Heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in Arabidopsis: Puzzling G-protein-coupled receptor

Seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are commonly used by eukaryotes to sense extracellular signals to switch on cellular responses through the activation of cognate heterotrimeric G-proteins. In Arabidopsis thaliana, GCR2 has been proposed as a GPCR for the plant hormone abscisic acid. On the other hand, biochemical analysis demonstrates that the sole Arabidopsis heterotrimeric G-protein α subunit, GPA1, is in the activated state (GTP-bound) by default, suggesting that the heterotrimeric G-proteins may act without any GPCRs.Key words: heterotrimeric G-proteins, GCR2, GPA1, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), AtRGS1     

Heterotrimeric G protein alpha and beta subunits antagonistically modulate stomatal density in Arabidopsis thaliana

Stomata are essential for efficient gas and water-vapor exchange between the atmosphere and plants. Stomatal density and movement are controlled by a series of signal molecules including phytohormones and peptides as well as by environmental stimuli. It is known that heterotrimeric G-proteins play an important role in the ABA-inhibited stomatal opening. In this study, the G-protein signaling pathway was also found to regulate stomatal density on the lower epidermis of Arabidopsis cotyledons. The loss-of-function mutation of the G-protein α-subunit (GPA1) showed a reduction in stomatal density, while overexpression of the constitutively active form of GPA1^QL increased stomatal density, indicating a positive role of the active form of GPA1 in stomatal development. In contrast, stomatal density increased in the null mutant of the G-protein β-subunit (AGB1) but decreased in transgenic lines that overexpressed AGB1. Stomatal analysis of the gpa1 agb1 double mutants displayed an average value of stomatal density compared to the single mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that the stomatal density in Arabidopsis is modulated by GPA1 and AGB1 in an antagonistic manner.     

Rice phospholipase A superfamily: organization, phylogenetic and expression analysis during abiotic stresses and development

Background

Phospholipase A (PLA) is an important group of enzymes responsible for phospholipid hydrolysis in lipid signaling. PLAs have been implicated in abiotic stress signaling and developmental events in various plants species. Genome-wide analysis of PLA superfamily has been carried out in dicot plant Arabidopsis. A comprehensive genome-wide analysis of PLAs has not been presented yet in crop plant rice.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis identified a total of 31 PLA encoding genes in the rice genome, which are divided into three classes; phospholipase A₁ (PLA₁), patatin like phospholipases (pPLA) and low molecular weight secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂) based on their sequences and phylogeny. A subset of 10 rice PLAs exhibited chromosomal duplication, emphasizing the role of duplication in the expansion of this gene family in rice. Microarray expression profiling revealed a number of PLA members expressing differentially and significantly under abiotic stresses and reproductive development. Comparative expression analysis with Arabidopsis PLAs revealed a high degree of functional conservation between the orthologs in two plant species, which also indicated the vital role of PLAs in stress signaling and plant development across different plant species. Moreover, sub-cellular localization of a few candidates suggests their differential localization and functional role in the lipid signaling.

Conclusion/Significance

The comprehensive analysis and expression profiling would provide a critical platform for the functional characterization of the candidate PLA genes in crop plants.     

Go contributes to olfactory reception in Drosophila melanogaster

Background  

Seven-transmembrane receptors typically mediate olfactory signal transduction by coupling to G-proteins. Although insect odorant receptors have seven transmembrane domains like G-protein coupled receptors, they have an inverted membrane topology and function as ligand-gated cation channels. Consequently, the involvement of cyclic nucleotides and G proteins in insect odor reception is controversial. Since the heterotrimeric G_oα subunit is expressed in Drosophila olfactory receptor neurons, we reasoned that G_o acts together with insect odorant receptor cation channels to mediate odor-induced physiological responses.     

Breaking down the barriers: fMRI applications in pain, analgesia and analgesics

Background

The vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) is critical in the development of inflammatory hyperalgesia. Several receptors including G-protein coupled prostaglandin receptors have been reported to functionally interact with the TRPV1 through a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway to potentiate TRPV1-mediated capsaicin responses. Such regulation may have significance in inflammatory pain. However, few functional receptor interactions that inhibit PKA-mediated potentiation of TRPV1 responses have been described.

