Regulation of GTP hydrolysis on ADP-ribosylation factor-1 at the Golgi membrane

The interaction of the coatomer coat complex with the Golgi membrane is initiated by the active, GTP-bound state of the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), whereas GTP hydrolysis triggers coatomer dissociation. The hydrolysis of GTP on ARF1 depends on the action of members of a family of ARF1-directed GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Previous studies in well defined systems indicated that the activity of a mammalian Golgi membrane-localized ARF GAP (GAP1) might be subjected to regulation by membrane lipids as well as by the coatomer complex. Coatomer was found to strongly stimulate GAP-dependent GTP hydrolysis on a membrane-independent mutant of ARF1, whereas we reported that GTP hydrolysis on wild type, myristoylated ARF1 loaded with GTP in the presence of phospholipid vesicles was coatomer-independent. To investigate the regulation of ARF1 GAPs under more physiological conditions, we studied GTP hydrolysis on Golgi membrane-associated ARF1. The activities at the Golgi of recombinant GAP1 as well as coatomer-depleted fractions from rat brain cytosol resembled those observed in the presence of liposomes; however, unlike in liposomes, GAP activities on Golgi membranes were approximately doubled upon addition of coatomer. By contrast, endogenous GAP activity in Golgi membrane preparations was unaffected by coatomer. Cytosolic GAP activity was partially reduced following immunodepletion of GAP1, indicating that GAP1 plays a significant although not exclusive role in the regulation of GTP hydrolysis at the Golgi. Unlike the activities of the mammalian proteins, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Glo3 ARF GAP displayed activity at the Golgi that was highly dependent on coatomer. We conclude that ARF GAPs in themselves can efficiently stimulate GTP hydrolysis on ARF1 at the Golgi, and that coatomer may play an auxiliary role in this reaction, which would lead to an increased cycling rate of ARF1 in COPI-coated regions of the Golgi membrane.     

GIT proteins, A novel family of phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate-stimulated GTPase-activating proteins for ARF6

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) proteins are key players in numerous vesicular trafficking events ranging from the formation and fusion of vesicles in the Golgi apparatus to exocytosis and endocytosis. To complete their GTPase cycle, ARFs require a guanine nucleotide-exchange protein to catalyze replacement of GDP by GTP and a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) to accelerate hydrolysis of bound GTP. Recently numerous guanine nucleotide-exchange proteins and GAP proteins have been identified and partially characterized. Every ARF GAP protein identified to date contains a characteristic zinc finger motif. GIT1 and GIT2, two members of a new family of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting proteins, also contain a putative zinc finger motif and display ARF GAP activity. Truncation of the amino-terminal region containing the zinc finger motif prevented GAP activity of GIT1. One zinc molecule was found associated per molecule of purified recombinant ARF-GAP1, GIT1, and GIT2 proteins, suggesting the zinc finger motifs of ARF GAPs are functional and should play an important role in their GAP activity. Unlike ARF-GAP1, GIT1 and GIT2 stimulate hydrolysis of GTP bound to ARF6. Accordingly we found that the phospholipid dependence of the GAP activity of ARF-GAP1 and GIT proteins was quite different, as the GIT proteins are stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate whereas ARF-GAP1 is stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These results suggest that although the mechanism of GTP hydrolysis is probably very similar in these two families of ARF GAPs, GIT proteins might specifically regulate the activity of ARF6 in cells in coordination with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathways.     

Structural and functional analysis of the ARF1-ARFGAP complex reveals a role for coatomer in GTP hydrolysis

The crystal structure of the complex of ARF1 GTPase bound to GDP and the catalytic domain of ARF GTPase-activating protein (ARFGAP) has been determined at 1.95 A resolution. The ARFGAP molecule binds to switch 2 and helix alpha3 to orient ARF1 residues for catalysis, but it supplies neither arginine nor other amino acid side chains to the GTPase active site. In the complex, the effector-binding region appears to be unobstructed, suggesting that ARFGAP could stimulate GTP hydrolysis while ARF1 maintains an interaction with its effector, the coatomer complex of COPI-coated vesicles. Biochemical experiments show that coatomer directly participates in the GTPase reaction, accelerating GTP hydrolysis a further 1000-fold in an ARFGAP-dependent manner. Thus, a tripartite complex controls the GTP hydrolysis reaction triggering disassembly of COPI vesicle coats.     

Differential roles of ArfGAP1, ArfGAP2, and ArfGAP3 in COPI trafficking

The formation of coat protein complex I (COPI)–coated vesicles is regulated by the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1), which in its GTP-bound form recruits coatomer to the Golgi membrane. Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP) catalyzed GTP hydrolysis in Arf1 triggers uncoating and is required for uptake of cargo molecules into vesicles. Three mammalian ArfGAPs are involved in COPI vesicle trafficking; however, their individual functions remain obscure. ArfGAP1 binds to membranes depending on their curvature. In this study, we show that ArfGAP2 and ArfGAP3 do not bind directly to membranes but are recruited via interactions with coatomer. In the presence of coatomer, ArfGAP2 and ArfGAP3 activities are comparable with or even higher than ArfGAP1 activity. Although previously speculated, our results now demonstrate a function for coatomer in ArfGAP-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis by Arf1. We suggest that ArfGAP2 and ArfGAP3 are coat protein–dependent ArfGAPs, whereas ArfGAP1 has a more general function.     

Decoding of sorting signals by coatomer through a GTPase switch in the COPI coat complex

Sorting signals on cargo proteins are recognized by coatomer for selective uptake into COPI (coatomer)-coated vesicles. This study shows that coatomer couples sorting signal recognition to the GTP hydrolysis reaction on ARF1. Coatomer responds differently to different signals. The cytoplasmic signal sequence of hp24a inhibits coatomer-dependent GTP hydrolysis. By contrast, the dilysine retrieval signal, which competes for the same binding site on coatomer, has no effect on GTPase activity. It is inferred that, in vivo, sorting signal selection is under kinetic control, with coatomer governing a GTPase discard pathway that excludes dilysine-tagged proteins from one class of COPI-coated vesicles. The concept of competing sets of sorting signals that act positively and negatively during vesicle budding through a GTPase switch in the COPI coat complex suggests mechanisms for cargo segregation in which specificity is conferred by GTP hydrolysis.     

Sorting of Golgi resident proteins into different subpopulations of COPI vesicles: a role for ArfGAP1.

We present evidence for two subpopulations of coatomer protein I vesicles, both containing high amounts of Golgi resident proteins but only minor amounts of anterograde cargo. Early Golgi proteins p24alpha2, beta1, delta1, and gamma3 are shown to be sorted together into vesicles that are distinct from those containing mannosidase II, a glycosidase of the medial Golgi stack, and GS28, a SNARE protein of the Golgi stack. Sorting into each vesicle population is Arf-1 and GTP hydrolysis dependent and is inhibited by aluminum and beryllium fluoride. Using synthetic peptides, we find that the cytoplasmic domain of p24beta1 can bind Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP)1 and cause direct inhibition of ArfGAP1-mediated GTP hydrolysis on Arf-1 bound to liposomes and Golgi membranes. We propose a two-stage reaction to explain how GTP hydrolysis constitutes a prerequisite for sorting of resident proteins, yet becomes inhibited in their presence.     

The KDEL receptor regulates a GTPase-activating protein for ADP-ribosylation factor 1 by interacting with its non-catalytic domain.

ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) is a key regulator of transport in the secretory system. Like all small GTPases, deactivation of ARF1 requires a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that promotes hydrolysis of GTP to GDP on ARF1. Structure-function analysis of a GAP for ARF1 revealed that its activity in vivo requires not only a domain that catalyzes hydrolysis of GTP on ARF1 but also a non-catalytic domain. In this study, we show that the non-catalytic domain of GAP is required for its recruitment from cytosol to membranes and that this domain mediates the interaction of GAP with the transmembrane KDEL receptor. Blocking its interaction with the KDEL receptor leaves the GAP cytosolic and prevents the deactivation in vivo of Golgi-localized ARF1. Thus, these findings suggest that the KDEL receptor plays a critical role in the function of GAP by regulating its recruitment from cytosol to membranes, where it can then act on its membrane-restricted target, the GTP-bound form of ARF1.     

