Conformational States of Human Rat Sarcoma (Ras) Protein Complexed with Its Natural Ligand GTP and Their Role for Effector Interaction and GTP Hydrolysis

Abstract

The guanine nucleotide-binding protein Ras exists in solution in two different conformational states when complexed with different GTP analogs such as GppNHp or GppCH₂p. State 1 has only a very low affinity to effectors and seems to be recognized by guanine nucleotide exchange factors, whereas state 2 represents the high affinity effector binding state. In this work we investigate Ras in complex with the physiological nucleoside triphosphate GTP. By polarization transfer ³¹P NMR experiments and effector binding studies we show that Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP also exists in a dynamical equilibrium between the weakly populated conformational state 1 and the dominant state 2. At 278 K the equilibrium constant between state 1 and state 2 of C-terminal truncated wild-type Ras(1–166) K₁₂ is 11.3. K₁₂ of full-length Ras is >20, suggesting that the C terminus may also have a regulatory effect on the conformational equilibrium. The exchange rate (k_ex) for Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP is 7 s⁻¹ and thus 18-fold lower compared with that found for the Ras·GppNHp complex. The intrinsic GTPase activity substantially increases after effector binding for the switch I mutants Ras(Y32F), (Y32R), (Y32W), (Y32C/C118S), (T35S), and the switch II mutant Ras(G60A) by stabilizing state 2, with the largest effect on Ras(Y32R) with a 13-fold increase compared with wild-type. In contrast, no acceleration was observed in Ras(T35A). Thus Ras in conformational state 2 has a higher affinity to effectors as well as a higher GTPase activity. These observations can be used to explain why many mutants have a low GTPase activity but are not oncogenic.

Introduction

The guanine nucleotide-binding protein Ras is involved in cellular signal transduction pathways inducing proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis of cells. It functions as a molecular switch, cycling between an inactive GDP-bound state and an active GTP-bound state. In the active conformation Ras is able to bind different effector proteins such as Raf kinase or RalGDS with nanomolar affinity by interacting with its switch I region. Thus signals can be transmitted resulting in the corresponding cellular response.

When bound to guanosine triphosphates Ras exists in two different conformational states, defined as states 1 and 2, which are in chemical equilibrium in solution (1–3). These conformational states are actually only defined for Ras with guanosine triphosphate bound (T), a state that may be different from a state with guanine diphosphate bound (D). Therefore, we will denote the two states in the following as state 1(T) and 2(T) whenever the nucleotide ligand is of concern. The equilibrium between the two states is strongly influenced by the nature of the guanine nucleotide bound to Ras and can be shifted by interaction with effector proteins or regulators such as GTPase activation proteins (GAPs).² It was found that GTP analogs GppNHp and GppCH₂p partially shift the equilibrium toward state 1. For the complex of wild-type Ras with physiological GTP itself the existence of the two states could not be shown yet. However, for the slowly hydrolyzing mutants Ras(Q61H) and Ras(Q61L) a second weakly populated state could be observed. Because at this time functional data were not available, from an analysis of the chemical shift changes it was tentatively assigned to state 2, whereas the mainly populated state in Ras complexed with GTP was assumed to be state 1 (1).

The conformation of state 2 closely corresponds to the effector-bound state and becomes stabilized if Ras is bound to effectors (1, 4–6). Previously, similar results were shown for three other proteins belonging to the Ras superfamily, Ran, Cdc42, and Ral (7–9). Here in the guanosine triphosphate-bound state the protein also exists in two different conformational states. One of them also becomes stabilized by effector binding.

Different mutations in the switch I region of Ras or binding to the GTP analogs GppNHp or GppCH₂p shift the equilibrium between the two states toward state 1 (1, 2, 10). Binding studies using NMR spectroscopy as well as calorimetric or fluorescence-based methods show that these conformational equilibria directly influence the interaction between Ras and its effectors (3, 10, 11). Stabilizing state 1 by small ligands is a novel approach to reduce the affinity of Ras for its effectors (12, 13). Very recent results lead to the assumption that state 1(T) of Ras is recognized by guanine nucleotide exchange factors and thus could represent an important conformational state in the Ras activation/inactivation cycle (14).

Mutation of a specific threonine residue (Thr-35 in Ras), totally conserved in all members of the Ras superfamily, to serine drastically decreases the affinity of Ras to its effectors, although this threonine residue is not directly involved in effector binding (15, 16). These mutations affect Ras to become a partial loss-of-function mutant, which can still trigger the MAP kinase pathway by interacting with Raf kinases but binds too weakly to RalGDS and thus cannot activate the Ral-dependent signaling pathway (17). Both the hydroxyl group and the methyl group of Thr-35 are necessary for Ras to stabilize its crucial effector binding conformation, which is essential for effector binding at physiological concentrations (11).

Because this conserved threonine residue plays such an important role in the switch between the active and inactive state we have studied its role in terms of the GTPase activity by investigating Ras mutants T35S and T35A, as well as other selected Ras variants containing mutations in the P-loop, the switch I and switch II regions, respectively. In this work we elucidate the importance of this dynamic behavior of Ras in the physiological GTP-bound state in terms of effector interactions as well as the intrinsic GTPase activity.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Protein Purification

Wild-type and mutants of full-length human H-Ras (residues 1–189) and the truncated variant Ras(1–166) (residues 1–166) were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as described before (18). The final purity of the protein was >95% as judged from the SDS-PAGE. Nucleotide exchange from GDP to GTP was performed by incubation of Ras in the presence of 200 mm (NH₄)₂SO₄ and 50-fold excess of GTP as described by John et al. (19). Free nucleotides were removed by gel filtration. The Ras concentration was determined by measuring the concentration of bound nucleotide using C18-reversed phase chromatography with a calibrated detector system. Ras-binding domains of human RalGDS (RalGDS-RBD, residues 11 to 97) and human Raf-1 (Raf-RBD, residues 51 to 131) were expressed in E. coli and purified as described before (20, 21).

NMR Spectroscopy

Typically 1 mm Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP was dissolved in buffer A (40 mm HEPES/NaOH, pH 7.4, 10 mm MgCl₂, 150 mm NaCl, 2 mm 1,4-dithioerythritol, 0.1 mm 2,2-dimethyl-2-silapentane-5-sulfonate in 5% D₂O, 95% H₂O). For binding studies aliquots of a highly concentrated (5–7 mm) Raf-RBD or RalGDS-RBD solution contained in the same buffer was added in appropriate amounts to the samples.

