Monomeric dark rhodopsin holds the molecular determinants for transducin recognition: insights from computational analysis

FEBS Lett. 2007 Mar 6;581(5):944-8. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.01.074. Epub 2007 Feb 6.

Abstract

In this computational study, we have investigated the implications of rhodopsin (Rho) oligomerization in transducin (Gt) recognition. The results of docking simulations between heterotrimeric Gt and monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric inactive Rho corroborate the hypothesis that Rho and Gt can be found coupled already in the dark. Moreover, our extensive computational analysis suggests that the most likely Rho:Gt stoichiometry is the 1:1 one. This means that the essential molecular determinants for Gt recognition and activation are contained in one Rho monomer. In this respect, the complex between one Rho molecule and one heterotrimeric Gt should be considered as the functional unit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cattle
  • Computational Biology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Darkness
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Rhodopsin / chemistry*
  • Rhodopsin / metabolism
  • Transducin / chemistry*
  • Transducin / metabolism

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Rhodopsin
  • Transducin