Activation of protein kinase D by signaling through the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein G(q)

Protein kinase D (PKD/PKCmu) immunoprecipitated from COS-7 cells transiently transfected with a constitutively active alpha subunit of G(q) (Galpha(q)Q209L) exhibited a marked increase in basal activity, which was not further enhanced by treatment of the cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. In contrast, transient transfection of COS-7 cells with activated Galpha(12)Q229L or Galpha(13)Q226L neither promoted PKD activation nor interfered with the increase of PKD activity induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. The addition of aluminum fluoride to cells co-transfected with PKD and wild type Galpha(q) induced a marked increase in PKD activity, which was comparable with that induced by expression of Galpha(q)Q209L. Treatment with the protein kinase C inhibitor GF I or Ro 31-8220 prevented the increase in PKD activity induced by aluminum fluoride. Expression of a COOH-terminal fragment of Galpha(q) that acts in a dominant negative fashion attenuated PKD activation in response to agonist stimulation of bombesin receptor. PKD activation in response to either Galpha(q) or bombesin was completely prevented by mutation of Ser(744) and Ser(748) to Ala in the kinase activation loop of PKD. Our results show that Galpha(q) activation is sufficient to stimulate sustained PKD activation via protein kinase C and indicate that the endogenous Galpha(q) mediates PKD activation in response to acute bombesin receptor stimulation.     

Functional implications of post-translational modifications of phospholipases D1 and D2

Our previous studies showed that truncation of the N-terminal 168 amino acids of rat brain phospholipase D1 (rPLD1) abolishes its response to protein kinase C (PKC) and greatly diminishes its palmitoylation and Ser/Thr phosphorylation. In this study, we show that the response to PKC as well as the palmitoylation and Ser/Thr phosphorylation were restored when the truncated rPLD1 mutant (rPLD1(DeltaN168)) was coexpressed with a fragment containing the N-terminal 168 amino acids. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the N-terminal fragment associated with rPLD1(DeltaN168) when coexpressed in COS 7 cells and that palmitoylation of Cys(240) and Cys(241) was not necessary for the association. In addition, we found that rat PLD2 (rPLD2) was palmitoylated on Cys(223) and Cys(224) in COS 7 cells. Mutation of both these cysteines reduced the basal activity of rPLD2, however its response to PMA stimulation in vivo was retained. As in the case of rPLD1, loss of palmitoylation weakened membrane association of rPLD2. In summary, the N-terminal 168-amino-acid fragment of rPLD1 can associate with truncated rPLD1(DeltaN168) to restore its palmitoylation, Ser/Thr phosphorylation and PKC response. Although rPLD2 differs from rPLD1 in many properties, it is palmitoylated at the corresponding conserved cysteine residues in COS 7 cells.     

Requirements and effects of palmitoylation of rat PLD1

Rat brain phospholipase D1 (rPLD1) has two highly conserved motifs (HXKX(4)D), denoted HKD, located in the N- and C-terminal halves, which are required for phospholipase D activity. The two halves of rPLD1 can associate in vivo, and the association is essential for catalytic activity and Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the enzyme. In this study, we found that this association is also required for palmitoylation of rPLD1, which occurs on cysteines 240 and 241. In addition, palmitoylation of rPLD1 requires the N-terminal sequence but not the conserved C-terminal sequence, since rPLD1 that lacks the first 168 amino acids is not palmitoylated in vivo, while the inactive C-terminal deletion mutant is. Palmitoylation of rPLD1 is not necessary for catalytic activity, since N-terminal truncation mutants lacking the first 168 or 319 amino acids exhibit high basal activity although they cannot be stimulated by protein kinase C (PKC). The lack of response to PKC is not due to the lack of palmitoylation, since mutation of both Cys(240) and Cys(241) to alanine in full-length rPLD1 abolishes palmitoylation, but the mutant still retains basal activity and responds to PKC. Palmitoylation-deficient rPLD1 can associate with crude membranes; however, the association is weakened. Wild type rPLD1 remains membrane-associated when extracted with 1 m NaCl or Na(2)CO(3) (pH 11), while rPLD1 mutants that lack palmitoylation are partially released. In addition, we found that palmitoylation-deficient mutants are much less modified by Ser/Thr phosphorylation compared with wild type rPLD1. Characterization of the other cysteine mutations of rPLD1 showed that mutation of cysteine 310 or 612 to alanine increased basal phospholipase D activity 2- and 4-fold, respectively. In summary, palmitoylation of rPLD1 requires interdomain association and the presence of the N-terminal 168 amino acids. Mutations of cysteines 240 and 241 to alanine abolish the extensive Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the enzyme and weaken its association with membranes.     