³¹P NMR spectra were recorded with a Bruker Avance-500 NMR spectrometer operating at ³¹P frequency of 202 MHz. Measurements were performed in a 10-mm probe using 8- or 10-mm Shigemi sample tubes at various temperatures. Two-dimensional ³¹P-³¹P NOESY (22) spectra were recorded with mixing times of 2.5 s and a total repetition time of 10 s. Protons were decoupled during t₁ evolution by a proton 180° pulse and during t₂ by a GARP (23) sequence with a strength of the B₁-field of 900 Hz.

³¹P longitudinal relaxation times (T₁) were determined at 278 K by an inversion recovery sequence using a repetition time of 20 s. The obtained signal integrals were fitted by a three parameter fit to the Equation 1,

with M_z(t) the z-magnetization (signal integral) at time t, and M₀ the magnetization in thermal equilibrium. Protons were decoupled during magnetization recovery and data acquisition by GARP (23) sequence.

The ³¹P NMR saturation transfer experiments were performed at 278 K using a strength of the B₁ field of 18 Hz. A total repetition time of 20 s was used for each scan. For identifying the resonance frequency of state 1, a presaturation time of 1 s was used. To determine the rate of exchange, presaturation was applied for 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 s at the frequency of the low populated state of the γ-phosphorus. 100 cycles of the experiments, each with 8 scans, were added to avoid instability effects of the sample or the spectrometer, respectively. For determination of direct saturation effects the same experiments was performed applying presaturation at corresponding frequencies up- or downfield of the observed signal, respectively.

If no direct saturation effects can be observed, data can be fitted by Equation 2.

With I_A(τ) the area of the non-saturated signal after saturation of resonance B for the time τ, and T_1A the longitudinal relaxation time of signal A (estimated from inversion recovery experiment). The mean lifetime τ_A of the protein in state A is related to the rate constant k_AB of the transition from state A to state B by k_AB = 1/τ_A (see e.g. Ref. 24). The effects of direct saturation can be approximated by Equation 3.

The value for the correction factor a can be calculated from a fit of Equation 3 and be inserted into Equation 4.

For indirect referencing of the ³¹P NMR resonances to DSS, a Ξ-value of 0.4048073561 reported by Maurer and Kalbitzer (25) was used that corresponds to 85% external phosphoric acid contained in a spherical bulb. Temperature was controlled using the line separation of the methylene and hydroxyl group of external ethylene glycol for calibration (26).

Kinetics of Hydrolysis

To determine the kinetics of intrinsic GTPase reaction by Ras, 100 μm Ras·GTP in 40 mm HEPES/NaOH, pH 7.4, 150 mm NaCl, 10 mm MgCl₂, 2 mm 1,4-dithioerythritol were incubated at 310 K. Care was taken that free nucleotide was completely removed to ensure the single turnover reaction. At different times of incubation samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen, and the nucleotides afterward were separated by HPLC using a C18 reversed phase column with 100 mm phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, 10 mm tetra butyl-ammonium bromide, 7% acetonitrile as buffer. The absorbance was measured at a wavelength of 254 nm and the lines corresponding to GDP and GTP were integrated. The percentage of GTP compared with the total nucleotide at different incubation times was determined. A single exponential function was fitted to the values. For each Ras variant the rates of hydrolysis were determined as a function of the concentrations of RBD added. Hydrolysis rates given are measured at saturation that was usually observed when the RBD concentration was 1.5 times the Ras concentration. Therefore the given maximum rate constant should represent the values of the Ras variants totally complexed with effector. The only exception was Ras(V29G/I36G), which shows an estimated affinity to Raf-RBD of ∼1 mm as derived from the ³¹P NMR titration and GTPase activation experiments.

RESULTS

Assignment of the Conformational States of Ras in the GTP-bound Form

In the GTP-bound form Ras(wt) seems to exist exclusively in one conformational state corresponding to three single signals in the ³¹P NMR spectrum, one for each phosphorus of the bound nucleotide (Fig. 1A). The ³¹P NMR spectrum of Ras(T35A) shows one set of resonances too, but with different chemical shift values compared with that obtained for wild-type Ras. In contrast, the serine mutant Ras(T35S) shows a pair of resonance lines for the γ-phosphate group, indicating an equilibrium of two states in solution (Fig. 1A). The chemical shift value of the more intense line corresponds to that found in Ras(T35A), the weaker line corresponds to that found in the wild-type protein (Table 1).

FIGURE 1.

A, ³¹P NMR spectra of 1 mm wild-type and mutant Ras(1–189) Mg²⁺·GTP in buffer A (see “Experimntal Procedures”) were measured at 278 K. B, two-dimensional ³¹P-³¹P NOESY spectrum of Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP. 1.6 mm Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP in buffer A were measured at 278 K. The digital resolution is 1024 × 32 data points. The mixing time was 2 s and the total repetition time 10 s. α, β, and γ, resonance lines of the α-, β-, and γ-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP; α_GDP, resonance line of the α-phosphate group in Ras·Mg²⁺·GDP.

TABLE 1.

³¹P NMR chemical shifts, free energies, and GTPase activities of wild-type Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP and T35 mutants in the absence and presence of effector proteins

Measurements were performed at 278 K at pH 7.4. Chemical shift values were determined by fitting the resonances by Lorentzian function. Equilibrium constants K₁₂ are defined as ratio between the populations of conformational states 1 and 2 with K₁₂ = [2]/[1], derived from the γ-phosphate signals.

Protein-complex	α−Phosphate		β−Phosphate		γ−Phosphate		K12	ΔG12a	kcatb
	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm
								kJ mol−1	min−1
Ras(1–166)(wt)·Mg2+·GTP	(−11.2)	−11.71	(−15.2)	−14.85	−6.63	−7.95	11.3	−5.6	0.028
Ras(wt)·Mg2+·GTP	−c	−11.71	(− b)c	−14.85	−6.63	−7.95	>20	<−6.9	0.028
+Raf-RBD		−11.58		−14.81		−8.08			0.029
+RalGDS-RBD		−11.68		−14.86		−7.91
Ras(T35A)·Mg2+·GTP	−11.14		−15.23		−6.39		<0.04	>5.3	0.005
+Raf-RBD	−10.67		−15.31		−6.37				0.005
+RalGDS-RBD	−11.16d		−15.24d		−6.37e
Ras(T35S)·Mg2+·GTP	−11.21	−c	−15.18	(−)c	−6.60	−7.92	0.29	2.1	0.011
+Raf-RBD		−11.59		−14.78		−8.00			0.031
+RalGDS-RBD		−11.81		−14.85		−7.81
GTPe	−11.07		−22.31		−7.50				<0.001
Mg2+·GTPe	−10.57		−19.22		−5.58				<0.001

^a Measurements were performed at 278 K at pH 7.4. Samples contained 2 mm GTP, 0.1 mm 2,2-dimethyl-2-silapentane-5-sulfonate in 5% D₂O, 95% H₂O. The chemical shifts for Mg·GTP were measured at saturation concentrations of 3 mm MgCl₂. Chemical shifts correspond to the fourfold negatively charged nucleotide found at neutral and basic pH values.

