Oligomerization-Enhanced Receptor-Ligand Binding Revealed by Dual-Color Simultaneous Tracking on Living Cell Membranes

J Phys Chem Lett. 2021 Sep 2;12(34):8164-8169. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01844. Epub 2021 Aug 19.

Abstract

GPCR oligomerization plays a critical role in cellular signaling, yet the stoichiometry of the interactions between oligomers and binding ligands in living cells remains a longstanding challenge. Here, by developing a dual-color simultaneous tracking system based on a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM), the CCR5-CCL5 interactions are visualized and quantitatively assessed in real time. Results show that each oligomeric state of CCR5 could bind with CCL5 but with different binding affinities; CCR5 dimers have a 3.5-fold higher binding affinity than the monomers. The dimerization may cause an asymmetric conformational change which makes the first binding pocket have a 3.5-fold higher binding affinity and the second have only a half compared with the monomeric CCR5. This study is the first example to directly scrutinize the CCR5-CCL5 interactions at the single-molecule level on living cell membranes and will offer great potential for the interaction stoichiometry study of diverse surface proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Color
  • Ligands
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled