Activation of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein of adenylate cyclase, Gi, by beta-adrenergic receptors in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles

beta-Adrenergic receptors and the inhibitory GTP-binding protein, Gi of the adenylate cyclase system were reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles by the method described previously for reconstituting receptors and the stimulatory GTP-binding protein, Gs (Brandt, D. R., Asano, T., Pedersen, S. E., and Ross, E. M. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 4357-4362). In the receptor-Gi vesicles, beta-adrenergic agonists stimulated both the high-affinity binding of guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) to Gi and GTPase activity to an extent similar to that observed in vesicles containing beta-adrenergic receptors and Gs. Stimulation required receptors and displayed appropriate beta-adrenergic specificity. The prior treatment of receptor-Gi vesicles with islet-activating protein (pertussis toxin) plus NAD markedly inhibited both the isoproterenol-stimulated binding of GTP gamma S and the isoproterenol-stimulated GTPase activity. No contamination of Gi by Gs was apparent. These data suggest that receptors that typically stimulate adenylate cyclase activity may also activate the inhibitory system, perhaps as one mechanism of desensitization.     

Reconstitution of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Guanine nucleotide-sensitive high affinity binding of agonists to purified muscarinic receptors reconstituted with GTP-binding proteins (Gi and Go)

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors purified from porcine brain were reconstituted with two kinds of GTP-binding proteins (Gi and Go). The binding of agonists was affected by guanine nucleotides when the receptor was reconstituted with either Gi or Go, but not in the absence of one of the GTP-binding proteins. The displacement curves with agonists for the [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate [( 3H]QNB) binding were explained by assuming there are two sites with different affinities for a given agonist. The proportion of the high affinity site increased with increasing concentrations of the GTP-binding proteins, and the maximum value represented 50-70% of the total [3H]QNB-binding sites. Reconstitution of the receptor with both Gi and Go did not increase the proportion any further. These results indicate that Gi and Go interact with the same site, which rules out the possibility that there are two kinds of muscarinic receptors, one interacting with Gi and the other with Go. GDP as well as GTP decreased the affinity for the agonists of the muscarinic receptors reconstituted with Gi or Go. The conversion of GDP to GTP during the incubation was less than 1%, indicating that the effect of GDP is not due to its conversion to GTP, and that the binding of either GTP or GDP with the GTP-binding proteins suppresses their interaction with the receptor.     

Membrane-associated 41-kDa GTP-binding protein in collagen-induced platelet activation

Initially we established that the binding of collagen to human blood platelets stimulates both the rapid loss of PIP2 and the generation of inositol-4,5-bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3). These results indicate that the binding of collagen stimulates inositol phospholipid-specific phospholipase C during platelet activation. The fact that GTP or GTP-gamma-S augments, and pertussis toxin inhibits, collagen-induced IP3 formation suggests that a GTP-binding protein (or (or proteins) may be directly involved in the regulation of phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide turnover in human platelets. We have used several complementary techniques to isolate and characterize a platelet 41-kDa polypeptide (or polypeptides) that has a number of structural and functional similarities to the regulatory alpha i subunit of the GTP-binding proteins isolated from bovine brain. This 41-kDa polypeptide (or polypeptides) is found to be closely associated with at least four membrane glycoproteins (e.g., gp180, gp110, gp95, and gp75) in a 330-kDa complex that can be dissociated by treatment with high salt plus urea. Most important, we have demonstrated that antilymphoma 41-kDa (alpha i subunit of GTP-binding proteins) antibody cross-reacts with the platelet 41-kDa protein (or proteins) and the alpha i subunit of bovine brain Gi alpha proteins, and blocks GTP/collagen-induced IP3 formation. These data provide strong evidence that the 41-kDa platelet GTP-binding protein (or proteins) is directly involved in collagen-induced signal transduction during platelet activation.     