^b Values determined for the complex were determined at various concentrations of Raf-RBD. The obtained maximum rate is given, which should represent saturation of Ras with effector-RBD. The temperature was 310 K (for details, see “Experimental Procedures”).

^c The resonance position could not be determined because of the signal overlap and/or the low signal-to-noise ratio but most probably corresponds to that observed in the effector complex.

^d Even at the mm concentration used in the titration experiment there seems to be no binding of RalGDS-RBD, which one would expect to detect as line broadening.

^e Difference in free energy between states 1 and 2: ΔG₁₂ = −RT lnK₁₂.

The ³¹P resonances of Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP were assigned earlier by comparison of the chemical shifts of free Mg²⁺·GTP with bound GTP (1, 27). Because binding of nucleotides to proteins can induce large chemical shift changes, a direct transfer of resonance assignments from the unbound to the bound state can be precarious. We therefore performed a two-dimensional ³¹P-³¹P NOESY experiment on Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP. The spectrum is shown in Fig. 1B. The assignment of the resonance of the β-phosphate can be directly deduced from the cross-peak patterns because only that shows cross-peaks to the two other phosphate ³¹P resonances. The chemical shift of the β-phosphate of bound nucleotide (−15.23 ppm) largely differs from that of free Mg²⁺·GTP (−19.22 ppm; Table 1). In free Mg²⁺·GTP the chemical shifts of the α- and γ-phosphates are 10.57 and −5.58 ppm, respectively, at pH 7.4, as used herein and in all other experiments performed. The frequencies of the other resonances at −11.14 and −6.39 ppm are rather close to the corresponding chemical shift values and can thus be assigned to the α- and γ-phosphates of the bound GTP. With these experiments, the earlier used chemical shift assignment could thus be confirmed.

In analogy to the results obtained for several GTP analogs complexed with Ras, the conformation of Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP should therefore correspond to state 1. In Ras(T35S)·Mg²⁺·GTP, two lines are observed for the γ-phosphate group, one with the same frequency as that observed in Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP and thus assigned to state 1, although the high-field shifted resonance line is assigned to state 2 (Fig. 1A). Correspondingly, we conclude that Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP occurs predominantly in state 2.

Equilibrium Constants and Exchange Rates in Ras Complexed with GTP

For Ras(T35S)·Mg²⁺·GTP, the equilibrium constant K₁₂ can be directly determined from the integrals of the two γ-phosphate lines under the experimental conditions used here. At 278 K, K₁₂ is 0.29 ± 0.2 (Table 1). For Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP and Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP such a determination is more difficult, because direct inspection of the spectra does not allow the unambiguous identification of lines assignable to an alternate state. However, the frequencies where these resonances are to be expected can be deduced from the spectrum of the Ras(T35S) mutant. For the γ-phosphate line of Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP a resonance line for state 2 is expected at −8.6 ppm. Here, no resonance line is visible. From the signal-to-noise ratio an upper limit for K₁₂ can be given as 0.04. For Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP a very weak signal is visible at the position where the resonance of state 1 is to be expected (Fig. 1A).

Provided that the resonance line in question for Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP is indeed at −6.6 ppm, we performed a ³¹P NMR saturation transfer experiment. Fig. 2A shows the integrals of the γ-phosphate resonance of state 2 as a function of the presaturation frequencies used. Indeed, a clear minimum of the integral for a saturation frequency at −6.59 ppm was obtained. This indicates that a polarization transfer from the saturated signal to the observed signal takes place that confirms the existence of a second state in dynamic equilibrium with state 2 in full-length wild-type Ras although at a low population. For a weak, long saturation a Lorentzian response function is to be expected. However, for frequencies close to the reporter resonance additional direct saturation of the resonance line leads to a distortion of response curve as it observed in Fig. 2A. The same experiment was performed for frequencies positioned symmetrically on the other side of the reporter signal as control for direct saturation effects. Performing the analogous experiments using the T35A mutant with presaturation frequencies at the resonance position expected for state 2 of the γ-phosphate signal, only direct saturation effects could be observed (data not shown).

FIGURE 2.

A, detection of the existence and resonance frequency of conformational state 1 in wild-type Ras. The ratio of the signal integral I(saturated)/I(0) of state 2 signal corresponding the γ-phosphorous in the dependence of presaturation on various frequencies is given. The ³¹P NMR saturation transfer experiment was performed on 1.3 mm full length Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP in buffer A (see “Experimntal Procedures”) at 278 K using a B₁ field of 18 Hz applied for a period of 1 s at different frequencies. A Lorentzian function was fitted to the data points. B, ³¹P spectrum of 2.7 mm wild-type Ras(1–166)·Mg²⁺·GTP in buffer A at 278 K recorded with an 5-mm Cryo-QNP probe at a ³¹P frequency of 242 MHz (Bruker Biospin, Rheinstetten, Germany). 70° pulses and a total repetition time of 11.3 s were used to avoid relaxation artifacts. The solid lines show the line fit of the data using the integral obtained of the separated γ-phosphate resonance corresponding to state 1 and the chemical shift values obtained for state 1 of the mutant Ras(T35S). α, β, and γ, resonance lines of the α-, β-, and γ-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP; α_GDP and β_GDP, resonance lines of the α- and β-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GDP. C, determination of exchange rate k₁₂ by ³¹P NMR saturation transfer experiment. The ratio of the signal integral I(saturated)/I(0) of the state 2 signal corresponding to γ-phosphorous in dependence of the presaturation time at a frequency of −6.59 ppm (state 1) at various periods of time. The ratio of the signal integral corresponding to the γ-phosphate in state 2 is given. The experiment was performed on 3.4 mm wild-type Ras(1–166)·Mg²⁺·GTP in buffer A at 278 K using a B₁ field of 18 Hz applied at −6.59 ppm for different periods of time. The obtained data are fitted by Equation 4 (see “Experimental Procedures”).