Results

In the present studies we investigated the hypothesis that the μ opioid receptor (MOP) agonist morphine can modulate forskolin-potentiated capsaicin responses through a cAMP-dependent PKA pathway. HEK293 cells were stably transfected with TRPV1 and MOP, and calcium (Ca²⁺) responses to injection of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin were monitored in Fluo-3-loaded cells. Pre-treatment with morphine did not inhibit unpotentiated capsaicin-induced Ca²⁺ responses but significantly altered capsaicin responses potentiated by forskolin. TRPV1-mediated Ca²⁺ responses potentiated by the direct PKA activator 8-Br-cAMP and the PKC activator Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetatewere not modulated by morphine. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed that the TRPV1 and MOP are co-expressed on cultured Dorsal Root Ganglion neurones, pointing towards the existence of a functional relationship between the G-protein coupled MOP and nociceptive TRPV1.

Conclusion

The results presented here indicate that the opioid receptor agonist morphine acts via inhibition of adenylate cyclase to inhibit PKA-potentiated TRPV1 responses. Targeting of peripheral opioid receptors may therefore have therapeutic potential as an intervention to prevent potentiation of TRPV1 responses through the PKA pathway in inflammation.     

Plant signaling in stress: G-protein coupled receptors,heterotrimeric G-proteins and signal coupling via phospholipases

Plant growth and development are coordinalely controlled by several internal factors and environmental signals. To sense these environmental signals, the higher plants have evolved a complex signaling network, which may also cross talk with each other. Plants can respond to the signals as individual cells and as whole organisms. Various receptors including phytochromes, G-proteins coupled receptors (GPCR), kinase and hormone receptors play important role in signal transduction but very few have been characterized in plant system. The heterotrimeric G-proteins mediate the coupling of signal transduction from activated GPCR to appropriate downstream effectors and thereby play an important role in signaling. In this review we have focused on some of the recent work on G-proteins and two of the effectors, PLC and PLD, which have been shown to interact with Gα subunit and also discussed their role in abiotic stress tolerance.Key words: abiotic stress, G-protein couple receptor, heterotrimeric G-protein, phospholipases, plant receptors, signal transduction     

Yeast Ste2 receptors as tools for study of mammalian protein kinases and adaptors involved in receptor trafficking

Background

Mammalian receptors that couple to effectors via heterotrimeric G proteins (e.g., beta ₂-adrenergic receptors) and receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (e.g., insulin and IGF-I receptors) constitute the proximal points of two dominant cell signaling pathways. Receptors coupled to G proteins can be substrates for tyrosine kinases, integrating signals from both pathways. Yeast cells, in contrast, display G protein-coupled receptors (e.g., alpha-factor pheromone receptor Ste2) that have evolved in the absence of receptor tyrosine kinases, such as those found in higher organisms. We sought to understand the motifs in G protein-coupled receptors that act as substrates for receptor tyrosine kinases and the functional consequence of such phosphorylation on receptor biology. We expressed in human HEK 293 cells yeast wild-type Ste2 as well as a Ste2 chimera engineered with cytoplasmic domains of the beta₂-adrenergic receptor and tested receptor sequestration in response to activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase.

Results

The yeast Ste2 was successfully expressed in HEK 293 cells. In response to alpha-factor, Ste2 signals to the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and internalizes. Wash out of agonist and addition of antagonist does not lead to Ste2 recycling to the cell membrane. Internalized Ste2 is not significantly degraded. Beta₂-adrenergic receptors display internalization in response to agonist (isoproterenol), but rapidly recycle to the cell membrane following wash out of agonist and addition of antagonist. Beta₂-adrenergic receptors display internalization in response to activation of insulin receptors (i.e., cross-regulation), whereas Ste2 does not. Substitution of the cytoplasmic domains of the β₂-adrenergic receptor for those of Ste2 creates a Ste2/beta₂-adrenergic receptor chimera displaying insulin-stimulated internalization.

Conclusion

Chimera composed of yeast Ste2 into which domains of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors have been substituted, when expressed in animal cells, provide a unique tool for study of the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor trafficking by mammalian receptor tyrosine kinases and adaptor proteins.     

The G-protein-coupled receptor GCR1 regulates DNA synthesis through activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

Different lines of evidence suggest that specific events during the cell cycle may be mediated by a heterotrimeric G-protein activated by a cognate G-protein coupled receptor. However, coupling between the only known Galpha-subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein (GPA1) and the only putative G-protein coupled receptor (GCR1) of plants has never been shown. Using a variety of approaches, we show here that GCR1-enhanced thymidine incorporation into DNA depends on an increase in phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity and an elevation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels in the cells. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells that overexpress either Arabidopsis GCR1 or GPA1 display this phenomenon. We suggest on the basis of these results that GCR1-controlled events during the cell cycle involve phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C as an effector of GCR1 and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate as a second messenger, and that GCR1 and GPA1 are both involved in this particular signaling pathway.     