Distinct guanine nucleotide binding and release properties of the three Gi proteins

The native pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding proteins (Gi proteins) were individually resolved, and their guanine nucleotide binding and release properties were studied. Gi2 and Gi3, the two major GTP-binding proteins of human erythrocytes, were purified to apparent homogeneity by fast protein liquid chromatography. Gi1 was purified from bovine brain. The three proteins bound 0.6-0.85 mol of guanosine 5'-O-(thio-triphosphate (GTP gamma S)/mol of protein with similar affinities (KD(app) = 50-100 nM). The rate of [35S]GTP gamma S binding to Gi2 was 5-8-fold faster than to Gi1 or Gi3 at 2 mm Mg2+. There were no observable differences in the binding characteristics between bovine brain Gi1 and human erythrocyte Gi3. At 50 mM Mg2+, all three Gi proteins exhibited fast binding, although Gi1 and Gi3 were marginally slower than Gi2. All three Gi proteins exhibited different rates of [32P]GDP release at 2 mM Mg2+. GDP release from Gi2 was severalfold faster than that from Gi1 or Gi3. GDP release rates from Gi1 and Gi3 were similar, although Gi3 was somewhat (60-80%) faster than Gi1. These data indicate that rates of GDP release and GTP binding may be independently regulated for these three proteins and that the relative proportions of Gi2/Gi1 or Gi2/Gi3 will be a crucial factor in determining the kinetics of signal transduction through Gi-coupled effectors.     

A GTP-binding protein in rat liver nuclei serving as the specific substrate of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation.

The ADP-ribosyl moiety of NAD was transferred to a 40-kDa protein when rat liver nuclei were incubated with pertussis toxin. The 40-kDa substrate in the nuclei displayed unique properties as follows, some of which were apparently distinct from those observed with the toxin-substrate GTP-binding protein (Gi) in the liver plasma membranes. 1) The nuclear 40-kDa protein was recognized with antibodies reacting with the alpha-subunits (alpha i-1 and alpha i-2) of Gi, but not with anti-Go-alpha-subunit antibody. 2) The nuclear protein had a higher mobility than alpha-subunit of the plasma membrane-bound Gi upon electrophoresis with a urea/sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel. 3) The nuclear protein was not extracted from the nuclei with 1% Triton X-100, whereas Gi was easily solubilized from the plasma membranes. 4) There was a beta gamma-subunit-like activity in the nuclei, which was assayed by an ability to support pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a purified alpha-subunit of Gi. Moreover, a 36-kDa protein in the nuclei was recognized with antibody raised against purified beta-subunits of Gi. 5) Pertussis toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation of the nuclear protein was selectively inhibited by the addition of a nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue, and its inhibitory action was competitively blocked by the simultaneous addition of GDP or its analogues, as had been observed with plasma membrane-bound Gi. It thus appeared that a novel form of alpha beta gamma-trimeric GTP-binding protein serving as the substrate of pertussis toxin was present in rat liver nuclei. In order to examine a possible role of the nuclear GTP-binding protein, rats were injected with carbon tetrachloride, a necrosis inducer of hepatocytes. There was a marked increase in the nuclear substrate activity from 3-6 days after the injection, without a significant change in the activity of Gi in the plasma membranes. The time course of the increase corresponded with a recovering stage from the hepatocyte necrosis. These results suggested that the nuclear GTP-binding protein found in the present study might be involved at some stages in the hepatocyte growth.     

Expression of GTP-binding proteins and prostaglandin E2 receptors during human T cell activation.

GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) are a family of closely related, yet structurally distinct signal transducing proteins. In this study the presence and relative abundance of several G-proteins and of their corresponding mRNAs were measured in resting and activated human T lymphocytes. We found that T lymphocytes contain RNA coding for Gs, Gi2, and Gi3. No Gi1- and Go-specific RNA could be detected. Membrane fractions of resting and activated lymphocytes were studied in immunoblot experiments. Again, Gs, Gi2, and Gi3, but not Gi1 and Go, were detected. Upon mitogenic activation, a relative increase in mRNA for Gs and Gi3, but not for Gi2 could be demonstrated in Northern blot experiments. Immunoblotting indicated an increase in Gs and Gi3 density in membrane fractions of T cells as well. Paralleling the increase in Gs, we found that activated T cells produce five to seven times more cAMP per cell in response to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) than resting lymphocytes. Finally, PGE2 binding studies showed that the number of receptors for this hormone increased from 435 +/- 322 to 1035 +/- 357 per cell following in vitro stimulation. We propose that in vitro T cell activation is paralleled by an increase in sensitivity to PGE2-induced cAMP generation. This sensitization is accompanied by both an increase in cell surface PGE2 receptor numbers as well as by increased expression of the signal transducing protein Gs and may physiologically be important for limiting an immune response.     