Recently we were provided access to a Bruker Avance 600 NMR spectrometer equipped with a 5-mm Cryo-QNP probe with high sensitivity, the ratio of the two γ-phosphate lines of the C-terminal-truncated wild-type Ras(1–166)·Mg²⁺·GTP could be evaluated quantitatively in a measurement of a highly concentrated sample (Fig. 2B). The C-terminal-truncated Ras(1–166) was taken, because of its use in x-ray as well as in previous NMR structural investigations. The equilibrium constant K₁₂ was determined as 11.3 from the integrals of the γ-phosphate lines. Using this equilibrium constant the resonance positions of the α- and β-phosphate lines of state 1, respectively, could be derived from a line fit deconvolution of the spectra (Fig. 2B, broken line, and Table 1). One would expect a slight shift of the equilibrium toward state 1 by truncation of the Ras-protein according to the results obtained earlier for Ras·Mg²⁺·GppNHp complexes of full-length and truncated Ras-protein (10). For full-length Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP an upper limit for K₁₂ <20 can be estimated from signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra (Fig. 1), indicating indeed an approximate 2-fold more pronounced prevalence for state 1 of the truncated variant compared with full-length Ras.

To estimate the exchange rates between states 1 and 2 we measured the time dependence of the saturation transfer using Ras(1–166). Therefore we varied duration for presaturation on the γ-phosphate resonance frequency corresponding to state 1. The values obtained are presented in Fig. 2C. For the fit of the data direct saturation effects were corrected using the data obtained from a presaturation experiment at a frequency with the same distance up-field to the reporter signal (see “Experimental Procedures”). We estimated a life time τ₂ of state 2 of 2 s corresponding to a rate constant k₂₁ of 0.5 s⁻¹ for the transition from state 2 to state 1 at 278 K (Table 2). Assuming an equilibrium constant of 11.3, an exchange rate k_ex of 7 ± 2 s⁻¹ can be derived, which is about 18 times smaller compared with the ones obtained for Ras in complex with the GTP analogs GppNHp and GppCH₂p at the same temperature (1, 2).

TABLE 2.

Lifetime of states 1 and 2 in wild-type Ras· complexed with Mg²⁺·GTP

Experimental conditions are as described in the legend to Fig. 2. The exchange rate k_ex is defined as k_ex = 1/τ_ex = 1/τ₁ + 1/τ₂.

Ras complex	Τ/K	τ1/ms	τ2/ms	k12/s−1	k21/s−1	kex/s−1
Ras(1–166)(wt)·Mg2+·GTP	278	175 ± 45	2000 ± 500	5.7 ± 1.5	0.5 ± 0.1	7 ± 2
Ras(wt)·Mg2+·GppNHpa	278	13 ± 2	24 ± 4	80 ± 5	42 ± 5	122 ± 10
Ras(wt)·Mg2+·GppCH2pa	278	13 ± 2	26 ± 4	80 ± 5	39 ± 5	119 ± 10

^a Data from Spoerner et al. (2).

³¹P Longitudinal Relaxation Times of Ras Nucleotide Complexes

³¹P T₁ relaxation is mainly determined by chemical shift anisotropy and the dipolar interaction that are dependent on the structure of the environment of the phosphorous nucleus under consideration and thus on the protein conformation. Therefore we determined T₁ relaxation times of Mg²⁺·GTP and Mg²⁺·GDP bound to Ras(wt) and Ras(T35A), which both represent predominantly just one of the two conformational states, respectively (Table 3). As a reference, we also measured the relaxation times for the free nucleotides. Compared with the unbound state, Mg²⁺·GDP and Mg²⁺·GTP showed about 10-fold higher T₁ relaxation times when bound to Ras, as would be expected due to the higher rotational correlation time of the protein-nucleotide complex. Mg²⁺·GTP complexed with either Ras(wt) or Ras(T35A) show similar T₁ relaxation times for the α- and β-phosphate group. An exception holds for the γ-phosphate group. Here a significantly shorter T₁ value is found in the complex with the mutant compared with the wild-type protein (Table 3). Values obtained for wild-type Ras (5.5 s) essentially represent state 2, whereas those for Ras(T35A) (4.4 s) represent state 1, respectively.

TABLE 3.

Phosphorus relaxation times in Ras-nucleotide complexes

Data from a proton decoupled, non-selective inversion recovery experiment at 202 MHz phosphorus resonance frequency as described under “Experimental Procedures.”

Complex	T/K	Relaxation times T1/s of the resonances
		α−Phosphate	β−Phosphate	γ−phosphate
Mg2+·GDPa	278	0.53 ± 0.01	0.46 ± 0.01
Mg2+·GTPa	278	0.45 ± 0.01	0.41 ± 0.01	0.58 ± 0.01
Ras(wt)·Mg2+·GDPb	278	4.8 ± 0.3	6.6 ± 0.3
Ras(wt)·Mg2+·GTPb	278	4.5 ± 0.4	5.8 ± 0.4	5.5 ± 0.4
Ras(T35A)·Mg2+·GTPb	278	4.3 ± 0.3	5.3 ± 0.4	4.4 ± 0.3

^a The sample contained 10 mm nucleotide in 40 mm Hepes/NaOH with an final pH of 7.4, 30 mm MgCl₂, 10% D₂O, 90% H₂O.

^b The sample contained 2 mm Ras in buffer A (see “Experimental Procedures”).

Complex Formation between Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP and Ras Mutants with Effectors

Binding of the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of Raf to Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP leads to a line-broadening by a factor of 1.5, corresponding to the expected increase of the molecular mass from 21 to 30 kDa in the effector complex. However, the line positions of all phosphate groups remain almost unchanged (Fig. 3, Table 1). This indicates that GTP-bound Ras(wt) exists predominantly in the same conformation, which is also found for Ras-GppNHp in the effector bound state (state 2). The resonances of the alanine mutant Ras(T35A) are somewhat broadened when the RBD of Raf kinase is present in a molar ratio of 1:2 (Ras to RBD), but there are only slight changes in chemical shifts of the γ- and β-phosphate. A somewhat larger shift change is observed for the α-phosphate group that surprisingly is further upfield but not downfield as expected for a more state 2-like conformation (Table 1). In Ras(T35S) the intensity of the γ-phosphate line assigned to state 1 disappears, whereas simultaneously the population of the other γ-phosphate line increases. This is to be expected when the populations of the two states are shifted completely to the effector binding state 2. The data are thus consistent with our earlier assignments of states 1 and 2. As previously observed for Ras complexed with GTP analogs (11), Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP binds RalGDS only weakly and remains also in state 1 in complex with Raf-RBD (Fig. 3). For the binding of Raf to Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GppNHp a dissociation constant of 7 μm was estimated earlier (11). The chemical shift values of phosphate signals of Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP in complex with effector RBDs of Raf kinase and RalGDS are summarized in Table 1.

