Time-resolved study on signaling pathway of photoactivated adenylate cyclase and its nonlinear optical response.

Photoactivated adenylate cyclases (PACs) are multidomain BLUF proteins that regulate the cellular levels of cAMP in a light-dependent manner. The signaling route and dynamics of PAC from Oscillatoria acuminata (OaPAC), which consists of a light sensor BLUF domain, an adenylate cyclase domain, and a connector helix (α3-helix), were studied by detecting conformational changes in the protein moiety. Although circular dichroism and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements did not show significant changes upon light illumination, the transient grating method successfully detected light-induced changes in the diffusion coefficient (diffusion-sensitive conformational change (DSCC)) of full-length OaPAC and the BLUF domain with the α3-helix. DSCC of full-length OaPAC was observed only when both protomers in a dimer were photoconverted. This light intensity dependence suggests that OaPAC is a cyclase with a nonlinear light intensity response. The enzymatic activity indeed nonlinearly depends on light intensity, that is, OaPAC is activated under strong light conditions. It was also found that both DSCC and enzymatic activity were suppressed by a mutation in the W90 residue, indicating the importance of the highly conserved Trp in many BLUF domains for the function. Based on these findings, a reaction scheme was proposed together with the reaction dynamics.

Photoactivated Adenylyl Cyclases: Fundamental Properties and Applications.

Photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (PAC) was first discovered to be a sensor for photoavoidance in the flagellate Euglena gracilis. PAC is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the production of cAMP upon illumination with blue light, which enables us to optogenetically manipulate intracellular cAMP levels in various biological systems. Recent progress in genome sequencing has revealed several related proteins in bacteria and ameboflagellates. Among them, the PACs from sulfur bacterium Beggiatoa sp. and cyanobacterium Oscillatoria acuminata have been well characterized, including their crystalline structure. Although there have not been many reported optogenetic applications of PACs so far, they have the potential to be used in various fields within bioscience.

The Red-/Green-Switching GAF3 of Cyanobacteriochrome Slr1393 from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 Regulates the Activity of an Adenylyl Cyclase.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are photoreceptors in cyanobacteria that present a bilin chromophore-binding GAF domain as a photochromic element to control the activity of a downstream enzyme or regulator. CBCR Slr1393 from Synechocystis PCC 6803 carries three GAF domains, but only the third one binds phycocyanobilin covalently. Slr1393 shows photochromicity between red and green absorbing states and regulates a C-terminally located histidine kinase. In this work, we fused this third GAF domain to an adenylyl cyclase (AC) from Microcoleus chthonoplastes PCC7420 that in its genuine form is under blue-light control from a LOV domain. A series of RGS-AC variants were constructed with various lengths of the linkers between RGS and AC. Assays in vitro and in living Escherichia coli cells (AC-deletion mutant) demonstrated that the activity of AC was light regulated, namely, the red-light-converted form of RGSΔ14-Δ4AC (in vitro) was about three times more active than the green-light-converted form. Expression of the fusion protein RGSΔ14-Δ4AC in vivo again showed highest light regulation with at least threefold amplification of the AC function. In some experiments, even tenfold higher activity was observed, which indicated that the protein, if expressed under in vivo conditions, was part of the E. coli physiological conditions and thereby subjected to more complex and variable regulation through other E. coli inherent factors.

Key residues for the light regulation of the blue light-activated adenylyl cyclase from Beggiatoa sp.

Photoactivated adenylyl cyclases are powerful tools for optogenetics and for investigating signal transduction mechanisms in biological photoreceptors. Because of its large increase in enzyme activity in the light, the BLUF (blue light sensor using flavin adenine dinucleotide)-activated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) from Beggiatoa sp. is a highly attractive model system for studying BLUF domain signaling. In this report, we studied the influence of site-directed mutations within the BLUF domain on the light regulation of the cyclase domain and determined key elements for signal transduction and color tuning. Photoactivation of the cyclase domain is accomplished via strand ß5 of the BLUF domain and involves the formation of helical structures in the cyclase domain as assigned by vibrational spectroscopy. In agreement with earlier studies, we observed severely impaired signaling in mutations directly on strand ß5 as well as in mutations affecting the hydrogen bond network around the flavin. Moreover, we identified a bPAC mutant with red-shifted absorbance and a decreased dark activity that is highly valuable for long-term optogenetic experiments. Additionally, we discovered a mutant that forms a stable neutral flavin semiquinone radical in the BLUF domain and surprisingly exhibits an inversion of light activation.