Constitutive activation of NF-kappa B and secretion of interleukin-8 induced by the G protein-coupled receptor of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus involve G alpha(13) and RhoA

The Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) open reading frame 74 encodes a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for chemokines. Exogenous expression of this constitutively active GPCR leads to cell transformation and vascular overgrowth characteristic of Kaposi's sarcoma. We show here that expression of KSHV-GPCR in transfected cells results in constitutive transactivation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and secretion of interleukin-8, and this response involves activation of G alpha(13) and RhoA. The induced expression of a NF-kappa B luciferase reporter was partially reduced by pertussis toxin and the G beta gamma scavenger transducin, and enhanced by co-expression of G alpha(13) and to a lesser extent, G alpha(q). These results indicate coupling of KSHV-GPCR to multiple G proteins for NF-kappa B activation. Expression of KSHV-GPCR led to stress fiber formation in NIH 3T3 cells. To examine the involvement of the G alpha(13)-RhoA pathway in KSHV-GPCR-mediated NF-kappa B activation, HeLa cells were transfected with KSHV-GPCR alone and in combination with the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) from p115RhoGEF or a dominant negative RhoA(T19N). Both constructs, as well as the C3 exoenzyme from Clostritium botulinum, partially reduced NF-kappa B activation by KSHV-GPCR, and by a constitutively active G alpha(13)(Q226L). KSHV-GPCR-induced NF-kappa B activation is accompanied by increased secretion of IL-8, a function mimicked by the activated G alpha(13) but not by an activated G alpha(q)(Q209L). These results suggest coupling of KSHV-GPCR to the G alpha(13)-RhoA pathway in addition to other G proteins.     

Dual regulation of Akt/protein kinase B by heterotrimeric G protein subunits

While positive regulation of c-Akt (also known as protein kinase B) by receptor tyrosine kinases is well documented, compounds acting through G protein-coupled receptors can also activate Akt and its downstream targets. We therefore explored the role of G protein subunits in the regulation of Akt in cultured mammalian cells. In HEK-293 and COS-7 cells transiently transfected with beta(2)-adrenergic or m2 muscarinic receptors, respectively, treatment with agonist-induced phosphorylation of Akt at serine 473 as evidenced by phosphoserine-specific immunoblots. This effect was blocked by the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase inhibitor LY294002 and wild-type Galpha(i1), and was not duplicated by co-transfection of the constitutively active Galpha(s)-Q227L or Galpha(i)-Q204L mutant. Co-transfection of Gbeta(1), Gbeta(2) but not Gbeta(5) together with Ggamma(2) activated the kinase when assayed in vitro following immunoprecipitation of the epitope-tagged enzyme. In contrast, constitutively activated G protein subunits representing the four Galpha subfamilies were found unable to activate Akt in either cell line. The latter results are in disagreement with a report by Murga et al. (Murga, C., Laguinge, L., Wetzker, R., Cuadrado, A., and Gutkind, J. S. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 19080-19085) that described activation of Akt in response to mutationally activated Galpha(q) and Galpha(i) transfection in COS cells. To the contrary, in our experiments Galpha(q)-Q209L inhibited Akt activation resulting from betagamma or mutationally activated H-Ras co-transfection in these cells. In HEK-293 cells Galpha(q)-Q209L transfection inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1 activation of epitope-tagged Akt. In m1 muscarinic receptor transfected HEK-293 cells, carbachol inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulated phosphorylation at Ser(473) of endogenous Akt in an atropine-reversible fashion. We conclude that G proteins can regulate Akt by two distinct and potentially opposing mechanisms: activation by Gbetagamma heterodimers in a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-dependent fashion, and inhibition mediated by Galpha(q). This work identifies Akt as a novel point of convergence between disparate signaling pathways.     

