from the use of more native membrane mimetics to protein-stabilization methods. The latter approach typically results in GPCRs that contain various numbers of mutations. However, probing the functionality of such variants by in vitro and in vivo assays is often time consuming. In addition, to validate the suitability of such GPCRs for structural investigations, an assessment of their conformation state is required. NMR spectroscopy has been proven to be suitable to probe the conformation state of GPCRs in solution. Here, by using chemical labeling with an isotope-labeled methyl probe, we show that the activity and the conformation state of stabilized neurotensin receptor 1 variants obtained from directed evolution can be efficiently assayed in 2D NMR experiments. This strategy enables the quantification of the active and inactive conformation states and the derivation of an estimation of the basal as well as agonist-induced activity of the receptor. Furthermore, this assay can be used as a readout when re-introducing agonist-dependent signaling into a highly stabilized, and thus rigidified, receptor by mutagenesis. This approach will be useful in cases where low production yields do not permit the addition of labeled compounds to the growth medium and where 1D NMR spectra of selectively 19 F-labeled receptors are not sufficient to resolve signal overlap for a more detailed analysis.

Quantifying the insertion of membrane proteins into lipid bilayer nanodiscs using a fusion protein strategy.

A membrane protein's oligomeric state modulates its functionality in various cellular processes. Since membrane proteins have to be solubilized in an appropriate membrane mimetic, the use of classical biophysical methods to analyze protein oligomers is challenging. We here present a method to determine the number of membrane proteins inserted into lipid nanodiscs. It is based on the ability to selectively quantify the amount of a small and robust fusion protein that can be proteolytically cleaved off from a membrane protein after incorporation into lipid nanodiscs. A detailed knowledge of the number of membrane proteins per nanodisc at defined assembly conditions is essential to estimate the tendency for oligomerization, but also for guiding sample optimization for structural investigations that require the presence of a homogenous oligomeric state. We show that this method can efficiently be used to determine the number of VDAC1 channels in nanodiscs at various assembly conditions, as confirmed by negative stain EM. The presented method is suitable in particular for membrane proteins that cannot be probed easily by other methods such as single span transmembrane helices. This assay can be applied to any membrane protein that can be incorporated into a nanodisc without the requirement for special instrumentation and will thus be widely applicable and complementary to other methods that quantify membrane protein insertion in lipid nanodiscs.

Photoinduced 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine ring conversions.

Stable heterocyclic hydroperoxide can be easily prepared as a product of fast oxidation of a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine by (3)O2 if the solution is exposed to sunlight. The driving force for the photoinduced electron transfer is calculated from electrochemical and spectroscopic data. The outcome of the reaction depends on the light intensity and the concentration of O2. In the solid state the heterocyclic hydroperoxide is stable; in solution it is involved in further reactions.

15N NMR of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives.

In this article, we describe the characteristic (15)N and (1)HN NMR chemical shifts and (1)J((15)N-(1)H) coupling constants of various symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives. The NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants are discussed in terms of their relationship to structural features such as character and position of the substituent in heterocycle, N-alkyl substitution, nitrogen lone pair delocalization within the conjugated system, and steric effects.