Single Amino Acid Mutation Decouples Photochemistry of the BLUF Domain from the Enzymatic Function of OaPAC and Drives the Enzyme to a Switched-on State.

Photoactivated adenylate cyclases (PACs) are light-activated enzymes that combine a BLUF (blue-light using flavin) domain and an adenylate cyclase domain that are able to increase the levels of the important second messenger cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) upon blue-light excitation. The light-induced changes in the BLUF domain are transduced to the adenylate cyclase domain via a mechanism that has not yet been established. One critical residue in the photoactivation mechanism of BLUF domains, present in the vicinity of the flavin is the glutamine amino acid close to the N5 of the flavin. The role of this residue has been investigated extensively both experimentally and theoretically. However, its role in the activity of the photoactivated adenylate cyclase, OaPAC has never been addressed. In this work, we applied ultrafast transient visible and infrared spectroscopies to study the photochemistry of the Q48E OaPAC mutant. This mutation altered the primary electron transfer process and switched the enzyme into a permanent 'on' state, able to increase the cAMP levels under dark conditions compared to the cAMP levels of the dark-adapted state of the wild-type OaPAC. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements point to a less compact structure for the Q48E OaPAC mutant. The ensemble of these findings provide insight into the important elements in PACs and how their fine tuning may help in the design of optogenetic devices.

Light-induced Trpin/Metout Switching During BLUF Domain Activation in ATP-bound Photoactivatable Adenylate Cyclase OaPAC.

The understanding of signal transduction mechanisms in photoreceptor proteins is essential for elucidating how living organisms respond to light as environmental stimuli. In this study, we investigated the ATP binding, photoactivation and signal transduction process in the photoactivatable adenylate cyclase from Oscillatoria acuminata (OaPAC) upon blue light excitation. Structural models with ATP bound in the active site of native OaPAC at cryogenic as well as room temperature are presented. ATP is found in one conformation at cryogenic- and in two conformations at ambient-temperature, and is bound in an energetically unfavorable conformation for the conversion to cAMP. However, FTIR spectroscopic experiments confirm that this conformation is the native binding mode in dark state OaPAC and that transition to a productive conformation for ATP turnover only occurs after light activation. A combination of time-resolved crystallography experiments at synchrotron and X-ray Free Electron Lasers sheds light on the early events around the Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) chromophore in the light-sensitive BLUF domain of OaPAC. Early changes involve the highly conserved amino acids Tyr6, Gln48 and Met92. Crucially, the Gln48 side chain performs a 180° rotation during activation, leading to the stabilization of the FAD chromophore. Cryo-trapping experiments allowed us to investigate a late light-activated state of the reaction and revealed significant conformational changes in the BLUF domain around the FAD chromophore. In particular, a Trpin/Metout transition upon illumination is observed for the first time in the BLUF domain and its role in signal transmission via α-helix 3 and 4 in the linker region between sensor and effector domain is discussed.

Light modulation of cellular cAMP by a small bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase, bPAC, of the soil bacterium Beggiatoa.

The recent success of channelrhodopsin in optogenetics has also caused increasing interest in enzymes that are directly activated by light. We have identified in the genome of the bacterium Beggiatoa a DNA sequence encoding an adenylyl cyclase directly linked to a BLUF (blue light receptor using FAD) type light sensor domain. In Escherichia coli and Xenopus oocytes, this photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) showed cyclase activity that is low in darkness but increased 300-fold in the light. This enzymatic activity decays thermally within 20 s in parallel with the red-shifted BLUF photointermediate. bPAC is well expressed in pyramidal neurons and, in combination with cyclic nucleotide gated channels, causes efficient light-induced depolarization. In the Drosophila central nervous system, bPAC mediates light-dependent cAMP increase and behavioral changes in freely moving animals. bPAC seems a perfect optogenetic tool for light modulation of cAMP in neuronal cells and tissues and for studying cAMP-dependent processes in live animals.

Engineering Adenylate Cyclase Activated by Near-Infrared Window Light for Mammalian Optogenetic Applications.

