Role of G proteins in transmembrane signaling.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A G Gilman.
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Antisera were generated against synthetic peptides that correspond to amino acid sequences deduced from a cDNA (designated beta 2) that encodes a second form of the beta subunit of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins). The specificity of interactions of these antisera with purified G protein beta subunits indicates that the beta 2 cDNA encodes the beta 35 form of this polypeptide. This hypothesis is confirmed by the use of these antisera to detect expression of the beta 2 cDNA in COS-m6 cells.
Complementary DNAs that encode two forms of the alpha subunit (Gs alpha) of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein responsible for stimulation of adenylate cyclase (Gs) have been inserted into plasmid vectors for expression in Escherichia coli. Following transformation of either of these plasmids into E. coli K38, Gs alpha accumulates to 0.4-0.8 mg/liter (approximately 0.1% of total protein), as judged by immunoblot analysis with specific antisera. Based on deduced amino acid sequence, the two cDNAs should encode proteins with molecular weights of 44,500 and 46,000, respectively (Robishaw, J.D., Smigel, M. D., and Gilman, A. G. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 9587-9590). Expression of these cDNAs in E. coli yields proteins that co-migrate on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with the Gs alpha subunits from S49 lymphoma cell membranes, with apparent molecular weights of 45,000 and 52,000, respectively. Low levels of activity are detected in the 100,000 X g supernatant after lysis and fractionation of E. coli expressing either form of Gs alpha. Partial purification of Gs alpha from E. coli lysates yields preparations in which significant and stable activity can be assayed. Both forms of Gs alpha migrate through sucrose gradients as soluble, monodisperse species in the absence of detergent. As expressed in E. coli, both forms of Gs alpha can reconstitute isoproterenol-, guanine nucleotide-, and fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in S49 cyc-cell membranes to approximately the same degree and can be ADP-ribosylated with [32P]NAD+ and cholera toxin. However, based on the specific activity of purified rabbit liver Gs, only 1-2% of the Gs alpha expressed in E. coli appears to be active. Incubation of partially purified fractions of recombinant Gs alpha with guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate and resolved beta gamma subunits isolated from purified bovine brain G proteins results in a 7-10-fold increase in Gs activity. Incubation of bovine brain beta gamma with recombinant Gs alpha also leads to a dramatic increase in observed levels of cholera toxin-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation.
The structures of the guanosine 5'O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-containing guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) are distinct from those of the GDP-containing forms. One indication of the conformational change caused by GTP gamma S is a Mg2+-sensitive increase in the intensity of the proteins' tryptophan fluorescence (Higashijima, T., Ferguson, K.M., Sternweis, P.C., Ross, E.M., Smigel, M.D., Gilman, A.G. (1987), J. Biol. Chem., 262, 762-766). GTP causes a similar change in the fluorescence of Go, a G protein from bovine brain. When Mg2+ is also present, the increase in fluorescence is transient, and the rate of decline in the intensity of the fluorescence is the same as the rate of GTP hydrolysis by the protein. The steady-state rate of hydrolysis of GTP by Go (0.3-0.4/min) is slower than the catalytic rate of the protein (2/min), because the rate-limiting step in the reaction is the release of GDP.
The intensity of the tryptophan fluorescence of the alpha subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins increases when they bind guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTY gamma S). The kinetics of the fluorescence enhancement and of the measured binding of [35S]GTP gamma S are well correlated. The addition of Mg2+ to the nucleotide-bound proteins causes a further, rapid increase in the fluorescence intensity. Similar effects result from exposure of the proteins to F- and Mg2+, and the required concentration of F- is reduced by the inclusion of Al3+. It is presumed that the more highly fluorescent state of the G protein alpha subunits represents their active conformation.
