Dynamic scaffolding in a G protein-coupled signaling system

Cell. 2007 Oct 5;131(1):80-92. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.07.037.

Abstract

The INAD scaffold organizes a multiprotein complex that is essential for proper visual signaling in Drosophila photoreceptor cells. Here we show that one of the INAD PDZ domains (PDZ5) exists in a redox-dependent equilibrium between two conformations--a reduced form that is similar to the structure of other PDZ domains, and an oxidized form in which the ligand-binding site is distorted through formation of a strong intramolecular disulfide bond. We demonstrate transient light-dependent formation of this disulfide bond in vivo and find that transgenic flies expressing a mutant INAD in which PDZ5 is locked in the reduced state display severe defects in termination of visual responses and visually mediated reflex behavior. These studies demonstrate a conformational switch mechanism for PDZ domain function and suggest that INAD behaves more like a dynamic machine rather than a passive scaffold, regulating signal transduction at the millisecond timescale through cycles of conformational change.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / anatomy & histology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology
  • Eye Proteins / chemistry*
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Light
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • PDZ Domains*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Second Messenger Systems / physiology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vision, Ocular*

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Eye Proteins
  • inaD protein, Drosophila
  • GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • PDB/2QKT
  • PDB/2QKU
  • PDB/2QKV