Light in the near-infrared optical window (NIRW) penetrates deep through mammalian tissues, including the skull and brain tissue. Here we engineered an adenylate cyclase (AC) activated by NIRW light (NIRW-AC) and suitable for mammalian applications. To accomplish this goal, we constructed fusions of several bacteriophytochrome photosensory and bacterial AC modules using guidelines for designing chimeric homodimeric bacteriophytochromes. One engineered NIRW-AC, designated IlaM5, has significantly higher activity at 37 °C, is better expressed in mammalian cells, and can mediate cAMP-dependent photoactivation of gene expression in mammalian cells, in favorable contrast to the NIRW-ACs engineered earlier. The ilaM5 gene expressed from an AAV vector was delivered into the ventral basal thalamus region of the mouse brain, resulting in the light-controlled suppression of the cAMP-dependent wave pattern of the sleeping brain known as spindle oscillations. Reversible spindle oscillation suppression was observed in sleeping mice exposed to light from an external light source. This study confirms the robustness of principles of homodimeric bacteriophytochrome engineering, describes a NIRW-AC suitable for mammalian optogenetic applications, and demonstrates the feasibility of controlling brain activity via NIRW-ACs using transcranial irradiation.

Potassium channel-based optogenetic silencing.

Optogenetics enables manipulation of biological processes with light at high spatio-temporal resolution to control the behavior of cells, networks, or even whole animals. In contrast to the performance of excitatory rhodopsins, the effectiveness of inhibitory optogenetic tools is still insufficient. Here we report a two-component optical silencer system comprising photoactivated adenylyl cyclases (PACs) and the small cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel SthK. Activation of this 'PAC-K' silencer by brief pulses of low-intensity blue light causes robust and reversible silencing of cardiomyocyte excitation and neuronal firing. In vivo expression of PAC-K in mouse and zebrafish neurons is well tolerated, where blue light inhibits neuronal activity and blocks motor responses. In combination with red-light absorbing channelrhodopsins, the distinct action spectra of PACs allow independent bimodal control of neuronal activity. PAC-K represents a reliable optogenetic silencer with intrinsic amplification for sustained potassium-mediated hyperpolarization, conferring high operational light sensitivity to the cells of interest.

Heterologous expression of photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (PAC) genes from the flagellate Euglena gracilis in insect cells.

The unicellular, green flagellate wild-type Euglena gracilis (strain Z) possesses two genes of the photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (PAC) family. The corresponding gene products were found to be responsible for step-up (but not step-down) photophobic responses as well as both positive and negative phototaxis. The proteins consist of two PACalpha (Mr 105 kDa) and two PACbeta (90 kDa) subunits. In an effort to produce sufficient amounts of PAC proteins, several routes of over-expression have been tried including homologous expression in Euglena and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. All these approaches were hampered by low yield or formation of inclusion bodies. Therefore we decided to attempt a heterologous expression in an insect cell line. PACalpha and PACbeta were separately cloned in the transfer vector pBacPAK9 with a His tag attached. The transfer vector was subsequently cotransfected via baculovirus into the insect cells and amplified. For the expression both recombinant viruses (containing PACbeta and PACbeta, respectively) were cotransfected simultaneously into insect cells. The expressed proteins were analyzed in Western blots using PACalpha and PACbeta antibodies. Most of the proteins were found to be in soluble form in high yield. The recombinant PAC proteins were purified via their attached His tag on an anti-His resin. Adenylyl cyclase activity was quantified after blue-light excitation using a cAMP enzyme immunoassay kit.

Khellin, but not 8-methoxypsoralen, inhibits adenylyl cyclase system in HeLa cells.

Until recently, the therapeutic effects of furocoumarins and furochromones plus UV-A light were thought to be due to their ability to form photoadducts with DNA in the cell nuclei; now it appears that membrane effector systems may be involved as targets. Here we show that in HeLa cells khellin at 1 and 5 microM final concentration, in combination with UV-A light, inhibits NaF-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and Pertussis Toxin (PT)-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of alpha-subunits of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (Gi) and increases GTPase activity. In the same experimental conditions, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), either alone or plus UV-A, does not affect adenylyl cyclase and GTPase activities. Our results suggest that in HeLa cells, through an interaction with a receptor and the mediation of Gi proteins, the adenylyl cyclase system is a target for khellin but not for 8-MOP.

Ultraviolet radiation augments epidermal beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response.

