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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
The Large Intracellular Loop Of Hzip4 Is An Intrinsically Disordered Zinc Binding Domain, Robert Dempski, Elizabeth Bafaro, Sagar Antala, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Stephen Dzul, Brian Doyon, Timothy Stemmler
The Large Intracellular Loop Of Hzip4 Is An Intrinsically Disordered Zinc Binding Domain, Robert Dempski, Elizabeth Bafaro, Sagar Antala, Tuong-Vi Nguyen, Stephen Dzul, Brian Doyon, Timothy Stemmler
Robert E. Dempski
The human (h) ZIP4 transporter is a plasma membrane protein which functions to increase the cytosolic concentration of zinc. hZIP4 transports zinc into intestinal cells and therefore has a central role in the absorption of dietary zinc. hZIP4 has eight transmembrane domains and encodes a large intracellular loop between transmembrane domains III and IV, M3M4. Previously, it has been postulated that this domain regulates hZIP4 levels in the plasma membrane in a zinc-dependent manner. The objective of this research was to examine the zinc binding properties of the large intracellular loop of hZIP4. Therefore, we have recombinantly expressed and purified …
The Role Of Histidine Residues In The Specificity Of The Human Zinc Transporter Hzip4, Robert Dempski, Sagar Antala, Elizabeth Bafaro
The Role Of Histidine Residues In The Specificity Of The Human Zinc Transporter Hzip4, Robert Dempski, Sagar Antala, Elizabeth Bafaro
Robert E. Dempski
ZIP transporters, named after the zinc regulated (Zrt) and iron regulated (Irt) transport proteins, are essential for zinc and iron translocation across cellular membranes. These proteins function to increase the cytosolic concentration of transition metals. While both zinc and iron are essential micronutrients which are required for the structure and/or function of hundreds of cellular proteins, the molecular mechanism of ZIP transporters is not well understood. Complicating mechanistic studies is the observation that the concentration of free zinc and iron is nano to picomolar.
Insights Into The Cation Permeation Pathway Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Insights Into The Cation Permeation Pathway Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Robert E. Dempski
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a light-activated, non-selective cation channel endogenous to the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The unique properties of ChR2 have made it a useful tool in the field of optogenetics. However, the mechanism of ion conductance is not well resolved. Elucidation of the crystal structure of the channelrhodopsin chimera C1C2 has provided structural insight on the putative ChR2 ion conductance pathway. However, it is not clear how the chimeric structure correlates to ChR2 function.
Transmembrane Domain Three Contributes To The Ion Conductance Pathway Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Olga Gaiko
Transmembrane Domain Three Contributes To The Ion Conductance Pathway Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Olga Gaiko
Robert E. Dempski
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a light-activated nonselective cation channel that is found in the eyespot of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Despite the wide employment of this protein to control the membrane potential of excitable membranes, the molecular determinants that define the unique ion conductance properties of this protein are not well understood. To elucidate the cation permeability pathway of ion conductance, we performed cysteine scanning mutagenesis of transmembrane domain three followed by labeling with methanethiosulfonate derivatives. An analysis of our experimental results as modeled onto the crystal structure of the C1C2 chimera demonstrate that the ion permeation pathway includes …
Transmembrane Serine Mutations Reduce The Minimum Pore Diameter Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Transmembrane Serine Mutations Reduce The Minimum Pore Diameter Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Robert E. Dempski
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a microbial-type rhodopsin that, together with channelrhodopsin-1, mediates phototactic behavior in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Like all other microbial-type rhodopsins, ChR2 has seven transmembrane domains with the chromophore all-trans retinal bound to a single lysine residue. However, unlike other microbial-type rhodopsins, ChR2 functions as a non-selective cation channel and not an ion pump. A sequence alignment of ChR2 with the proton pump bacteriorhodopsin (bR) reveals that ChR2 lacks specific motifs within the transmembrane domains that facilitate non-covalent interactions and contribute to protein stability.
Re-Introduction Of Transmembrane Serine Residues Reduce The Minimum Pore Diameter Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Re-Introduction Of Transmembrane Serine Residues Reduce The Minimum Pore Diameter Of Channelrhodopsin-2, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Robert E. Dempski
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) is a microbial-type rhodopsin found in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Under physiological conditions, ChR2 is an inwardly rectifying cation channel that permeates a wide range of mono- and divalent cations. Although this protein shares a high sequence homology with other microbial-type rhodopsins, which are ion pumps, ChR2 is an ion channel. A sequence alignment of ChR2 with bacteriorhodopsin, a proton pump, reveals that ChR2 lacks specific motifs and residues, such as serine and threonine, known to contribute to non-covalent interactions within transmembrane domains. We hypothesized that reintroduction of the eight transmembrane serine residues present in bacteriorhodopsin, but …
The Molecular Determinants Of The Zinc Transporter, Hzip4, Robert Dempski, Sagar Antala, Tuong-Vi Nguyen
The Molecular Determinants Of The Zinc Transporter, Hzip4, Robert Dempski, Sagar Antala, Tuong-Vi Nguyen
Robert E. Dempski
Zinc is an essential micronutrient which is required for the function of hundreds of cellular enzymes. In addition, zinc is the second most abundant transition metal found in biological systems (iron is most abundant). However, the concentration of free zinc is nano to picomolar since most zinc is bound to proteins. This makes investigating the mechanism of zinc transport across the plasma membrane a challenge. Our interest has been to elucidate the mechanism of zinc transport mediated by one member of the ZIP family of proteins, hZIP4.
Examining The Conformational Dynamics Of Membrane Proteins In Situ With Site-Directed Fluorescence Labeling, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Examining The Conformational Dynamics Of Membrane Proteins In Situ With Site-Directed Fluorescence Labeling, Robert Dempski, Ryan Richards
Robert E. Dempski
Two electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology (TEVC) is a powerful tool to investigate the mechanism of ion transport1 for a wide variety of membrane proteins including ion channels2 , ion pumps3 , and transporters4 . Recent developments have combined site-specific fluorophore labeling alongside TEVC to concurrently examine the conformational dynamics at specific residues and function of these proteins on the surface of single cells. We will describe a method to study the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins by simultaneously monitoring fluorescence and current changes using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This approach can be used to examine the molecular motion of membrane proteins site-specifically …
Ligand-Dependent Effects On The Conformational Equilibrium Of The Na+,K+-Atpase As Monitored By Voltage Clamp Fluorometry, Robert Dempski, Stefan Geys, Ernst Bamberg
Ligand-Dependent Effects On The Conformational Equilibrium Of The Na+,K+-Atpase As Monitored By Voltage Clamp Fluorometry, Robert Dempski, Stefan Geys, Ernst Bamberg
Robert E. Dempski
Voltage clamp fluorometry was used to monitor conformational changes associated with electrogenic partial reactions of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase after changes in the concentration of internal sodium (Na(+)(i)) or external potassium (K(+)(o)). To probe the effects of the Na(+)(i) concentration on the Na(+) branch of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, oocytes were depleted of Na(+)(i) and then loaded with external sodium (Na(+)(o)) using the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel. The K(+) branch of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase was studied by exposing the oocytes to different K(+)(o) concentrations in the presence and absence of Na(+)(o) to obtain additional information on the apparent affinity for K(+)(o). Our results demonstrate that …