Biomedical subjects

Kimberly K Boyd

Publications and source records attributed to Kimberly K Boyd.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Analysis of PDE6 function using chimeric PDE5/6 catalytic domains.

cGMP-phosphodiesterases of the PDE6 family are expressed in retinal photoreceptor cells, where they mediate the phototransduction cascade. A system for expression of PDE6 in vitro is lacking, thus straining progress in understanding the structure-function relationships of the photoreceptor enzyme. Here, we report generation and characterization of bacterially expressed chimeric PDE5/6 catalytic domains which are highly soluble, catalytically active, and sensitive to inhibition by the PDE6 Pgamma subunit. Two flexible PDE6 loops, H and M, impart chimeric PDE5/6 catalytic domains with PDE6-like properties. The replacement of the PDE6 H-loop into the PDE5 catalytic domain increases the catalytic rate and the K(m) value for cGMP hydrolysis, whereas the substitution of the M-loop produces catalytic PDE domains responsive to Pgamma. Multiple PDE6 segments preventing functional expression of the catalytic domain are identified, supporting the requirement for specialized photoreceptor chaperones to assist PDE6 folding in vivo.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed2005

Analysis of dimerization determinants of PDE6 catalytic subunits.

An absolute majority of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) form catalytic dimers. The structural determinants and functional significance of PDE dimerization are poorly understood. Furthermore, all known dimeric PDEs with the exception of retinal rod guanosine 3',5'-cyclic-monophosphate PDE (PDE6) are homodimeric enzymes. Rod PDE6 is a catalytic heterodimer composed of alpha- and beta-subunits. Gel filtration, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and immunoprecipitation are standard techniques used to study dimerization of proteins. We successfully applied these methods to investigate dimerization of chimeric proteins between PDE6alphabeta and PDE5, which allowed us to elucidate the structural basis for heterodimerization of rod PDE6. This chapter outlines approaches to the investigation of PDE6 dimerization that can be utilized in a broader analysis of PDE dimerization.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed2004

Structural determinants of the PDE6 GAF A domain for binding the inhibitory gamma-subunit and noncatalytic cGMP.

Photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterases (PDE6 family) are modular enzymes with each catalytic subunit containing two N-terminal regulatory GAF domains, GAF A and GAF B. The GAF A domains contribute to dimerization of the PDE6 catalytic subunits and to binding of the inhibitory Pgamma subunits, and represent candidate sites for noncatalytic binding of cGMP. We performed a mutational analysis of selected residues from the GAF A domain of cone PDEalpha' to identify the cGMP-binding pocket and delineate the Pgamma-binding surface. Results of this analysis establish the noncatalytic cGMP-binding site within the PDE6 GAF A domain and suggest that occupation of the pocket by cGMP is required for high-affinity binding of Pgamma to the proximate contact surface.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

PubMed2003

The GAFa domains of rod cGMP-phosphodiesterase 6 determine the selectivity of the enzyme dimerization.

Retinal rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6 family) is the effector enzyme in the vertebrate visual transduction cascade. Unlike other known PDEs that form catalytic homodimers, the rod PDE6 catalytic core is a heterodimer composed of alpha and beta subunits. A system for efficient expression of rod PDE6 is not available. Therefore, to elucidate the structural basis for specific dimerization of rod PDE6, we constructed a series of chimeric proteins between PDE6alphabeta and PDE5, which contain the N-terminal GAFa/GAFb domains, or portions thereof, of the rod enzyme. These chimeras were co-expressed in Sf9 cells in various combinations as His-, myc-, or FLAG-tagged proteins. Dimerization of chimeric PDEs was assessed using gel filtration and sucrose gradient centrifugation. The composition of formed dimeric enzymes was analyzed with Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. Consistent with the selectivity of PDE6 dimerization in vivo, efficient heterodimerization was observed between the GAF regions of PDE6alpha and PDE6beta with no significant homodimerization. In addition, PDE6alpha was able to form dimers with the cone PDE6alpha' subunit. Furthermore, our analysis indicated that the PDE6 GAFa domains contain major structural determinants for the affinity and selectivity of dimerization of PDE6 catalytic subunits. The key dimerization selectivity module of PDE6 has been localized to a small segment within the GAFa domains, PDE6alpha-59-74/PDE6beta-57-72. This study provides tools for the generation of the homodimeric alphaalpha and betabeta enzymes that will allow us to address the question of functional significance of the unique heterodimerization of rod PDE6.

Amino Acid Sequence↗