Bacteriorhodopsin chimeras containing the third cytoplasmic loop of bovine rhodopsin activate transducin for GTP/GDP exchange

The mechanisms by which G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate G‐proteins are not well understood due to the lack of atomic structures of GPCRs in an active form or in GPCR/G‐protein complexes. For study of GPCR/G‐protein interactions, we have generated a series of chimeras by replacing the third cytoplasmic loop of a scaffold protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) with various lengths of cytoplasmic loop 3 of bovine rhodopsin (Rh), and one such chimera containing loop 3 of the human β 2 ‐adrenergic receptor. The chimeras expressed in the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum formed purple membrane lattices thus facilitating robust protein purification. Retinal was correctly incorporated into the chimeras, as determined by spectrophotometry. A 2D crystal (lattice) was evidenced by circular dichroism analysis, and proper organization of homotrimers formed by the bR/Rh loop 3 chimera Rh3C was clearly illustrated by atomic force microscopy. Most interestingly, Rh3C (and Rh3G to a lesser extent) was functional in activation of GTPγ 35 S/GDP exchange of the transducin α subunit (Gαt) at a level 3.5‐fold higher than the basal exchange. This activation was inhibited by GDP and by a high‐affinity peptide analog of the Gαt C terminus, indicating specificity in the exchange reaction. Furthermore, a specific physical interaction between the chimera Rh3C loop 3 and the Gαt C terminus was demonstrated by cocentrifugation of transducin with Rh3C. This Gαt‐activating bR/Rh chimera is highly likely to be a useful tool for studying GPCR/G‐protein interactions.