Evidence suggesting that a novel guanine nucleotide regulatory protein couples receptors to phospholipase C in exocrine pancreas.

The initial response of many cells to 'Ca2+-mobilizing' agonists is phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate to inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol. It has been suggested, by analogy with receptor regulation of adenylate cyclase, that 'Ca2+-mobilizing' receptors may interact with a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) to regulate phospholipase C activity. Here we report increased accumulation of IP3 in response to caerulein or carbachol in electrically permeabilized rat pancreatic acinar cells. The stable analogues of GTP (guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]trisphosphate and guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate) stimulate IP3 accumulation and potentiate the effects of caerulein and carbachol. This synergism demonstrates an interaction between receptors, a G protein and phospholipase C. These responses are unaffected by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis or cholera toxins under conditions that produce substantial covalent modification of Gi and Gs, the proteins that couple receptors to adenylate cyclase. We therefore conclude that the G protein that couples receptors to phospholipase C in exocrine pancreas is probably neither Gi nor Gs; instead, we propose that a different G protein mediates this effect.     

Reconstitution of partially purified opioid receptors with a GTP-binding protein

Partially purified opioid receptors, obtained from rat brains using an affinity resin, AF-Amino Toyopearl with [D-Ala2, Leu5]enkephalin, were reconstituted with an inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi). In the reconstituted system, the displacement curve for the binding of a delta-agonist, [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin, showed two states, high and low affinity binding ones, with different affinities for the agonist. The high affinity binding was eliminated by the addition of a guanine nucleotide analog to the system. These results directly showed that opioid receptors, at least the delta-type, could interact with Gi.     

GUST27 and Closely Related G-protein-coupled Receptors are Localized in Taste Buds Together with Gi-protein {alpha}-Subunit

Gustatory, like olfactory signalling is probably mediated byseven-transmembrane receptors and coupling GTP-binding proteins(G proteins). We investigated the expression of a subset ofthese receptors and the Gi protein     

Phosphorylation by Protein Kinase C of the Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors purified from porcine cerebrum were phosphorylated by protein kinase C purified from the same tissue. More than 1 mol of phosphate was incorporated per mole of receptor, with both serine and threonine residues being phosphorylated. Neither the degree nor the rate of the phosphorylation was affected by the presence or absence of acetylcholine. GTP-sensitive high-affinity binding with acetylcholine was observed for muscarinic receptors reconstituted with GTP-binding proteins (Gi or Go), irrespective of whether muscarinic receptors or the GTP-binding proteins had been phosphorylated by protein kinase C or not. This indicates that the interaction between purified muscarinic receptors and purified GTP-binding proteins in vitro is not affected by their phosphorylation.     

Cholecystokinin activates Gi1-, Gi2-, Gi3- and several Gs-proteins in rat pancreatic acinar cells.

