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Optocontrol of glutamate receptor activity by single side-chain photoisomerization.

TitleOptocontrol of glutamate receptor activity by single side-chain photoisomerization.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsKlippenstein, V, Hoppmann, C, Ye-Lehmann, S, Wang, L, Paoletti, P
JournalElife
Volume6
Date Published2017 May 23
ISSN2050-084X
Abstract

Engineering light-sensitivity into proteins has wide ranging applications in molecular studies and neuroscience. Commonly used tethered photoswitchable ligands, however, require solvent-accessible protein labeling, face structural constrains, and are bulky. Here, we designed a set of optocontrollable NMDA receptors by directly incorporating single photoswitchable amino acids (PSAAs) providing genetic encodability, reversibility, and site tolerance. We identified several positions within the multi-domain receptor endowing robust photomodulation. PSAA photoisomerization at the GluN1 clamshell hinge is sufficient to control glycine sensitivity and activation efficacy. Strikingly, in the pore domain, flipping of a M3 residue within a conserved transmembrane cavity impacts both gating and permeation properties. Our study demonstrates the first detection of molecular rearrangements in real-time due to the reversible light-switching of single amino acid side-chains, adding a dynamic dimension to protein site-directed mutagenesis. This novel approach to interrogate neuronal protein function has general applicability in the fast expanding field of optopharmacology.

DOI10.7554/eLife.25808
Alternate JournalElife
PubMed ID28534738
PubMed Central IDPMC5441875
Grant ListR01 GM118384 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States

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