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Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization
Published on: March 16, 2020
Functional stability of rhodopsin in a bicelle system: evaluating G protein activation by rhodopsin in bicelles
Ali I Kaya1, T M Iverson, Heidi E Hamm
1Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 442 Robinson Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232-6600, USA.
Abstract:
Rhodopsin is a prototypical member of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This photoreceptor is responsible for initiating the visual signaling transduction cascade upon interaction with its heterotrimeric G protein, transducin (Gt), after light activation. Like all transmembrane proteins, rhodopsin is embedded within a phospholipid bilayer. Many studies have proposed that the membrane composition of this bilayer is an important factor for receptor function during the activation process. Here we describe the methods and assays used to evaluate the function of purified and reconstituted rhodopsin in bicelles.
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