Expression in Escherichia coli, purification, refolding and antifungal activity of an osmotin from Solanum nigrum

Background

The large-scale production of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) for functional and structural studies remains a challenge. Recent successes have been made in the expression of a range of GPCRs using Pichia pastoris as an expression host. P. pastoris has a number of advantages over other expression systems including ability to post-translationally modify expressed proteins, relative low cost for production and ability to grow to very high cell densities. Several previous studies have described the expression of GPCRs in P. pastoris using shaker flasks, which allow culturing of small volumes (500 ml) with moderate cell densities (OD600 ~15). The use of bioreactors, which allow straightforward culturing of large volumes, together with optimal control of growth parameters including pH and dissolved oxygen to maximise cell densities and expression of the target receptors, are an attractive alternative. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of expression of the human Adenosine 2A receptor (A_2AR) in P. pastoris under control of a methanol-inducible promoter in both flask and bioreactor cultures.

Results

Bioreactor cultures yielded an approximately five times increase in cell density (OD600 ~75) compared to flask cultures prior to induction and a doubling in functional expression level per mg of membrane protein, representing a significant optimisation. Furthermore, analysis of a C-terminally truncated A_2AR, terminating at residue V334 yielded the highest levels (200 pmol/mg) so far reported for expression of this receptor in P. pastoris. This truncated form of the receptor was also revealed to be resistant to C-terminal degradation in contrast to the WT A_2AR, and therefore more suitable for further functional and structural studies.

Conclusion

Large-scale expression of the A_2AR in P. pastoris bioreactor cultures results in significant increases in functional expression compared to traditional flask cultures.     

Re-evaluation of the cytokinin receptor role of the Arabidopsis gene GCR1

GCR1 has been tentatively identified inArabidopsis thaliana as the first plant G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) (Josefsson and Rask 1997) implicated in the cytokinin sensory pathway (Plakidou-Dymock et al. 1998). A protein fusion of GCR1 and green fluorescent protein has been expressed inArabidopsis and shown GCR1 to be located on the plasma membrane. Studies of plants with altered GCR1 expression have led us to question GCR1's involvement in cytokinin signaling. TransgenicArabidopsis plants containing sense and antisense constructs for GCR1 have been produced and over- and under-expression confirmed. The analysis of 12 antisense and 17 sense lines has failed to reveal the previously reported »Dainty« phenotype or altered cytokinin sensitivity. We have used the »Gauntlet« approach to test the plants' response to various plant hormones although this has not yet identified a mutant phenotype. The yeast-two hybrid system has been used and so far there is no evidence to suggest GCR1 interacts with heterotrimeric G proteins. Before GCR1 can be identified as genuine G-protein coupled receptor, the identification of a ligand and a proof of association with heterotrimeric G-proteins should be obtained.     

AtHSP17.8 overexpression in transgenic lettuce gives rise to dehydration and salt stress resistance phenotypes through modulation of ABA-mediated signaling

Key message

Transgenic Arabidopsis and lettuce plants overexpressing AtHSP17.8 showed ABA-hypersensitive but abiotic stress-resistant phenotypes. ABA treatment caused a dramatic induction of early ABA-responsive genes in AtHSP17.8 -overexpressing transgenic lettuce.

Abstract

Plant small heat shock proteins function as chaperones in protein folding. In addition, they are involved in responses to various abiotic stresses, such as dehydration, heat and high salinity in Arabidopsis. However, it remains elusive how they play a role in the abiotic stress responses at the molecular level. In this study, we provide evidence that Arabidopsis HSP17.8 (AtHSP17.8) positively regulates the abiotic stress responses by modulating abscisic acid (ABA) signaling in Arabidopsis, and also in lettuce, a heterologous plant when ectopically expressed. Overexpression of AtHSP17.8 in both Arabidopsis and lettuce leads to hypersensitivity to ABA and enhanced resistance to dehydration and high salinity stresses. Moreover, early ABA-responsive genes, ABI1, ABI5, NCED3, SNF4 and AREB2, were rapidly induced in AtHSP17.8-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis and lettuce. Based on these data, we propose that AtHSP17.8 plays a crucial role in abiotic stress responses by positively modulating ABA-mediated signaling in both Arabidopsis and lettuce. Moreover, our results suggest that stress-tolerant lettuce can be engineered using the genetic and molecular resources of Arabidopsis.     

