Microbial sensory rhodopsins, membrane-embedded 7-helix light-sensors widespread among prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes, are remarkably diverse in their signaling mechanisms. In archaea and bacteria they mediate phototaxis by protein-protein interaction in membrane-embedded receptor-transducer (SR-Htr) complexes. In contrast, homologous sensory rhodopsins in algae, channelrhodopsins (ChRs), mediate phototaxis by depolarizing the algal plasma membrane. The advantages provided by light activation, namely temporal precision and spectroscopic tools, have made microbial rhodopsins paradigm systems for membrane protein function and for understanding how evolution modifies existing protein scaffolds to create new protein functions. In addition to their basic science interest, sensory rhodopsins have given birth to a new technology, optogenetics, which uses ChRs to control membrane potential in animal cells, enabling light-triggered neuron firing. ChRs have become widely used research tools in neurological disease research and offer promise as therapeutic agents. Our goal is to elucidate the underlying principles of microbial sensory rhodopsin mechanisms at the level of atomic structure/molecular function. We have established that the rhodopsin subunits of SR-Htr complexes, and provide evidence that ChRs as well, share the same light-induced conversion between two conformers with light-driven rhodopsin proton pumps. However, sensory rhodopsins have evolved new chemical processes, not found in their proton pump ancestors, to alter the consequences of the conformational change. Experiments are designed to: 1) determine the first atomic-resolution X-ray crystal structure of the elusive transient light-induced conformer of microbial rhodopsins by exploiting our recent finding of conditions in which this conformer exists as a stable form in the dark in the attractant receptor SRI- HtrI complex;2) to elucidate in the repellent receptor SRII the interplay between the conformer transition and a steric trigger during photoisomerization of retinal that together comprise the intramolecular pathway of signal transfer to HtrII;3) to apply our knowledge of SRI and SRII and multidisciplinary tools to the ChRs. The channel activity of ChRs has been detected and investigated exclusively by photoelectric measurements in living algae or animal cells, at concentrations of ChRs not amenable to optical or molecular spectroscopy. We propose to develop an in vitro system for light-gated channel activity of purified ChRs and elucidate the protein's phototransduction mechanism.
A final aim follows from our studies of phototaxis in algae which establish that ChR-mediated depolarizing currents are amplified ~1000-fold compared to their activity in heterologous systems, e.g. neurons. We propose a strategy to identify the amplification component(s) and test our hypothesis that non-voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are directly activated by physical interaction with ChRs in the algae. In addition to answering basic mechanistic questions, these experiments have the potential for major impact on optogenetics, enhancing use of this technology in research and enabling therapeutic applications.

Public Health Relevance

Microbial sensory rhodopsins are photoactive retinal-containing receptors in microorganisms similar to human visual pigments. Their greater ease of isolation and amenability as research objects enables in- depth study of how light is converted to chemical signals, relevant to the process of vision. One type, channelrhodopsins, enable light-activation of neurons by combined optical and genetic techniques (optogenetics). Channelrhodopsins have been used to map circuitry in mammalian brain tissue, as well as for experimental therapeutics, including successful restoration of vision in blind mice. One potential result of this project is the development of a new type of optogenetic tool with ~1000-fold higher sensitivity than currently available, based on interaction of channelrhodopsins with specific calcium channels. Such ultrasensitive light-activated channel complexes will enable biomedical research not possible with current technology and overcome a significant barrier to clinical use of optogenetics to treat neurological diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM027750-34
Application #
8506548
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Chin, Jean
Project Start
1980-04-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2013-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
34
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$638,584
Indirect Cost
$181,584
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771594
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77225
Govorunova, Elena G; Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Li, Hai et al. (2017) Microbial Rhodopsins: Diversity, Mechanisms, and Optogenetic Applications. Annu Rev Biochem 86:845-872
Yi, Adrian; Li, Hai; Mamaeva, Natalia et al. (2017) Structural Changes in an Anion Channelrhodopsin: Formation of the K and L Intermediates at 80 K. Biochemistry 56:2197-2208
Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Govorunova, Elena G; Li, Hai et al. (2017) Bacteriorhodopsin-like channelrhodopsins: Alternative mechanism for control of cation conductance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E9512-E9519
Govorunova, Elena G; Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Rodarte, Elsa M et al. (2017) The Expanding Family of Natural Anion Channelrhodopsins Reveals Large Variations in Kinetics, Conductance, and Spectral Sensitivity. Sci Rep 7:43358
Govorunova, Elena G; Cunha, Shane R; Sineshchekov, Oleg A et al. (2016) Anion channelrhodopsins for inhibitory cardiac optogenetics. Sci Rep 6:33530
Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Li, Hai; Govorunova, Elena G et al. (2016) Photochemical reaction cycle transitions during anion channelrhodopsin gating. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E1993-2000
Govorunova, Elena G; Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Spudich, John L (2016) Proteomonas sulcata ACR1: A Fast Anion Channelrhodopsin. Photochem Photobiol 92:257-263
Yi, Adrian; Mamaeva, Natalia; Li, Hai et al. (2016) Resonance Raman Study of an Anion Channelrhodopsin: Effects of Mutations near the Retinylidene Schiff Base. Biochemistry 55:2371-80
Li, Hai; Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Wu, Gang et al. (2016) In Vitro Activity of a Purified Natural Anion Channelrhodopsin. J Biol Chem 291:25319-25325
Govorunova, Elena G; Sineshchekov, Oleg A; Spudich, John L (2016) Structurally Distinct Cation Channelrhodopsins from Cryptophyte Algae. Biophys J 110:2302-2304

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