3etq

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Visualizing conformational dynamics in proteins has been difficult, and the atomic-scale motions responsible for the behavior of most allosteric proteins are unknown. Here we report that fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between a small fluorescent dye and a nickel ion bound to a dihistidine motif can be used to monitor small structural rearrangements in proteins. This method provides several key advantages over classical FRET, including the ability to measure the dynamics of close-range interactions, the use of small probes with short linkers, a low orientation dependence, and the ability to add and remove unique tunable acceptors. We used this 'transition metal ion FRET' approach along with X-ray crystallography to determine the structural changes of the gating ring of the mouse hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-regulated ion channel HCN2. Our results suggest a general model for the conformational switch in the cyclic nucleotide-binding site of cyclic nucleotide-regulated ion channels.

Mapping the structure and conformational movements of proteins with transition metal ion FRET.,Taraska JW, Puljung MC, Olivier NB, Flynn GE, Zagotta WN Nat Methods. 2009 Jul;6(7):532-7. Epub 2009 Jun 14. PMID:19525958^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.