Proteomic identification and functional characterization of a novel ARF6 GTPase-activating protein, ACAP4

ARF6 GTPase is a conserved regulator of membrane trafficking and actin-based cytoskeleton dynamics at the leading edge of migrating cells. A key determinant of ARF6 function is the lifetime of the GTP-bound active state, which is orchestrated by GTPase-activating protein (GAP) and GTP-GDP exchanging factor. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying ARF6-mediated cell migration. To systematically analyze proteins that regulate ARF6 activity during cell migration, we performed a proteomic analysis of proteins selectively bound to active ARF6 using mass spectrometry and identified a novel ARF6-specific GAP, ACAP4. ACAP4 encodes 903 amino acids and contains two coiled coils, one pleckstrin homology domain, one GAP motif, and two ankyrin repeats. Our biochemical characterization demonstrated that ACAP4 has a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent GAP activity specific for ARF6. The co-localization of ACAP4 with ARF6 occurred in ruffling membranes formed upon AIF(4) and epidermal growth factor stimulation. ACAP4 overexpression limited the recruitment of ARF6 to the membrane ruffles in the absence of epidermal growth factor stimulation. Expression of GTP hydrolysis-resistant ARF6(Q67L) resulted in accumulations of ACAP4 and ARF6 in the cytoplasmic membrane, suggesting that GTP hydrolysis is required for the ARF6-dependent membrane remodeling. Significantly the depletion of ACAP4 by small interfering RNA or inhibition of ARF6 GTP hydrolysis by overexpressing GAP-deficient ACAP4 suppressed ARF6-dependent cell migration in wound healing, demonstrating the importance of ACAP4 in cell migration. Thus, our study sheds new light on the biological function of ARF6-mediated cell migration.     

ARFGAP1 plays a central role in coupling COPI cargo sorting with vesicle formation

Examining how key components of coat protein I (COPI) transport participate in cargo sorting, we find that, instead of ADP ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), its GTPase-activating protein (GAP) plays a direct role in promoting the binding of cargo proteins by coatomer (the core COPI complex). Activated ARF1 binds selectively to SNARE cargo proteins, with this binding likely to represent at least a mechanism by which activated ARF1 is stabilized on Golgi membrane to propagate its effector functions. We also find that the GAP catalytic activity plays a critical role in the formation of COPI vesicles from Golgi membrane, in contrast to the prevailing view that this activity antagonizes vesicle formation. Together, these findings indicate that GAP plays a central role in coupling cargo sorting and vesicle formation, with implications for simplifying models to describe how these two processes are coupled during COPI transport.     

Retrograde transport from the yeast Golgi is mediated by two ARF GAP proteins with overlapping function.

ARF proteins, which mediate vesicular transport, have little or no intrinsic GTPase activity. They rely on the actions of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) for their function. The in vitro GTPase activity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARF proteins Arf1 and Arf2 is stimulated by the yeast Gcs1 protein, and in vivo genetic interactions between arf and gcs1 mutations implicate Gcs1 in vesicular transport. However, the Gcs1 protein is dispensable, indicating that additional ARF GAP proteins exist. We show that the structurally related protein Glo3, which is also dispensable, also exhibits ARF GAP activity. Genetic and in vitro approaches reveal that Glo3 and Gcs1 have an overlapping essential function at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi stage of vesicular transport. Mutant cells deficient for both ARF GAPs cannot proliferate, undergo a dramatic accumulation of ER and are defective for protein transport between ER and Golgi. The glo3Delta and gcs1Delta single mutations each interact with a sec21 mutation that affects a component of COPI, which mediates vesicular transport within the ER-Golgi shuttle, while increased dosage of the BET1, BOS1 and SEC22 genes encoding members of a v-SNARE family that functions within the ER-Golgi alleviates the effects of a glo3Delta mutation. An in vitro assay indicates that efficient retrieval from the Golgi to the ER requires these two proteins. These findings suggest that Glo3 and Gcs1 ARF GAPs mediate retrograde vesicular transport from the Golgi to the ER.     

Phospholipase C-beta 1 is a GTPase-activating protein for Gq/11, its physiologic regulator.

Purified M1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor and Gq/11 were coreconstituted in lipid vesicles. Addition of purified phospholipase C-beta 1 (PLC-beta 1) further stimulated the receptor-promoted steady-state GTPase activity of Gq/11 up to 20-fold. Stimulation depended upon receptor-mediated GTP-GDP exchange. Addition of PLC-beta 1 caused a rapid burst of hydrolysis of Gq/11-bound GTP that was at least 50-fold faster than in its absence. Thus, PLC-beta 1 stimulates hydrolysis of Gq/11-bound GTP and acts as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for its physiologic regulator, Gq/11. GTPase-stimulating activity was specific both for PLC-beta 1 and Gq/11. Such GAP activity by an effector coupled to a trimeric G protein can reconcile slow GTP hydrolysis by pure G proteins in vitro with fast physiologic deactivation of G protein-mediated signaling.     

