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Title: Conformational Changes in Guanylate Cyclase-Activating Protein 1 Induced by Ca2+ and N-Terminal Fatty Acid Acylation

Journal Article · · Structure

Neuronal Ca{sup 2+} sensors (NCS) are high-affinity Ca{sup 2+}-binding proteins critical for regulating a vast range of physiological processes. Guanylate cyclase-activating proteins (GCAPs) are members of the NCS family responsible for activating retinal guanylate cyclases (GCs) at low Ca{sup 2+} concentrations, triggering synthesis of cGMP and recovery of photoreceptor cells to the dark-adapted state. Here we use amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange and radiolytic labeling, and molecular dynamics simulations to study conformational changes induced by Ca{sup 2+} and modulated by the N-terminal myristoyl group. Our data on the conformational dynamics of GCAP1 in solution suggest that Ca{sup 2+} stabilizes the protein but induces relatively small changes in the domain structure; however, loss of Ca{sup 2+} mediates a significant global relaxation and movement of N- and C-terminal domains. This model and the previously described calcium-myristoyl switch proposed for recoverin indicate significant diversity in conformational changes among these highly homologous NCS proteins with distinct functions.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE - OFFICE OF SCIENCE
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1020013
Report Number(s):
BNL-95859-2011-JA; TRN: US201115%%649
Journal Information:
Structure, Vol. 18, Issue 1; ISSN 0969-2126
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English