FIGURE 3.

Interaction of Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP with the RBD of RalGDS (A) and Raf kinase (B). The protein samples of Fig. 1A in buffer A (see “Experimental Procedures”) at 278 K were titrated with (A) highly concentrated RalGDS-RBD solution (7 mm) or (B) Raf-RBD (9 mm) in the same buffer up to a molar ratio RBD:Ras of 2. Corresponding chemical shift values obtained for Ras·RBD complexes are summarized in Table 1. α, β, and γ, resonance lines of the α-, β-, and γ-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP; α_GDP, resonance line of the α-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GDP.

Importance of the Conformational Equilibria to the Intrinsic GTPase Activity of Ras

The dynamic conformational equilibrium effects the actual chemical environment of the nucleotide and may thus also influence the intrinsic GTPase activity. Fig. 4 demonstrates that under single turnover conditions at 37 °C Ras(T35A) hydrolyzes bound GTP with k_cat of 0.005 min⁻¹, which is 5 times slower than wild-type Ras with a k_cat of 0.028 min⁻¹. A similar result was first reported by John et al. (28). In contrast, the T35S mutant hydrolyzes GTP with a rate constant of 0.011 min⁻¹, which is between those determined for wild-type Ras and Ras(T35A), respectively. This agrees with a simple model where the two conformational states have different intrinsic GTPase activity and the observed enzymatic activity is the population weighted average of the two rate constants because the exchange rate between the two conformational states is more than 4 orders of magnitude faster than the observed hydrolysis rates. Using the rate constants of C-terminal-truncated Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP (with the equilibrium constant K₁₂ = 11.3) and Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP as typical examples for the two states, the k_cat of the pure state 2 should be 0.030 min⁻¹ and for the pure state 1 it is 0.005 min⁻¹ (Table 1).

FIGURE 4.

A, determination of the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras(wt) and Thr-35 mutants at 310 K. Measurement were performed using 100 μm Ras·GTP in 40 mm HEPES/NaOH, pH 7.4, 150 mm NaCl, 10 mm MgCl₂, 2 mm DTE. The percentage of GTP (100·[GTP]/([GTP] + [GDP]) was determined (see “Experimntal Procedures”). The time constants (t) were obtained by fitting single exponential functions to the values. The resulting rate constants k_cat are given in Table 1. B, intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras(wt); C, Ras(T35A), and D, Ras(T35S) in the presence of Ras-binding domain of Raf kinase. The concentration of Ras was 100 μm, and the molar ratio of Raf-RBD to Ras is indicated in the diagrams.

Intrinsic GTP Hydrolysis of Ras in the Presence of Effector-RBD

Because complex formation between Ras(T35S) and Raf-RBD stabilizes conformational state 2 (Fig. 3), we investigated the GTPase activity in the presence of Raf-RBD. Fig. 4 shows that the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras(wt), which exists predominantly in state 2 is not (or only slightly) accelerated by addition of Raf-RBD in a concentration where complete complex formation is to be expected. The same results could also be obtained by Herrmann and colleagues (20). Also GTP hydrolysis by the alanine mutant in Ras(T35A) seems not to be affected by effector binding and remains at the low intrinsic value. This mutant cannot switch into the state 2 conformation after effector binding. In contrast, for Ras(T35S) where the equilibrium can be shifted completely toward state 2 by binding of Raf-RBD, a rate constant very similar to that of wild-type Ras is observed, which confirms that the two different effector states of triphosphate-bound Ras are associated with two distinct hydrolysis rates (Table 1).

Effects of Mutations in the P-loop, in Switch I and Switch II on Conformational Equilibria, Effector Binding, and GTPase Activity

To further characterize this two-state model we have investigated selected P-loop, switch I and II mutants in terms of conformational equilibria, GTPase activity, as well as effector binding. The two P-loop mutants investigated, namely Ras(G12V) and Ras(G13R), exist predominantly in state 2 respective to their chemical shifts and the response to effector interaction (Fig. 5A). Only slight chemical shift changes and some line broadening was observed. In contrast to the oncogenic Ras(G12V) mutant, Ras(G13R) shows GTPase activity similar to wild-type Ras whose GTP hydrolysis is not accelerated by effector binding. The switch I mutants of Ras V29G/I36G, Y32C/C118S, Y32F, Y32R, and Y32W most likely exist predominantly in state 1 (Fig. 5B). Whereas effector binding to the glycine double mutant shows the same behavior as Ras(T35S) by stabilizing state 2, the response of the Tyr-32 mutants on effector binding is not unequivocal because the chemical shift response, the intrinsic GTPase activity and the increase of the GTPase activity by effector binding do not follow a simple scheme. The missing tyrosine ring current effects probably lead to smaller chemical shift changes between the ³¹P resonances of states 1 or 2. Arginine and tryptophan in amino acid position 32 lead to a significant increase of the intrinsic GTPase activity (Fig. 6). Effector binding to Ras(Y32R) accelerates hydrolysis ∼13-fold compared with wild-type Ras. According to their chemical shifts, switch II mutants Ras(Q61A), Ras(Q61L), Ras(Q61H), and Ras(Y64A) predominantly exist in state 2 when GTP is bound (Fig. 5C). The only exception is Ras(G60A), which exists in the two states with almost identical populations (Fig. 5C). The GTPase activity of Ras(Y64A) and Ras(G60A) increases somewhat with binding of Raf-RBD up to 0.013 min⁻¹ in contrast to that of the oncogenic mutant Ras(Q61A) (Table 4 and Fig. 6). The hydrolysis rates were determined as a function of the Raf concentration, the rates given are the rates when saturation is reached (no significant further increase of the rates with increasing Raf concentration). In principle, a binding constant for Raf could be determined by fitting the data with an appropriate model. However, since the expected affinities are in the micromolar to nanomolar range, at the protein concentration of 100 μm Ras used here an accurate binding constant cannot be determined. Nevertheless, an upper limit of the K_D of the order of 10 μm can be estimated based on the ³¹P NMR titration and/or GTPase acceleration experiments for all Ras variants investigated, with the exception of the double mutant Ras(V29G/I36G) with an estimated K_D value of 1 mm.