Acylation of Galpha(13) is important for its interaction with thrombin receptor, transforming activity and actin stress fiber formation

Palmitoylation of alpha-subunits in heterotrimeric G proteins has become a research object of growing attention. Following our recent report on the acylation of the mono-palmitoylated Galpha(12) [Ponimaskin et al., FEBS Lett. 429 (1998) 370-374], we report here on the identification of three palmitoylation sites in the second member of the G(12) family, Galpha(13), and on the biological significance of fatty acids on the particular sites. Using mutants of alpha(13) in which the potentially palmitoylated cysteine residues (Cys) were replaced by serine residues, we find that Cys-14, Cys-18 and Cys-37 all serve as palmitoylation sites, and that the mutants lacking fatty acids are functionally defective. The following biological functions of Galpha(13) were found to be inhibited: coupling to the PAR1 thrombin receptor, cell transformation and actin stress fiber formation. Results from established assays for the above functions with a series of mutants, including derivatives of the constitutively active mutant Galpha(13)Q226L, revealed a graded inhibitory response on the above mentioned parameters. As a rule, it appears that palmitoylation of the N-proximal sites (e.g. Cys-14 and Cys-18) contributes more effectively to biological function than of the acylation site located more internally (Cys-37). However, the mutant with Cys-37 replaced by serine is more severely inhibited in stress fiber formation (80%) than in cell transformation (50%), pointing to the possibility of a differential involvement of the three palmitoylation sites in Galpha(13).     

Expression of Galpha 13 (Q226L) induces P19 stem cells to primitive endoderm via MEKK1, 2, or 4.

Galpha13 mediates the ability of the morphogen retinoic acid to promote primitive endoderm formation from mouse P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells, a process that includes the obligate activation of Jun N-terminal kinase. Expression of the constitutively activated (Q226L) GTPase-deficient form of Galpha13 mimics retinoic acid and was used to investigate the signaling upstream of primitive endoderm formation. Jun N-terminal kinase 1 activity, MEK1,2, MKK4, and MEKK1 were constitutively activated in clones stably transfected to express Q226L Galpha13. Dominant negative forms of MEKK1 and MEKK4 were expressed stably in the clones harboring Q226L Galpha13. Expression of dominant negative versions of either MEKK1 or MEKK4 effectively blocks both the activation of Jun N-terminal kinase as well as the formation of primitive endoderm. Depletion of MEKK1, -2, or -4 by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides suppressed signaling from Q226L Galpha13 to JNK1 and primitive endoderm formation. We demonstrate that the signal linkage map from Galpha13 activation to primitive endoderm formation in these stem cells requires activation at three levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade: MEKK1, -2, or -4 for MAP kinase kinase kinase; MKK4 and/or MEK1 for MAP kinase kinase; and JNK1 for MAP kinase.     

Activation of protein kinase D by signaling through Rho and the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein G13

Protein kinase D (PKD/PKCmu) immunoprecipitated from COS-7 cells transiently transfected with either a constitutively active mutant of Rho (RhoQ63L) or the Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor pOnco-Lbc (Lbc) exhibited a marked increase in basal activity. Addition of aluminum fluoride to cells co-transfected with PKD and wild type Galpha(13) also induced PKD activation. Co-transfection of Clostridium botulinum C3 toxin blocked activation of PKD by RhoQ63L, Lbc, or aluminum fluoride-stimulated Galpha(13). Treatment with the protein kinase C inhibitors GF I or Ro 31-8220 prevented the increase in PKD activity induced by RhoQ63L, Lbc, or aluminum fluoride-stimulated Galpha(13). PKD activation in response to Galpha(13) signaling was also completely prevented by mutation of Ser-744 and Ser-748 to Ala in the kinase activation loop of PKD. Co-expression of C. botulinum C3 toxin and a COOH-terminal fragment of Galpha(q) that acts in a dominant-negative fashion blocked PKD activation in response to agonist stimulation of bombesin receptor. Expression of the COOH-terminal region of Galpha(13) also attenuated PKD activation in response to bombesin receptor stimulation. Our results show that Galpha(13) contributes to PKD activation through a Rho- and protein kinase C-dependent signaling pathway and indicate that PKD activation is mediated by both Galpha(q) and Galpha(13) in response to bombesin receptor stimulation.     