Distinct role of subcomplexes of the COPI coat in the regulation of ArfGAP2 activity

COPI vesicles serve for transport of proteins and membrane lipids in the early secretory pathway. Their coat protein (coatomer) is a heptameric complex that is recruited to the Golgi by the small GTPase Arf1. Although recruited en bloc, coatomer can be viewed as a stable assembly of an adaptin‐like tetrameric subcomplex (CM4) and a trimeric ‘cage’ subcomplex (CM3). Following recruitment, coatomer stimulates ArfGAP‐dependent GTP hydrolysis on Arf1. Here, we employed recombinant coatomer subcomplexes to study the role of coatomer components in the regulation of ArfGAP2, an ArfGAP whose activity is strictly coatomer‐dependent. Within CM4, we define a novel hydrophobic pocket for ArfGAP2 interaction on the appendage domain of γ₁‐COP. The CM4 subcomplex (but not CM3) is recruited to membranes through Arf1 and can subsequently recruit ArfGAP2. Neither CM3 nor CM4 in itself is effective in stimulating ArfGAP2 activity, but stimulation is regained when both subcomplexes are present. Our findings point to a distinct role of each of the two coatomer subcomplexes in the regulation of ArfGAP2‐dependent GTP hydrolysis on Arf1, where the CM4 subcomplex functions in GAP recruitment, while, similarly to the COPII system, the cage‐like CM3 subcomplex stimulates the catalytic reaction.     

Eukaryotic polypeptide chain release factor eRF3 is an eRF1- and ribosome-dependent guanosine triphosphatase.

Termination of translation in eukaryotes is governed by two polypeptide chain release factors, eRF1 and eRF3 on the ribosome. eRF1 promotes stop-codon-dependent hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA, and eRF3 interacts with eRF1 and stimulates eRF1 activity in the presence of GTP. Here, we have demonstrated that eRF3 is a GTP-binding protein endowed with a negligible, if any, intrinsic GTPase activity that is profoundly stimulated by the joint action of eRF1 and the ribosome. Separately, neither eRF1 nor the ribosome display this effect. Thus, eRF3 functions as a GTPase in the quaternary complex with ribosome, eRF1, and GTP. From the in vitro uncoupling of the peptidyl-tRNA and GTP hydrolyses achieved in this work, we conclude that in ribosomes both hydrolytic reactions are mediated by the formation of the ternary eRF1-eRF3-GTP complex. eRF1 and the ribosome form a composite GTPase-activating protein (GAP) as described for other G proteins. A dual role for the revealed GTPase complex is proposed: in " GTP state," it controls the positioning of eRF1 toward stop codon and peptidyl-tRNA, whereas in "GDP state," it promotes release of eRFs from the ribosome. The initiation, elongation, and termination steps of protein synthesis seem to be similar with respect to GTPase cycles.     

Identification of a second GTP-bound magnesium ion in archaeal initiation factor 2

Eukaryotic and archaeal translation initiation processes involve a heterotrimeric GTPase e/aIF2 crucial for accuracy of start codon selection. In eukaryotes, the GTPase activity of eIF2 is assisted by a GTPase-activating protein (GAP), eIF5. In archaea, orthologs of eIF5 are not found and aIF2 GTPase activity is thought to be non-assisted. However, no in vitro GTPase activity of the archaeal factor has been reported to date. Here, we show that aIF2 significantly hydrolyses GTP in vitro. Within aIF2γ, H97, corresponding to the catalytic histidine found in other translational GTPases, and D19, from the GKT loop, both participate in this activity. Several high-resolution crystal structures were determined to get insight into GTP hydrolysis by aIF2γ. In particular, a crystal structure of the H97A mutant was obtained in the presence of non-hydrolyzed GTP. This structure reveals the presence of a second magnesium ion bound to GTP and D19. Quantum chemical/molecular mechanical simulations support the idea that the second magnesium ion may assist GTP hydrolysis by helping to neutralize the developing negative charge in the transition state. These results are discussed in light of the absence of an identified GAP in archaea to assist GTP hydrolysis on aIF2.     