FIGURE 5.

³¹P NMR spectra different Ras mutants complexed with Mg²⁺·GTP. 1 mm solution of different Ras mutants in buffer A (see “Experimental Procedures”) were measured at T = 278 K. Shown are Ras variants with mutation in P-loop (A), switch I (B), and switch II (C). The corresponding mutation, and the conformational states are indicated. α, β, and γ, resonance lines of the α-, β-, and γ-phosphate groups in Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP; α_GDP and β_GDP, resonance lines of the α- and β-phosphate group in Ras·Mg²⁺·GDP.

FIGURE 6.

Intrinsic GTPase activity of different Ras variants in the absence (green bars) and presence of Raf-RBD (blue bars). Left group, mutants that contain an essential contribution of state 1 in the absence of effectors but are not shifted to state 2 after effector binding; middle group, mutants that contain an essential contribution of state 1 in the absence of effectors but are shifted to state 2 after effector binding; right group, mutants that do not contain an essential contribution of state 1 in the absence of effectors. The values given are obtained by reverse phase chromatography as described under “Experimental Procedures” according to a single turnover reaction at pH 7.4 and T = 310 K. The given values for the Ras·Raf-RBD complexes were obtained under saturating concentrations of Raf-RBD, which is under conditions where the hydrolysis rate does not increase with increasing effector concentrations anymore. The only exception is Ras(V29G)/I36G), here saturation was not complete at the maximum concentration reached for Raf (700 μm). For this mutant a K_D value of 1 mm can be estimated from ³¹P NMR titration experiment. The obtained rates are summarized in Table 4. For details see “Experimntal Procedures.”

TABLE 4.

³¹P NMR chemical shifts and GTPase activity of P-loop, switch I and switch II mutants of Ras·Mg²⁺·GTP in the absence and presence of effector proteins

Measurements were performed in buffer A (see “Experimntal Procedures”) at pH 7.4 and 278 K. Chemical shift values were determined fitting the resonances by Lorentzian function. Equilibrium constants K₁₂ are defined as ratio between the populations of conformational states 1 and 2 with K₁₂ = [2]/[1].

Protein complex	α−Phosphate		β−Phosphate		γ−Phosphate		K12	kcata
	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm	δ1/ppm	δ2/ppm
								min−1
Ras(G12V)·Mg2+·GTP		−11.54		−14.69		−7.59	>10	0.002
+Raf-RBD		−11.44		−14.78		−7.85		0.002
Ras(G13R)·Mg2+·GTP		−11.59		−14.58		−8.33	>8	0.025
+Raf-RBD		−11.45		−14.52		−8.52		0.025
Ras(V29G/I36G)·Mg2+·GTP	−10.38		−15.38		−5.92		<0.1	0.008
+Raf-RBD		−11.00		−14.84		−7.82		(0.019)b
Ras(1–166)(Y32C/C118S)· Mg2+·GTP	−10.99		−15.27		−5.88		>0.1	0.020
+Raf-RBD		−10.75		−15.01		−6.11		0.072
Ras(Y32F)·Mg2+·GTP	−11.23		−15.37		−5.92		>0.8	0.014
+Raf-RBD		−11.38		−14.70		−6.44		0.042
Ras(Y32R)·Mg2+·GTP		−10.86c		−15.28c		−5.58 c	>0.8c	0.048
+Raf-RBD		−10.86c		−15.00c		−5.87c		0.359
Ras(Y32W)·Mg2+·GTP		−12.04c		−15.03c		−5.76c	>0.9c	0.074
+Raf-RBD		−12.21c		−14.95c		−5.87c		0.090
Ras(G60A)·Mg2+·GTP	−11.27	−11.88	−15.29	(−)d	−7.31	(−)d	0.5	0.004
+Raf-RBD		−12.02		−15.42		−7.76		0.013
Ras(Q61A)·Mg2+·GTP		−11.65		−15.04		−8.31	>20	<0.001
+Raf-RBD		−11.52		−14.94		−8.43		<0.001
Ras(Q61H)·Mg2+·GTPe		−11.78	−15.67	−14.87		−7.75	4.8	NDf
Ras(Q61L)·Mg2+·GTPe		−11.61	−15.75	−14.70		−7.73	4.3	ND
Ras(Y64A)·Mg2+·GTP	(−)d	−11.62	(−)d	−14.87	−6.62	−8.22	5.9	0.011
+Raf-RBD		−11.46		−14.83		−8.24		0.013

^a Values for the complex were determined at various concentrations of Raf-RBD. The obtained maximum value at saturation is given. The temperature was 310 K (for details, see “Experimental Procedures”).

^b The affinity between Raf-RBD and Ras(V29G/I36G) is in the mm range thus Ras was not totally complexed with Raf-RBD at a RBD concentration of 700 μm.

^c On the basis of chemical shift values alone one cannot distinguish between the two states. From data obtained using GppNHp complexes of these Ras variants one would expect that the equilibrium is shifted towards state 2 (10).

^d The resonances position could not determined because of the signal overlap.

^e Data from Geyer et al. (1). Chemical shifts were corrected for the reference used in this paper.

^f ND, not determined.

DISCUSSION

Conformational States of Ras Bound to GTP

When Ras is complexed with nucleoside triphosphates (T), it exists in two conformations, designated as state 1(T) and state 2(T) that were first characterized by the chemical shifts of their γ-phosphate resonance in the complex with GppNHp. In state 2 the α- and γ-phosphate resonance is shifted upfield relatively to the position found in state 1. State 1 was identified as a state that only weakly interacts with effectors but seems to be stabilized by guanine nucleotide exchange factors, whereas state 2 strongly interacts with effectors (1, 7, 11, 14). Binding of effectors usually shifts the equilibrium toward state 2, which is the high-field shifted α- and γ-phosphate resonances gain in intensity after effector binding. An additional feature of the intrinsic Ras dynamics is the observation that mutation of Thr-35 to alanine or serine shifts the equilibrium toward state 1 (11).

Later we could show that a similar behavior is observed for nucleotide analog GppCH₂p where again the α- and γ-phosphate resonances are high-field shifted in state 2 (2). For the complex of wild-type Ras with the analog GTPγS (3) or GTP itself (1) only one set of resonance lines was observed. The resonances of GTPγS bound to wild-type Ras shift only slightly after binding of effectors indicating that the protein already occurs in the strong effector binding state 2. An analysis of the corresponding Thr-35 mutants and their NMR response to effector binding confirmed the assignment to state 2 (3).