On separation of rat pancreatic plasma membrane proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, 15 GTP-binding protein (G-protein) alpha-subunits could be detected immunochemically using an alpha common antibody. These consisted of five 48 kDa proteins (pI 5.70, 5.80, 5.90, 6.10 and 6.25) and five 45 kDa proteins (pI 5.90, 6.05, 6.25, 6.30 and 6.70), presumably corresponding to low- and high-molecular mass forms of the Gs-protein, as well as three 40/41 kDa proteins (pI 5.50, 5.70 and 6.00) and two 39 kDa proteins (pI 5.50 and 6.00). All of these proteins except for the more acidic 39 kDa protein were ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin (CT). In addition, the three 40/41 kDa proteins and the more alkaline 39 kDa protein were also ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin (PT). CT- and PT-induced ADP-ribosylation changed the pI values of G-protein alpha-subunits by 0.2 pI units to more acidic values. Preincubation of isolated pancreatic membranes with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP), which stimulates phospholipase C in acinar cells, decreased CT-induced as well as PT-induced ADP-ribosylation of the three 40/41 kDa proteins, whereas CT-induced ADP-ribosylation of one 45 kDa (pI 5.80) and all 48 kDa proteins was enhanced in the presence of CCK. Carbachol, another stimulant of phospholipase C, had no effect. The three 40/41 kDa proteins and one 48 kDa protein could be labelled with the GTP analogue [alpha-32P]GTP-gamma-azidoanilide. CCK, but not carbachol, stimulated incorporation of the GTP analogue into all of these four proteins. Using different anti-peptide antisera specific for alpha-subunits of G-proteins we identified the three 40/41 kDa Gi-proteins as Gi1 (pI 6.00), Gi2 (pI 5.50) and Gi3 (pI 5.70). The Gi3-protein was found to be the major Gi-protein of pancreatic plasma membranes. One of the 39 kDa proteins (pI 6.0) was identified as Go. These results indicate that CCK receptors functionally interact with six Gs-proteins and with Gi1, Gi2 and Gi3-proteins. Since evidence suggests that a 40/41 kDa CT substrate is involved in the stimulation of phospholipase C in pancreatic acinar cells, it is likely that one, two or all three 40/41 kDa Gi-proteins are involved in the coupling of CCK receptors with phospholipase C.     

Aging and calcitriol regulation of IP3 production in rat skeletal muscle and intestine.

We previously reported that calcitriol [1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3] in rat skeletal muscle and duodenum stimulates the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides by phospholipase C (PLC), generating the second messengers inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG), and that this mechanism is altered in old animals. As previously reported in muscle, we show in the present study that GTPgammaS (100 microM, 15 s), the non-hydrolyzable analogue of GTP, increased IP3 release from young rats duodenum to the same extent as 1 nM calcitriol (+ 100%), while GDPbetaS (100 microM) suppressed hormone-dependent IP3 production. Similarly to calcitriol, GTPgammaS response was diminished in old rats. Contrary to muscle, pretreatment with Bordetella pertussis toxin did not modify calcitriol-dependent IP3 in duodenum. The antibody, anti-G alpha q/11 (1:200) and anti-G alpha i (1:200) blocked calcitriol-dependent IP3 release in muscle from young rats, indicating that the hormone activates an isoform of PLC coupled to the alpha subunit of Gq/11 and possibly the betagamma subunits of Gi. The aged muscle was insensitive to anti G alpha i. In rat duodenum the hormone effects were suppressed by anti-Gq/11 both in young and aged animals. In 24-month-old rats, Gq/11 and Gi protein levels were greatly reduced both in muscle and duodenum, suggesting that a deficiency in G protein expression with aging may have important consequences for correct receptor/effector coupling and could explain age-related declines in the function of second messenger systems linked to G-proteins.     

Ontogenesis of α2-Adrenoceptor Coupling with GTP-Binding Proteins in the Rat Telencephalon

The ontogenesis of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and GTP-binding proteins and their coupling activity were investigated in telencephalon membranes of developing rats. The manganese-induced elevation of [3H]clonidine binding was increased in an age-dependent manner but the guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate-induced decrease in binding did not change. The extent of the binding of [3H]clonidine at 15 nM (saturable concentration) increased in an age-dependent manner and reached the adult level at 4 days after birth. Cholera toxin and pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of proteins of 46 and 41/39 kilodaltons (kDa) in solubilized cholate extracts of the membranes. The 41/39-kDa proteins ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin (Gi alpha + Go alpha) were increased with age and reached the adult level at day 12, whereas the 46-kDa protein (Gs alpha) reached its peak on day 12 and then decreased to the fetal level at the adult stage. The immunoblot experiments of the homogenates with antiserum (specific antibody against alpha- and beta-subunit of GTP-binding proteins) demonstrated that the 39-kDa alpha-subunit of (Go alpha) and the 36-kDa beta-subunit of GTP-binding protein (beta 36) increased with postnatal age. In contrast, 35-kDa beta-subunit (beta 35) did not change. From these results, it is suggested that the coupling activity of alpha 2-adrenoceptor with GTP-binding protein gradually develops in a manner parallel with the increase of alpha 2-adrenoceptor and pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding proteins, Gi, and that alpha 39 beta 36 gamma may be related to the differentiation and/or growth of nerve cells in rat telencephalon.     

