Role of membrane integrity on G protein-coupled receptors: Rhodopsin stability and function.

Abstract

Rhodopsin is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) - a member of the superfamily that shares a similar structural architecture consisting of seven-transmembrane helices and propagates various signals across biological membranes. Rhodopsin is embedded in the lipid bilayer of specialized disk membranes in the outer segments of retinal rod photoreceptor cells where it transmits a light-stimulated signal. Photoactivated rhodopsin then activates a visual signaling cascade through its cognate G protein, transducin or Gt, that results in a neuronal response in the brain. Interestingly, the lipid composition of ROS membranes not only differs from that of the photoreceptor plasma membrane but is critical for visual transduction. Specifically, lipids can modulate structural changes in rhodopsin that occur after photoactivation and influence binding of transducin. Thus, altering the lipid organization of ROS membranes can result in visual dysfunction and blindness.

• Authors: Beata Jastrzebska, Aleksander Debinski, Slawomir Filipek, Krzysztof Palczewski
• Journal: Progress in lipid research (Prog Lipid Res) Vol. 50 Issue 3 Pg. 267-77 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1873-2194 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21435354 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
• Copyright: Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Chemical References

• Detergents
• Lipid Bilayers
• Membrane Lipids
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
• Rhodopsin
• Cholesterol
• Transducin

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Membrane (metabolism)
• Cholesterol (physiology)
• Detergents (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Light
• Lipid Bilayers (metabolism)
• Membrane Lipids (chemistry)
• Models, Molecular
• Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled (metabolism)
• Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells
• Rhodopsin (chemistry, drug effects, physiology, radiation effects)
• Rod Cell Outer Segment (chemistry, physiology)
• Solubility
• Transducin (metabolism)
• Vision Disorders (genetics, physiopathology)