The presence of two conformational states in Ras·GTP was first proposed for the mutant Q61H (1). However, whereas the initial assignment of the phosphate resonances is in agreement with the two-dimensional NOESY spectrum recorded here (Fig. 1B), the assignment of the two states compared with Ras·GppNHp was based on the shift of the two-resonance signal relative to each other. Now, a closer inspection of a spectrum of Ras(1–160)(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP recorded with a Cryo-QNB probe at a ³¹P frequency of 242 MHz (Bruker, Rheinstetten, Germany) clearly reveals that a second set of weak resonances exists also in the C-terminal-truncated wild-type protein with an equilibrium constant K₁₂ of 11.3 (Fig. 2B). For the weak resonance downfield from the strong γ-phosphate resonance we can show a conformational exchange by a ³¹P saturation transfer. The chemical shifts of the α- and γ-resonances indicate that the main conformation of Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP corresponds indeed to state 2.

In agreement with this assumption the addition of the effectors RalGDS and Raf (Table 1 and Fig. 3) leads only to small chemical shift changes after binding. The line positions of the weak resonances of Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP closely corresponds to that of Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP found to exist mainly in state 1 when GTP analogs are bound. The latter is confirmed by comparing the spectra of Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP with those of the serine mutant. Ras(T35S)·Mg²⁺·GTP shows clearly two sets of resonance lines at the positions found in Ras(T35A)·Mg²⁺·GTP (assigned to state 1) and Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP (assigned to state 2) with K₁₂ = 0.29. In agreement with this assignment, addition of effectors to Ras(T35S)·Mg²⁺·GTP shifts the lines completely to the position dominantly found in Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GTP. In line with this assignment is the observation of weak resonances observed earlier in the GTP complexes of mutants Ras(Q61H) and Ras(Q61L) (1) that can now unambiguously be assigned to state 1. The differences of free energies can be calculated from the integrals of the resonance lines for the GTP complexes. For the wild-type protein ΔG₁₂ is −5.6 kJ mol⁻¹.

An interesting observation is that in full-length Ras(1–189) a higher equilibrium constant K₁₂ is found compared with Ras(1–166), that is truncation of the C terminus leads to a shift of the conformational equilibrium toward state 1. This equilibrium may be further shifted to the effector binding state 2(T) when the C terminus is farnesylated and palmitoylated. Physiologically, this would make sense because the interaction with effectors (state 2) should be strongly preferred compared with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor interaction (state 1) when Ras is bound to the membrane.

Previously, investigations comparing the dynamic behavior of wild-type and (T35S)Ras complexed to GTP was also performed by time-resolved FTIR using a caged GTP compound (29). Here, the rate for formation of the conformation corresponding to state 2 was determined to be 5 s⁻¹ after cleavage of the caging pHP modification for wild-type Ras at 260 K. For Ras(T35S) the transition into that conformation was only detected in the presence of Raf-RBD, which we show to stabilize state 2 in this mutant. The obtained rate constant (measured at 260 K) is rather similar to that determined by us at 278 K but should be correlated, as discussed, with complex formation with the effector protein RBD. It would be interesting to determine how Ras(T35A) would behave in such an experiment, which remains in state 1 in complex with effectors. In contrast to the FTIR experiments, the equilibria between the two conformational states in Ras complexed with GTP can be directly observed by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and it can be shown that the dominant conformation in wild-type or T35S mutant in complex with effectors is state 2.

The conformation of state 2 should be similar to the structure found by x-ray crystallography of Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GppNHp (30), although it could be demonstrated by single crystal and MAS ³¹P NMR spectroscopy that a conformational equilibrium also exists in crystals of Ras(wt)·Mg²⁺·GppNHp (31, 32). Whereas in the x-ray structure of Ras(T35S)·Mg²⁺·GppNHp solved by us earlier, both switch regions are not resolved (11), a structure possibly corresponding to state 1 could be determined in the GppNHp complexes of the Ras mutant Ras(G60A) (33) and in another Ras isoform M-Ras (34). In a most recent structure of Ras(T35S) the switch regions are visible and the hydrogen bonding pattern around the phosphate groups is revealed (35). In all these state 1 structures the interactions of the amide and the hydroxyl groups of the conserved residue Thr-35 with the γ-phosphate and the Mg²⁺-ion are disrupted. In addition, in Ras(T35S) in state 1 two slightly different forms could be found, one with the hydrogen bond of Gly-60 with the γ-phosphate intact and one with the hydrogen bond broken. Another feature concerns the α-phosphate group, where the interaction of the side chain of Glu-31 via a water molecule is disrupted. In contrast, the hydrogen bonding pattern around the β-phosphate is identical in the two states. This qualitatively fits well to the observed chemical shift changes. We had argued earlier (10) that the phosphorus chemical shift changes observed in Ras and its mutants may be dominated by the bond polarization via hydrogen bonding or electric charges and only to a weaker degree by the other two mechanisms, conformational strain and magnetic anisotropy effects. The downfield shift of the γ-phosphate group in Ras(T35S) in complex with GppNHp (10) by −0.7 ppm in state 1 fits to the breakage of the hydrogen bond to Gly-60 and Ser-35 (Thr-35) observed in the crystal structure (35) of Ras(T35S). In this structure, hydrogen bonding to the β-phosphate is unperturbed as it is chemical shift but again the interaction of Glu-31 with the α-phosphate is perturbed and the α-phosphate resonance is shifted downfield in state 1 relative to state 2 by −0.5 ppm. Interestingly, the chemical shift changes also include the β-phosphate when GTP is bound indicating that details of the two structural states may vary somewhat when the natural ligand GTP is bound.

In the complex of Ras(T35S) with GTPγS we observed two substates of state 1 we named 1(a) and 1(b) (3) that we assigned to the different rotamers of the γ-phosphate group. Especially, in the rotamer where the sulfur is directed toward the amino group of Lys-16 the hydrogen bond with Gly-60 should be weakened substantially. In line with the solution NMR experiments, in the new crystal structures of Ras(T35S) (35) two forms are also observed, one with Gly-60 hydrogen bonded to γ-phosphate, and a second one with this hydrogen bond cleaved.

