Additional component required for activity and reconstitution of light-activated vertebrate photoreceptor GTPase

A light-activated GTPase that functions as a component of the rhodopsin-linked, light-activated phosphodiesterase (PDEase) system in vertebrate photoreceptors has been reported. In our efforts to purify photoreceptor GTPase we encountered another component (which we call "helper" or "H" component) whose presence is required for expression of light-activated GTPase activity. We report here the characterization of this heat-labile, macromolecular factor and that the presence of helper is absolutely required for light- and rhodopsin-dependent activation of photoreceptor GTPase. Of equal importance, we find that the "G" component (which requires the presence of H for expression of GTPase activity) can bind GTP and can support light- and GTP-dependent PDEase activation in the absence of H component. These data support a model in which GTP binding to G component is a necessary condition for PDEase activation. Hydrolysis of GTP at the G activator locus (an H-dependent activity) is a regulatory event which reverses PDEase activation. The complexity of this regulatory mechanism provides opportunities for signal modulation and amplification.