Identification of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins in human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line,MEG-01, and their alteration during cellular differentiation

Various heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) are possible to have important functions in hematopoietic cells. However, there has been no information regarding their expression in magakaryoblasts and/or megakaryocytes. In the present study, protein contents of seven G protein α subunits (Gs α, Gi2 α, Gi3 α, Gz α, G11 α, Gq α and G12 α) and β subunit in a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, MEG-01, were analyzed by immunoblotting. Immature MEG-01 cells expressed the α subunits of Gs, Gi2, Gi3, Gz, G11 and G12 at protein molecule level. During the 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation process, the contents of Gi2 α and Gi3 α increased, whereas the protein levels of Gz α, Gs α, Gil a and G12 α were observed to hardly change, β Subunit was also observed to be present in immature MEG-01 cells and to increase continuously throughout the differentiation process. For the expression of Gi2 α and β subunits, chronic TPA-treatment was required although Rac2, a low Mr GTP-binding protein, was expressed abundantly by only 30 min-TPA-treatment followed by 3 day-culture.     

Pertussis toxin inhibits EGF-, phorbol ester- and insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis in BALB/c3T3 cells: evidence for post-receptor activation of Gi alpha

The contribution of the GTP-binding protein, Gi, to EGF, phorbol dibutyrate (PdBu)-, and insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis was examined in BALB/c3T3 cells. Pertussis toxin inhibited DNA synthesis by each agonist, particularly at suboptimal agonist concentrations, but the inhibition could be partially overcome with higher agonist concentrations and combinations of these agonists. This suggested that (1) some, but not all, of the mitogenic signals for all three agonists were transduced by Gi (2) Gi may be activated by post-receptor mechanisms involving protein kinase C. Gi alpha-specific antibodies and ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin using 32P-NAD each labelled a single protein band, representing one or more species of Gi alpha. Pertussis toxin treatment increased the synthesis of Gi alpha. These results are discussed in relation to possible direct effects of Gi alpha on nuclear control during division.     

Rhes: a GTP-binding protein integral to striatal physiology and pathology

Rhes, the Ras Homolog Enriched in Striatum, is a GTP-binding protein whose gene was discovered during a screen for mRNAs preferentially expressed in rodent striatum. This 266 amino acid protein is intermediate in size between small Ras-like GTP-binding proteins and α-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. It is most closely related to another Ras-like GTP-binding protein termed Dexras1 or AGS1. Although subsequent studies have shown that the rhes gene is expressed in other brain areas in addition to striatum, the striatal expression level is relatively high, and Rhes protein is likely to play a vital role in striatal physiology and pathology. Indeed, it has recently been shown to interact with the Huntingtin protein and play a pivotal role in the selective vulnerability of striatum in Huntington's disease (HD). Not surprisingly, Rhes can interact with multiple proteins to affect striatal physiology at multiple levels. Functional studies have indicated that Rhes plays a role in signaling by striatal G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), although the details of the mechanism remain to be determined. Rhes has been shown to bind to both α- and β-subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins and to affect signaling by both Gi/o- and Gs/olf-coupled receptors. In this context, Rhes can be classified as a member of the family of accessory proteins to GPCR signaling. With documented effects in dopamine- and opioid-mediated behaviors, an interaction with thyroid hormone systems and a role in HD pathology, Rhes is emerging as an important protein in striatal physiology and pathology.