Mg2+ interacts with the alpha subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in the presence of guanosine-5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP-gamma S) to form a highly fluorescent complex from which nucleotide dissociates very slowly. The apparent Kd for interaction of G alpha X GTP gamma S with Mg2+ is approximately 5 nM, similar to the Km for G protein GTPase activity X G beta gamma increases the rate of dissociation of GTP gamma S from G alpha X GTP gamma S or G alpha X GTP gamma S X Mg2+ at low concentrations of Mg2+. When the concentration of Mg2+ exceeds 1 mM, G beta gamma dissociates from G beta gamma X G alpha X GTP gamma S X Mg2+. Compared with the dramatic effect of Mg2+ on binding of GTP gamma S to G alpha, the metal has relatively little effect on the binding of GDP. However, G beta gamma increases the affinity of G alpha for GDP by more than 100-fold. High concentrations of Mg2+ promote the dissociation of GDP from G beta gamma X G alpha X GDP, apparently without causing subunit dissociation. The steady-state rate of GTP hydrolysis is strictly correlated with the rate of dissociation of GDP from G alpha under all conditions examined. Thus, there are at least two sites for interaction of Mg2+ with G protein-nucleotide complexes. Furthermore, binding of G beta gamma and GTP gamma S to G alpha is negatively cooperative, while the binding interaction between G beta gamma and GDP is strongly positive.
A complementary DNA (cDNA) has been isolated that encodes a second form of the beta subunit of signal-transducing guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins). The cDNA corresponds to a 1.8-kilobase mRNA, and nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that the encoded polypeptide consists of 340-amino acid residues with a Mr of 37,335. Although the deduced polypeptide is the same size as that reported previously for the beta subunit, 10% of the amino acid residues are different. Furthermore, the 5' and 3' non-translated regions of this cDNA show no significant homology with those reported previously for cDNAs that encode the beta subunit. These data refute prior conclusions that there is only one form of the G protein beta subunit.
Antisera directed against specific subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) were used to immunoprecipitate these polypeptides from metabolically labeled cells. This technique detects, in extracts of a human astrocytoma cell line, the alpha subunits of Gs (stimulatory) (alpha 45 and alpha 52), a 41-kDa subunit of Gi (inhibitory) (alpha 41), a 40-kDa protein (alpha 40), and the 36-kDa beta subunit. No protein that comigrated with the alpha subunit of Go (unknown function) (alpha 39) was detected. In cells grown in the presence of [3H]myristic acid, alpha 41 and alpha 40 contained 3H label, while the beta subunit did not. Chemical analysis of lipids attached covalently to purified alpha 41 and alpha 39 from bovine brain also revealed myristic acid. Similar analysis of brain G protein beta and gamma subunits and of Gt (transducin) subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma) failed to reveal fatty acids. The fatty acid associated with alpha 41, alpha 40, and alpha 39 was stable to treatment with base, suggesting that the lipid is linked to the polypeptide via an amide bond. These GTP binding proteins are thus identified as members of a select group of proteins that contains myristic acid covalently attached to the peptide backbone. Myristate may play an important role in stabilizing interactions of G proteins with phospholipid or with membrane-bound proteins.
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Most cells contain two forms of the alpha subunit of the G protein (Gs) that stimulates adenylate cyclase; their apparent molecular weights are 45,000 and 52,000. Two cDNAs that correspond to distinct mRNAs for the alpha subunit of Gs have been cloned from a bovine adrenal library and sequenced. The sequences of the two cDNAs, designated pGs-l and pGs-S, are identical except for a single stretch of 46 nucleotides in the coding region, where four are altered and 42 are deleted in pGs-S. Expression of pGs-S and pGs-l in COS-m6 cells yields protein products with apparent molecular weights of 45,000 and 52,000, respectively, based on their mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. We conclude that pGs-S and pGs-l encode the 45- and 52-kDa forms of Gs alpha, respectively, and propose that the mRNAs encoding these proteins arise from a single gene by internal alternative RNA splicing.
A membrane-bound protein cofactor (ARF) is required for the cholera toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of the stimulatory regulatory component (Gs) of adenylate cyclase. Improved methods for the purification of ARF from bovine brain are described. ARF has a high-affinity binding site for guanine nucleotides. Binding of GTP or GTP gamma S to ARF is necessary for the activity of the cofactor; GDP X ARF does not support ADP-ribosylation of Gs. Although the protein as purified contains stoichiometric amounts of GDP, GTPase activity of isolated ARF was not detected. Cholera toxin-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase thus requires two guanine nucleotide binding proteins.
