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  • Title: Labeling of the beta gamma subunit complex of transducin with an environmentally sensitive cysteine reagent. Use of fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor transducin subunit interactions.
    Author: Phillips WJ, Cerione RA.
    Journal: J Biol Chem; 1991 Jun 15; 266(17):11017-24. PubMed ID: 2040617.
    Abstract:
    In this study, we have examined the interactions of the beta gamma subunit complex of the retinal GTP-binding protein transducin (beta gamma T) with its alpha subunit (alpha T) using fluorescence spectroscopic approaches. The beta gamma T subunit complex was covalently labeled with 2-(4'-maleimidylanilino)napthalene-6-sulfonic acid (MIANS), an environmentally sensitive fluorescent cysteine reagent. The formation of the MIANS beta gamma T complexes (two to five MIANS adducts per beta gamma T) resulted in 2-3-fold enhancements in the MIANS fluorescence, and 20-25-nm blue shifts in the fluorescence emission maxima, relative to the emission for identical concentrations of MIANS-labeled MIANS complexes. The addition of alpha T.GDP to these MIANS beta gamma T complexes resulted in an additional enhancement in the MIANS fluorescence (typically ranging from 20 to 40%) and a 5-10-nm blue shift in the wavelength for maximum emission. These fluorescence changes were specifically elicited by the GDP-bound form of alpha T and were not observed upon the addition of purified alpha T.guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) complexes to the MIANS beta gamma T species. Conditions which resulted in the activation of the alpha T.GDP subunit (i.e. the addition of AlF4- or the addition of rhodopsin-containing vesicles and GTP gamma S) resulted in a reversal of the alpha T.GDP-induced enhancement of the MIANS beta gamma T fluorescence. Thus the MIANS beta gamma T fluorescence provided a spectroscopic monitor for transducin-subunit association and transducin-activation. Based on the results from studies using this spectroscopic read-out, it appears that the association of the alpha T.GDP species with the beta gamma T subunit complex to form the holotransducin molecule is rapid and does not limit the rate of the rhodopsin-stimulated activation of holotransducin. However, either the dissociation of the activated alpha T subunit from the beta gamma T complex, or a conformational change in beta gamma T which occurs as a result of the subunit dissociation event, appears to be slow relative to the G protein-subunit association event.
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