Effects of Ca²⁺, Glu and GABA on hBest1 and composite hBest1/POPC surface films

Bestrophinopathies are ocular diseases caused by mutations in the human bestrophin-1 (hBest1) - transmembrane Ca²⁺-activated chloride channel protein, mainly expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. hBest1 is also an important transporter for neurotransmitters such as glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the nervous system. Recently, a new biological role of hBest1, related to its possible involvement in the pathology of brain diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease) has been proposed. Here, we report the effects of Ca²⁺, Glu and GABA on hBest1 and composite hBest1/POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers based on surface dynamics (π/A isotherms, hysteresis and compressibility), morphology (Brewster angle microscopy, BAM) and visualization of protein molecular organization (Atomic force microscopy, AFM). Ca²⁺ ions and neurotransmitters Glu and GABA affect hBest1 topology at the air/water interface altering its surface activity, size, orientation and organization. In contrast, no significant changes were detected on π/A isotherms and hysteresis of the composite hBest1/POPC films but their effects on structure, aggregation state and orientation hBest1 established by BAM and AFM differentiate. We found that the binary films of hBest1 and POPC are phase separated at the air/water interface, suggesting stronger lipid-lipid and protein-protein interactions than lipid-protein interactions that can significantly alter the molecular organization and activity of hBest1 in cell membranes. Our data shed light on structure, surface behavior and organization of hBest1 that define relationship structure-functional activity of hBest1 as transport channel.