Purified guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins, as either the oligomers or the isolated nucleotide-binding alpha subunits, display anomalous kinetics of nucleotide binding. This is due to the presence of tightly bound GDP in these preparations. The dissociation of bound GDP is the rate-limiting step for nucleotide binding. GDP can be removed by chromatography in the presence of 1 M (NH4)2SO4 and 20% glycerol, which yields preparations of G proteins that contain less than 0.1 mol of GDP/mol of guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-binding site. When the GDP is removed, the binding of GTP gamma S displays kinetics consistent with a bimolecular reaction.
Antisera were raised against purified subunits of regulatory GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) and against synthetic peptides that correspond to defined regions of G proteins. Peptide antisera were generated that recognized all alpha or all beta subunits from Gs, Gi, Go, and transducin; others recognized only Gs alpha or Go alpha. Such cross-reaction or complete specificity for a given alpha subunit was not obtained when purified subunits were injected. Peptide antisera were used to identify G protein subunits in selected tissue membrane preparations by immunoblots.
A bovine adrenal cDNA clone encoding the entire alpha subunit of the GTP-binding regulatory protein that stimulates adenylate cyclase (Gs) was isolated and sequenced. This cDNA directed the synthesis of the larger, 52-kDa form of the polypeptide in COS cells, even though the clone appeared to encode a 46-kDa protein. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of Gs alpha with the alpha subunit of another G protein, transducin, revealed striking homologies.
beta-Adrenergic receptors, the GTP-binding regulatory protein that stimulates adenylate cyclase (Gs), and adenylate cyclase were each purified and reconstituted into unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine (3:2, w/w). The molar ratio of receptor:Gs:adenylate cyclase was estimated to be about 1:10:1. Adenylate cyclase activity in the vesicles was stimulated up to 2.6-fold by beta-adrenergic agonists. Stimulation was dependent on the presence of guanine nucleotide, displayed appropriate beta-adrenergic selectivity and stereoselectivity for agonists, and was blocked appropriately by beta-adrenergic antagonists. Therefore, while additional proteins may modulate adenylate cyclase activity in native membranes, these results show that these three proteins are sufficient for the expression of hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase.
A complementary DNA clone encoding the alpha subunit of the adenylate cyclase stimulatory G protein (Gs) was isolated and identified. A bovine brain complementary DNA library was screened with an oligonucleotide probe derived from amino acid sequence common to known G proteins. The only clone that was obtained with this probe has a complementary DNA insert of approximately 1670 base pairs. An antibody to a peptide synthesized according to deduced amino acid sequence reacts specifically with the alpha subunit of Gs. In addition, RNA that hybridizes with probes made from the clone is detected in wild-type S49 cells; however, cyc- S49 cells, which are deficient in Gs alpha activity, are devoid of this messenger RNA.
Human platelet membrane proteins were phosphorylated by exogenous, partially purified Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). The phosphorylation of one of the major substrates for protein kinase C (Mr = 41 000) was specifically suppressed by the beta subunit of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory component (Gi, Ni) of adenylate cyclase. The free alpha subunit of Gi (Mr = 41 000) also served as an excellent substrate for the kinase (greater than 0.5 mol phosphate incorporated per mol of subunit), but the Gi oligomer (alpha X beta X gamma) did not. Treatment of cyc- S49 lymphoma cells, which are deficient in Gs/Ns (the stimulatory component) but contain functional Gi/Ni, with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, a potent activator of protein kinase C, did not alter stimulation of adenylate cyclase catalytic activity by forskolin, whereas the Gi/Ni-mediated inhibition of the cyclase by the hormone, somatostatin, was impaired in these membranes. The results suggest that the alpha subunit of the inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory component of adenylate cyclase may be a physiological substrate for protein kinase C and that the function of the component in transducing inhibitory hormonal signals to adenylate cyclase is altered by its phosphorylation.
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