Dynamics of the Conformational Transitions

The exchange rate between the two states was determined by saturation transfer experiments for the Ras(1–166) as ∼7 s⁻¹ at 278 K. This value is substantially smaller than those observed for GTP analogs GppNHp or GppCH₂p (Table 2). The main difference between GTP and these analogs is the replacement of the oxygen bridging the β- and γ-phosphate group by groups that cannot accept hydrogen bonds. If the possible hydrogen bonding of Gly-13 with this oxygen has to be broken for the transition between two structural states, it can explain the reduced exchange rate when GTP is bound instead of the analogs. Because the rate constant k₂₁ is decreased and simultaneously the equilibrium is shifted to state 2, such an interaction may be found only in state 2 but not state 1.

Conformational States and Effector Binding

In agreement with data obtained for Ras in complex with different GTP analogs, Ras variants existing in state 1 show drastically decreased affinity for their effector proteins. Thus wild-type and Ras(G12V) in concentrations used for NMR experiments are completely effector-bound in the presence of Raf with a Raf:Ras ratio of about 1:1, whereas for mutants such as Ras(V29G/I36G) we can estimate a K_D value of approximately 700 μm for Raf binding from the ³¹P NMR titrations, taking into account that for these mutants Ras in state 2 reflects the effector-bound fraction. In analogy to Ras complexed with other guanine nucleotide triphosphates the binding of effectors shifts the equilibrium toward state 2 in Ras(T35S)·GTP or Ras(V29G/I36G)·GTP (Table 4) but not in Ras(T35A) missing the side chain hydroxyl, which interacts with the Mg²⁺-ion. Mutation of Tyr-32 leads to chemical shift changes that cannot unambiguously be assigned to either states 1 or 2 by chemical shift analysis alone, because the ring current of the aromatic side chain is partially responsible for the chemical shift difference between states 1 and 2 (1). All Tyr-32 mutants investigated in this work, namely Y32C, Y32F, Y32R, and Y32W, show accelerated GTP hydrolysis rates after effector binding, thus it seems that mutation of this amino acid destabilizes state 2 as well.

In addition to the decrease in GTPase activity strongly transforming Gln-61 mutants of Ras show a high affinity state to effectors (36) required for an efficient activation of the Ras pathways. This observation can be generalized, normal high affinity for effectors is a general property for oncogenic Ras mutants. Because state 1 has a low affinity for effectors, mutants that cannot be switched to state 2 in the presence of effectors as Ras(T35A) cannot be oncogenic. In addition, some of the state 1 mutants initially have a low GTPase activity but show a high GTPase activity in the presence of effectors. These mutants are probably also not oncogenic because they show potentially, but not necessarily a sufficiently high GTPase activity in the presence of GAP. An example in our case would be Ras(T35S).

Conformational Equilibria Affect the GTPase Activity of Ras

The conformational states of Ras exhibit different rates in GTP hydrolysis. This can be shown best in the comparison between Ras(wt) and the two Thr-35 mutants investigated. It is not surprising that hydrolysis is faster in the conformation found in wild-type Ras, because here we should find the optimized structure for intrinsic as well as GAP accelerated GTPase activity. Various reasons could be responsible for that: (i) different chemical properties of the γ-phosphate, such as an increased pK_a of the γ-phosphate (37, 38), (ii) localization of the nucleophilic water molecule that attacks the γ-phosphate and thus initiates the reaction (39), or (iii) the orientation of the γ-phosphate or Gln-61 by perturbation of the main chain contacts of Thr-35 and probably also Gly-60 of Ras. In fact, in the recent crystal structure of Ras(T35S) the attacking water is not visible and the correct orientation of the side chain of Gln-61 is disturbed.

Mutation of Tyr-32 to other amino acids shows different effects on GTPase activity, thus Ras(Y32C/C118S) and Ras(Y32F) show a decrease in the rate of hydrolysis, but after effector binding they are both 2–3 times faster than wild-type. For Ras(Y32F), a 2.3-fold increase of GTPase activity in the presence of Raf-RBD-CRD could be demonstrated but only up to the rate similar to that found at wild-type was observed using γ-³²P-labeled GTP based assay at 30 °C (40). An explanation could be that at the 1:1 ratio between effector and Ras at submicromolar concentrations used in that study, saturation of Ras binding was not achieved. The mutation of Tyr-32 in the Ras·Raf complex could partially mimic the Ras·GAP complex in which Tyr-32 is interacting with GAP and thus directs away from the phosphate groups (41). Mutation of Tyr-32 to tryptophan or arginine showed an increase in activity already in the non-effector bound state. A further increase was observed after effector binding in the arginine mutant, Ras(Y32R), thus in the effector complex a k_cat value of 0.36 min⁻¹ at 37 °C is reached that is about 13 times higher than the one obtained for the wild-type protein. In the Ras-effector complex the position of Tyr-32 is stabilized close to the phosphate groups. One can assume that in the corresponding complex the arginine of Ras at position 32 partly adopts the function of the arginine finger in GAP. This acceleration could be confirmed determining the dissociation of inorganic phosphate as a product of GTP hydrolysis by means of a luminescent terbium complex (42). Finally, the differential intrinsic hydrolysis activity of two triphosphate-bound states might be generalized to explain the very slowly hydrolyzing activity of the Ran. Ran-GTP was previously shown to exist in two different states interacting in the slow exchange regime, with prevalence for state 1 at high temperatures (7). If state 1 would be similarly slower hydrolyzing than state 2 as shown for Ras, this observation could explain the high stability of Ran in its triphosphate-bound form. Because at higher temperatures the equilibrium is shifted toward state 1 one would expect an abnormal temperature dependence of the GTPase activity with an unusually slow increase or a decrease of the GTPase activity with temperature. Unfortunately, there are no such data at low temperatures available so far.

Conclusion

Ras bound to guanine nucleoside triphosphates exists in an equilibrium of at least two different conformational states. This equilibrium can be shifted by the use of different nucleotides or by specific mutations in the switch I and II regions of the protein. Bound to GTP or GTPγS, Ras(wt) predominantly exists in a conformation similar to the effector bound state (state 2). For the naturally occurring complex Ras(1–166)·Mg²⁺·GTP we finally could determine the free enthalpy difference ΔG₁₂ as −5.6 kJ mol⁻¹. Replacing the β,γ-phosphate bridging oxygen by the NH or CH₂ group shifts the equilibrium toward the conformation with low affinity to effectors (state 1). Ras molecules existing in conformational state 1 show a decrease in intrinsic GTP hydrolysis activity. Binding of effectors can stabilize state 2 and hence increase the rate of hydrolysis in these mutants. Replacing Tyr-32 by other amino acids seems to shift the equilibrium toward state 1 because the GTP hydrolysis is always increased in the presence of the effector Raf known to stabilize state 2.