Pig skin was irradiated in vivo with fluorescent sunlamp tubes (peak emission at 305 nm). A significant increase in epidermal beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response was observed as early as 12 h following 1-2 minimum erythema doses (MEDs) UVB exposure, which lasted at least 48 h. The augmentation of adenylate cyclase response was relatively specific to the beta-adrenergic system and there was no significant difference in either adenosine- or histamine-adenylate cyclase response of epidermis. The increased beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response was less marked at higher doses of UVB exposure (5 MEDs); in the latter condition, a significant reduction in adenosine- or histamine-adenylate cyclase response was observed. There was no significant difference in either low- or high-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity between control and UVB-treated skin at 1-2 MEDs. Our data indicate that the epidermal adenylate cyclase responses are affected in vivo by UVB irradiation, which might be a significant regulatory mechanism of epidermal cyclic AMP systems.

Exposure to either gamma or a mixed neutron/gamma field irradiation modifies vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor characteristics in membranes isolated from pig jejunum.

The effect of acute whole body exposure to ionizing radiation was investigated on intestinal vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in membranes isolated from pig jejunum. Pigs under light anaesthesia were exposed to a single dose (6 Gy) of gamma (gamma) or to mixed neutron/gamma field (ratio 1:1; neutron/gamma) irradiation. Seven days after irradiation, plasma-membranes were prepared from post mortem jejunal mucosal scrapings. Marker enzyme activities (sucrase, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), Na,K-ATPase) were measured in each preparation. The characteristics (KD, Bmax) of VIP receptors were determined using 125I-labelled VIP. In addition VIP-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was measured. Results showed that enzyme activities were reduced following both gamma (sucrase 67%; LAP 53%; Na/K-ATPase 29%; N = 7) and neutron/gamma (sucrase 53%; LAP 59%; Na/K-ATPase 68%; N = 5) compared with control values (N = 5). VIP receptor affinity was decreased following either type of irradiation (gamma or neutron/gamma P < 0.01) and receptor numbers increased. Both VIP- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were reduced but the sensitivity of the enzyme remained the same for VIP (EC50 values (nmol dm-3)-control-1.27 +/- 0.35; gamma-2.18 +/- 0.41; neutron/gamma-1.91 +/- 0.28). In conclusion, exposure to either gamma or neutron/gamma irradiation attenuates intestinal enzyme activities and VIP receptor affinity but increases VIP receptor numbers.

Long-term effects of X-irradiation on gastrointestinal function and regulatory peptides in monkeys.

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term effects of X-irradiation on different aspects of gastrointestinal function in the non-human primate (Macaca mulatta). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were exposed to X-radiation (5 or 6 Gy) or not (sham) and gastrointestinal function was investigated 4-6 years after exposure. Basal and agonist-stimulated short circuit current (Isc) responses were measured in isolated jejunum. Intestinal tissue was taken for histological analysis as well as for determination of mucosal marker enzyme activities and gastrointestinal regulatory peptide levels. Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor characteristics were determined as well as VIP-stimulated Isc responses. GI peptides were also measured in plasma. RESULTS: Few differences were seen in basal electrical parameters or tissue morphology but there was a tendency for reduced basolateral membrane enzyme activity. VIP-stimulated Isc responses were reduced in irradiated animals as were VIP-stimulated adenylate cyclase responses. Plasma and tissue (ileal and colonic muscle layers) gastrin releasing peptide levels were increased in irradiated animals. In contrast circulating gastrin levels were lower. CONCLUSIONS: Late effects of total-body irradiation on GI function in monkeys showed altered circulating and tissue levels of some GI peptides. In addition the biological effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide were modified.

Effects of UVB irradiation on epidermal adenylate cyclase responses in vitro: its relation to sunburn cell formation.