Regulation of neuroendocrine exocytosis by the ARF6 GTPase-activating protein GIT1

Neuroendocrine cells release hormones and neuropeptides by exocytosis, a highly regulated process in which secretory granules fuse with the plasma membrane to release their contents in response to a calcium trigger. Using chromaffin and PC12 cells, we have recently described that the granule-associated GTPase ARF6 plays a crucial role in exocytosis by activating phospholipase D1 at the plasma membrane and, presumably, promoting the fusion reaction between the two membrane bilayers. ARF6 is activated by the nucleotide exchange factor ARNO following docking of granules to the plasma membrane. We show here that GIT1, a GTPase-activating protein stimulating GTP hydrolysis on ARF6, is the second molecular partner that turns over the GDP/GTP cycle of ARF6 during cell stimulation. Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that GIT1 is cytosolic in resting cells but is recruited to the plasma membrane in stimulated cells, where it co-localizes with ARF6 at the granule docking sites. Over-expression of wild-type GIT1 inhibits growth hormone secretion from PC12 cells; this inhibitory effect was not observed in cells expressing a GIT1 mutant impaired in its ARF-GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity or in cells expressing other ARF6-GAPs. Conversely reduction of GIT1 by RNA interference increased the exocytotic activity. Using a real time assay for individual chromaffin cells, we found that microinjection of GIT1 strongly reduced the number of exocytotic events. These results provide the first evidence that GIT1 plays a function in calcium-regulated exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells. We propose that GIT1 represents part of the pathway that inactivates ARF6-dependent reactions and thereby negatively regulates and/or terminates exocytotic release.     

ARFGAP1 promotes the formation of COPI vesicles,suggesting function as a component of the coat

The role of GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that deactivates ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) during the formation of coat protein I (COPI) vesicles has been unclear. GAP is originally thought to antagonize vesicle formation by triggering uncoating, but later studies suggest that GAP promotes cargo sorting, a process that occurs during vesicle formation. Recent models have attempted to reconcile these seemingly contradictory roles by suggesting that cargo proteins suppress GAP activity during vesicle formation, but whether GAP truly antagonizes coat recruitment in this process has not been assessed directly. We have reconstituted the formation of COPI vesicles by incubating Golgi membrane with purified soluble components, and find that ARFGAP1 in the presence of GTP promotes vesicle formation and cargo sorting. Moreover, the presence of GTPgammaS not only blocks vesicle uncoating but also vesicle formation by preventing the proper recruitment of GAP to nascent vesicles. Elucidating how GAP functions in vesicle formation, we find that the level of GAP on the reconstituted vesicles is at least as abundant as COPI and that GAP binds directly to the dilysine motif of cargo proteins. Collectively, these findings suggest that ARFGAP1 promotes vesicle formation by functioning as a component of the COPI coat.     

Discrete Determinants in ArfGAP2/3 Conferring Golgi Localization and Regulation by the COPI Coat

From yeast to mammals, two types of GTPase-activating proteins, ArfGAP1 and ArfGAP2/3, control guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis on the small G protein ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf) 1 at the Golgi apparatus. Although functionally interchangeable, they display little similarity outside the catalytic GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain, suggesting differential regulation. ArfGAP1 is controlled by membrane curvature through its amphipathic lipid packing sensor motifs, whereas Golgi targeting of ArfGAP2 depends on coatomer, the building block of the COPI coat. Using a reporter fusion approach and in vitro assays, we identified several functional elements in ArfGAP2/3. We show that the Golgi localization of ArfGAP3 depends on both a central basic stretch and a carboxy-amphipathic motif. The basic stretch interacts directly with coatomer, which we found essential for the catalytic activity of ArfGAP3 on Arf1-GTP, whereas the carboxy-amphipathic motif interacts directly with lipid membranes but has minor role in the regulation of ArfGAP3 activity. Our findings indicate that the two types of ArfGAP proteins that reside at the Golgi use a different combination of protein–protein and protein–lipid interactions to promote GTP hydrolysis in Arf1-GTP.     

Coordinate regulation of G protein signaling via dynamic interactions of receptor and GAP