Complete reannotation of the Arabidopsis genome: methods, tools, protocols and the final release

Background

Since the initial publication of its complete genome sequence, Arabidopsis thaliana has become more important than ever as a model for plant research. However, the initial genome annotation was submitted by multiple centers using inconsistent methods, making the data difficult to use for many applications.

Results

Over the course of three years, TIGR has completed its effort to standardize the structural and functional annotation of the Arabidopsis genome. Using both manual and automated methods, Arabidopsis gene structures were refined and gene products were renamed and assigned to Gene Ontology categories. We present an overview of the methods employed, tools developed, and protocols followed, summarizing the contents of each data release with special emphasis on our final annotation release (version 5).

Conclusion

Over the entire period, several thousand new genes and pseudogenes were added to the annotation. Approximately one third of the originally annotated gene models were significantly refined yielding improved gene structure annotations, and every protein-coding gene was manually inspected and classified using Gene Ontology terms.     

Analysis of the myosins encoded in the recently completed Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequence

Background

Three types of molecular motors play an important role in the organization, dynamics and transport processes associated with the cytoskeleton. The myosin family of molecular motors move cargo on actin filaments, whereas kinesin and dynein motors move cargo along microtubules. These motors have been highly characterized in non-plant systems and information is becoming available about plant motors. The actin cytoskeleton in plants has been shown to be involved in processes such as transportation, signaling, cell division, cytoplasmic streaming and morphogenesis. The role of myosin in these processes has been established in a few cases but many questions remain to be answered about the number, types and roles of myosins in plants.

Results

Using the motor domain of an Arabidopsis myosin we identified 17 myosin sequences in the Arabidopsis genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the Arabidopsis myosins with non-plant and plant myosins revealed that all the Arabidopsis myosins and other plant myosins fall into two groups - class VIII and class XI. These groups contain exclusively plant or algal myosins with no animal or fungal myosins. Exon/intron data suggest that the myosins are highly conserved and that some may be a result of gene duplication.

Conclusions

Plant myosins are unlike myosins from any other organisms except algae. As a percentage of the total gene number, the number of myosins is small overall in Arabidopsis compared with the other sequenced eukaryotic genomes. There are, however, a large number of class XI myosins. The function of each myosin has yet to be determined.     

Regulation of Toll-like receptor 4-mediated immune responses through Pasteurella multocida toxin-induced G protein signalling

Background

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-signalling belongs to the key innate defence mechanisms upon infection with Gram-negative bacteria and triggers the subsequent activation of adaptive immunity. There is an active crosstalk between TLR4-mediated and other signalling cascades to secure an effective immune response, but also to prevent excessive inflammation. Many pathogens induce signalling cascades via secreted factors that interfere with TLR signalling to modify and presumably escape the host response. In this context heterotrimeric G proteins and their coupled receptors have been recognized as major cellular targets. Toxigenic strains of Gram-negative Pasteurella multocida produce a toxin (PMT) that constitutively activates the heterotrimeric G proteins G??_q, G??₁₃ and G??_i independently of G protein-coupled receptors through deamidation. PMT is known to induce signalling events involved in cell proliferation, cell survival and cytoskeleton rearrangement.

Results

Here we show that the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins through PMT suppresses LPS-stimulated IL-12p40 production and eventually impairs the T cell-activating ability of LPS-treated monocytes. This inhibition of TLR4-induced IL-12p40 expression is mediated by G??_i-triggered signalling as well as by G?|?-dependent activation of PI3kinase and JNK. Taken together we propose the following model: LPS stimulates TLR4-mediated activation of the NF?B-pathway and thereby the production of TNF-??, IL-6 and IL-12p40. PMT inhibits the production of IL-12p40 by G??_i-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase and cAMP accumulation and by G?|?-mediated activation of PI3kinase and JNK activation.

Conclusions

On the basis of the experiments with PMT this study gives an example of a pathogen-induced interaction between G protein-mediated and TLR4-triggered signalling and illustrates how a bacterial toxin is able to interfere with the host??s immune response.