Structure-Function Relationship of Retinal Proteins
Retinal proteins or rhodopsins belong to the superfamily of seven- transmembrane helical (7TM) proteins. Seven helices, with N-terminus on the extracellular side and C-terminus on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane (not necessarily G-protein coupled) A B C D E F G Structure of Retinal Proteins GPCRs
Retinal Proteins -- Rhodopsins Covalently linked to a lysine Usually protonated Schiff base all-trans and 11-cis isomers Chromophore
The simplest ion pump in biology The best characterized membrane protein The simplest photosynthetic center Technological applications in molecular electronics Bacteriorhodopsin -- bR The first membrane protein with a known atomic-detail 3D structures
Halobacterium Salinarum The Purple Membrane H+H+ h [H + ] ADP ATP Cytoplasmic sideExtracellular side ATP Synthase h bR role in Bioenergetics Light Proton Gradient
Cytoplasmic side Extracellular side Schematic proton path in bacteriorhodopsin Transmambrane helices H+H+ H+H+
Active Channels Need a ‘Switch’ Mechanism H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ h H+H+ H+H+ What is the switch in bR? How does it work?
Photocycle of bR Photo-induced All intermediates are trapped in low temperature and have been characterized by vibrational and absorption spectroscopy. 3 ps s 40 s 5 ms
No membrane protein has been studied as extensively as bR Photo-induced 3 ps s 40 s 5 ms All intermediates have also been characterized by X-ray crystallography!
Cytoplasmic side Extracellular side Schematic proton path in bacteriorhodopsin Transmambrane helices
cytoplasmic extracellular H+H+ light driven proton pump + H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N + H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 bR 568 K H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 D85-COOH OOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 L 543 M H D85-COOH OOC-E204 OOC-D96 N K216 N H D85-COOH OOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 O 645 3ps s 40 s 5ms BR’s Photocycle
+ H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N + H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 bR 568 K H D85-COO HOOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 D85-COOH OOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 L 543 M H D85-COOH OOC-E204 OOC-D96 N K216 N H D85-COOH OOC-E204 HOOC-D96 N K216 O 645 3ps s 40 s 5ms Kuhlbarandt, Nature, 406,569 (2000) Conformational Change of Helices BR’s Photocycle
bR in the purple membrane Modeling of the protein in lipid bilayers Chromophore Analysis of the structure Calculation of excited state dynamics Protein Chromophore-protein interaction QM-MM calculations MD simulation of the photocycle Study of bR at three levels
Retinal Schiff base Membrane, covalently bound, chromophore Retinoic Acid Nucleus, receptor site, ligand (no photoactivity) Retinoids Retinal
The necessity of quantum mechanical treatment of the chromophore: Conjugated -electronic system, delocalization The effect of protein matrix on the ligand Unconventioanl chemistry QM is expensive – Most of the time, one needs to use models
Proton Affinity: PA= E AH -(E A +E H ) Effect of Conjugation on pK a (Gas Phase Proton Affinity)
Proton Affinity: PA= E AH -(E A +E H ) Effect of the methyl groups on pK a No more room for additional methyl groups on the backbone
h What is the effect of isomerization?
Proton Affinity: PA= E AH -(E A +E H ) cc: B2,B3-di-cis isomerct: B2-s-cis, B3-trans isomer tc: B2-strans, B3-cis isomertt: all-trans isomer. Isomerization State and Proton Affinity Isomerization does not have a strong impact on PA!
h What is the effect of isomerization?
Water Asp 85 Asp 212 Water Counterion: Asp 85 & Asp 212 WATER pK a : ~ max : ~ Opsin shift Retinal binding pocket in bR
Proton Affinity: PA= E AH -(E A +E H ) Effect of the environment on PA
In situ isomerization and pK a
S0S0 S1S1 K BR C 13 =C 14 -transC 13 =C 14 -cis Coupling of electronic excitation and conformational change in bR
h trans cis Ground and Excited State Potential Energy Surfaces of Retinal
Ab Initio QM/MM Excited State MD Simulation QM Quantum mechanical (QM) treatment of the chromophore, and force field (MM) treatment of the embedding protein
Proton Affinity: PA= E AH -(E A +E H ) Low barriers against double bond isomerization Ground state isomerization Isomerization Barriers in retinal
A twisted chromophore is also experimentally reported. X-ray structures of bR report the twisted form of chromophore The twist is found around the terminal double bonds It may influence pK a of the chromophore 165°168° 178° 177°176°177° A twisted chromophore in bR?