Signal output from receptor-G-protein-effector modules is a dynamic function of the nucleotide exchange activity of the receptor, the GTPase-accelerating activity of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and their interactions. GAPs may inhibit steady-state signaling but may also accelerate deactivation upon removal of stimulus without significantly inhibiting output when the receptor is active. Further, some effectors (e.g., phospholipase C-beta) are themselves GAPs, and it is unclear how such effectors can be stimulated by G proteins at the same time as they accelerate G protein deactivation. The multiple combinations of protein-protein associations and interacting regulatory effects that allow such complex behaviors in this system do not permit the usual simplifying assumptions of traditional enzyme kinetics and are uniquely subject to systems-level analysis. We developed a kinetic model for G protein signaling that permits analysis of both interactive and independent G protein binding and regulation by receptor and GAP. We evaluated parameters of the model (all forward and reverse rate constants) by global least-squares fitting to a diverse set of steady-state GTPase measurements in an m1 muscarinic receptor-G(q)-phospholipase C-beta1 module in which GTPase activities were varied by approximately 10(4)-fold. We provide multiple tests to validate the fitted parameter set, which is consistent with results from the few previous pre-steady-state kinetic measurements. Results indicate that (1) GAP potentiates the GDP/GTP exchange activity of the receptor, an activity never before reported; (2) exchange activity of the receptor is biased toward replacement of GDP by GTP; (3) receptor and GAP bind G protein with negative cooperativity when G protein is bound to either GTP or GDP, promoting rapid GAP binding and dissociation; (4) GAP indirectly stabilizes the continuous binding of receptor to G protein during steady-state GTPase hydrolysis, thus further enhancing receptor activity; and (5) receptor accelerates GDP/GTP exchange primarily by opening an otherwise closed nucleotide binding site on the G protein but has minimal effect on affinity (K(assoc) = k(assoc)/k(dissoc)) of G protein for nucleotide. Model-based simulation explains how GAP activity can accelerate deactivation >10-fold upon removal of agonist but still allow high signal output while the receptor is active. Analysis of GTPase flux through distinct reaction pathways and consequent accumulation of specific GTPase cycle intermediates indicate that, in the presence of a GAP, the receptor remains bound to G protein throughout the GTPase cycle and that GAP binds primarily during the GTP-bound phase. The analysis explains these behaviors and relates them to the specific regulatory phenomena described above. The work also demonstrates the applicability of appropriately data-constrained system-level analysis to signaling networks of this scale.     

Reconstitution of catecholamine-stimulated guanosinetriphosphatase activity

beta-Adrenergic receptors were partially purified from turkey erythrocyte membranes by alprenolol-agarose chromatography to 0.25-2 nmol/mg of protein, and the stimulatory guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) binding protein of adenylate cyclase (Gs) was purified from rabbit liver. These proteins were reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles by addition of phospholipids and removal of detergent by gel filtration. This preparation hydrolyzes GTP to guanosine 5'-diphosphate (GDP) plus inorganic phosphate (Pi) in response to beta-adrenergic agonists. The initial rate of isoproterenol-stimulated hydrolysis is approximately 1 mol of GTP hydrolyzed min-1 X mol-1 of Gs. This low rate may be limited by the hormone-stimulated binding of substrate, since it is roughly equal to the rate of binding of the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-O-(3-[35S] thiotriphosphate) [( 35S]GTP gamma S) to Gs in the vesicles. Activity in the absence of agonist, or in the presence of agonist plus a beta-adrenergic antagonist, is 8-25% of the hormone-stimulated activity. Guanosinetriphosphatase (GTPase) is not saturated at 10 microM GTP, and the response to GTP is formally consistent either with the existence of multiple Km's or of a separate stimulatory site for GTP. The GTPase activity of Gs in vesicles is also stimulated by 50 mM MgCl2 in the presence or absence of receptor. Significant GTPase activity is not observed with Lubrol-solubilized Gs, although [35S]-GTP gamma S binding is increased by Lubrol solubilization.     

Phospholipase C-beta1 directly accelerates GTP hydrolysis by Galphaq and acceleration is inhibited by Gbeta gamma subunits.

Phospholipase C-beta, the principal effector protein regulated by Galphaq, has been shown to increase the agonist-stimulated, steady-state GTPase activity of Gq in proteoliposomes that contain both heterotrimeric Gq and m1 muscarinic receptor. We now use a moderately stable complex of R183C Galphaq bound to GTP to show that PLC-beta1 acts directly as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for isolated Galphaq in a membrane-free system. PLC-beta1 accelerated the hydrolysis of GalphaqR183C.GTP up to 20-fold. The Km was 1.5 nM, which is similar both to the EC50 with which R183C and wild type Galphaq activate PLC-beta1 and to the EC50 with which PLC-beta1 acts as a Gq GAP in the vesicle-based assay. The Galphaq GAP activity of RGS4 can also be quantitated by this assay; it accelerated hydrolysis of bound GTP about 100-fold. The Gq GAP activities of both PLC-beta1 and RGS4 are blocked by Gbeta gamma subunits, probably by a competitive mechanism. These data suggest either that the Gbeta gamma subunits are not continuously required for receptor-catalyzed GDP/GTP exchange during steady-state GTP hydrolysis or that GAPs, either PLC-beta or RGS proteins, can substitute for Gbeta gamma in this set of reactions.