UVB irradiation augmented the beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response of pig skin epidermis in vitro. The effect was observed 2-4 h following the irradiation and lasted at least for 48 h. There was no significant difference in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity between control and UVB-irradiated epidermis at lower irradiation dose (150 mJ/cm2), which is the dose of the most marked beta-adrenergic augmentation effect. The augmentation effect was specific to the beta-adrenergic system; adenosine and histamine adenylate cyclase responses were unchanged or decreased depending on the irradiation dose. Histologically, marked sunburn-cell formation was observed following the UVB irradiation. It has been suggested that oxygen intermediates generated by ultraviolet radiation participate in sunburn-cell formation. The addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the incubation medium significantly inhibited sunburn-cell formation. On the other hand, the beta-adrenergic augmentation effect was not affected by the addition of SOD. Other scavengers of oxygen intermediates (catalase, catalase + SOD, xanthine, or mannitol) did not inhibit the UVB-induced beta-adrenergic augmentation effect. Further, superoxide-anion generating systems (hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system and acetaldehyde-xanthine oxidase system) revealed no stimulatory effect on the beta-adrenergic response of epidermis. These results indicate that (a) the UVB-induced beta-adrenergic augmentation effect is inherent to skin and does not depend on systemic factors such as inflammatory infiltrates following UVB irradiation; (b) in contrast to sunburn-cell formation, induction of the beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response is not directly associated with oxygen intermediates generated by UVB irradiation.

Adenylate cyclase-the more membrane associated, the less radiosensitive.

A dose dependent but not parallel decreases were observed both in SH content and catalytic activity of "free" catalytic subunit after irradiation (0-3200 Gy), while SH groups of membrane-associated adenylate cyclase were insensitive (under 3200 Gy). An initial "radioactivation" of membrane-associated enzyme was found under 800 Gy, then an inhibition above 1600 Gy. The SH alkylating agent, N-ethylmaleimide resulted in a complete inactivation, both of membrane associated form of adenylate cyclase and "free" catalytic subunit with similar inactivation profiles. These data indicate that in the radiosensitivity or "radioprotection" of adenylate cyclase, its membrane association/integration might play a more important role than the SH groups themselves.

Effect of irradiation on enzyme activities of cyclic AMP system in the neuro- and adenohypophyses.

The enzyme activities of cyclic AMP system in the neuro- and adenohypophyses were studied, immediately after an irradiation by a single whole body exposure of 1600 R, in an attempt to find whether this intervention causes the changes in the responsiveness of the cyclic AMP regulatory system. In the irradiated rats the neurohypophyses revealed a reduced activity of adenylate cyclase, moderately increased activity of phosphodiesterase and slightly decreased activity of protein kinase, including the value stimulated by cyclic AMP. In the adenohypophyses the irradiation did not cause any significant changes in the enzyme activities of the cyclic AMP system, except of slightly decreased adenylate cyclase activity. The possible relationship of the plasma level of antidiuretic hormone immediately after irradiation and the enzyme activities of cyclic AMP system is discussed.

[Effect of gamma irradiation on the production and degradation system of the second hormonal messenger (author's transl)]. / Effets de l'irradiation gamma sur les systèmes de production et de dégradation du 2e messager hormonal

Gamma irradiation of rat liver plasma membranes leads to a decrease of the adenylcyclase activities stimulated by glucagon and fluoride. The observed inhibition is more important for the activity stimulated with glucagon. The 5'-nucleotisade activity is not changed by irradiation. When the phosphodiesterase system is submitted to gamma irradiation, the radiosensibility of enzymatic complex is more important.

[Functional interactions of components of the adenylate cyclase system in the rat liver after prenatal exposure to gamma irradiation]. / Funktsional'noe vzaimodeistvie komponentov adenilattsiklaznoi sistemy pecheni krys posle prenatal'nogo vozdeistviia gamma-izlucheniia.

The effects of long-term prenatal gamma-radiation (0.5 Gy) on the glucagon signalling through adenylyl cyclase in adult rat liver have been investigated. The coupling of receptor/Gs-protein/adenylyl cyclase was tested using kinetic constants for stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by GTP, Gp(NH)pp, AlF4- and glucagon. The estimated data suggests that prenatal chronic gamma-radiation prompted (i) a decrease in rate of GTP hydrolysis on Gs-protein; (ii) a reduction of glucagon potency to accelerate the exchange GDP for GTP on Gs-protein.

[Adenylate cyclase system and structural modifications of nuclear proteins in organisms radioprotection]. / Adenilattsiklaznaia sistema i strukturnye modifikatsii iadernykh belkov pri zashchite organizma radioprotektorami ot luckevogo porazheniia.

The paper deals with modern ideas of ways and mechanisms for realization of the radioprotector antiradiation effect. The data on the effect of biogenic amines (serotonin in particular) and radiation on the cAMP system are analyzed. It is shown that one of the most important mechanisms of the radioprotective effect is realized by changing the levels of histones and nonhistone proteins modifications through the adenylate cyclase system which leads to regulation of the chromatin template activity.