Pasteurella multocida toxin-induced activation of RhoA is mediated via two families of G{alpha} proteins, G{alpha}q and G{alpha}12/13

Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) is a potent mitogen, which is known to activate phospholipase Cbeta by stimulating the alpha-subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein G(q). PMT also activates RhoA and RhoA-dependent pathways. Using YM-254890, a specific inhibitor of G(q/11), we studied whether activation of RhoA involves G proteins other than G(q/11). YM-254890 inhibited PMT or muscarinic M3-receptor-mediated stimulation of phospholipase Cbeta at similar concentrations in HEK293m3 cells. In these cells, PMT-induced RhoA activation and enhancement of RhoA-dependent luciferase activity were partially inhibited by YM-254890. In Galpha(q/11)-deficient fibroblasts, PMT induced activation of RhoA, increase in RhoA-dependent luciferase activity, and increase in ERK phosphorylation. None of these effects were influenced by YM-254890. However, RhoA activation by PMT was inhibited by RGS2, RGS16, lscRGS, and dominant negative G(13)(GA), indicating involvement of Galpha(12/13) in the PMT effect on RhoA. In Galpha(12/13) gene-deficient cells, PMT-induced stimulation of RhoA, luciferase activity, and ERK phosphorylation were blocked by YM-254890, indicating the involvement of G(q). Infection with a virus harboring the gene of Galpha(13) reconstituted the increase in RhoA-dependent luciferase activity by PMT even in the presence of YM-254890. The data show that YM-254890 is able to block PMT activation of Galpha(q) and indicate that, in addition to Galpha(q), the Galpha(12/13) G proteins are targets of PMT.     

Galphaq directly activates p63RhoGEF and Trio via a conserved extension of the Dbl homology-associated pleckstrin homology domain

The coordinated cross-talk from heterotrimeric G proteins to Rho GTPases is essential during a variety of physiological processes. Emerging data suggest that members of the Galpha(12/13) and Galpha(q/11) families of heterotrimeric G proteins signal downstream to RhoA via distinct pathways. Although studies have elucidated mechanisms governing Galpha(12/13)-mediated RhoA activation, proteins that functionally couple Galpha(q/11) to RhoA activation have remained elusive. Recently, the Dbl-family guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) p63RhoGEF/GEFT has been described as a novel mediator of Galpha(q/11) signaling to RhoA based on its ability to synergize with Galpha(q/11) resulting in enhanced RhoA signaling in cells. We have used biochemical/biophysical approaches with purified protein components to better understand the mechanism by which activated Galpha(q) directly engages and stimulates p63RhoGEF. Basally, p63RhoGEF is autoinhibited by the Dbl homology (DH)-associated pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; activated Galpha(q) relieves this autoinhibition by interacting with a highly conserved C-terminal extension of the PH domain. This unique extension is conserved in the related Dbl-family members Trio and Kalirin and we show that the C-terminal Rho-specific DH-PH cassette of Trio is similarly activated by Galpha(q).     

Sequential activation of heterotrimeric and monomeric G proteins mediates PLD activity in smooth muscle

The identity of G proteins mediating CCK-stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) activity was determined in intestinal smooth muscle cells. CCK-8 activated G(q/11), G(13), and G(12), and the monomeric G proteins Ras-homology protein (RhoA) and ADP ribosylation factor (ARF). Activation of RhoA, but not ARF, was mediated by G(13) and inhibited by Galpha(13) antibody. CCK-stimulated PLD activity was partly mediated by RhoA and could be inhibited to the same extent (47 +/- 2% to 53 +/- 6%) by 1) a dominant negative RhoA mutant, 2) RhoA antibody or Galpha(13) antibody, and 3) Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme. PLD activity was also inhibited by ARF antibody, and the effect was additive to that of RhoA antibody or C3 exoenzyme. PLD activity was inhibited by calphostin C, bisindolylmaleimide I, and a selective protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha inhibitor; the inhibition was additive to that of ARF and RhoA antibodies and C3 exoenzyme. In contrast, activated G(12) was not coupled to RhoA or ARF, and Galpha(12) antibody augmented PLD activity. Thus agonist-stimulated PLD activity is mediated additively by G(13)-dependent RhoA and by ARF and PKC-alpha and is modulated by an inhibitory G(12)-dependent pathway.     

Physical and functional interactions of Galphaq with Rho and its exchange factors

Recent reports have shown that several heterotrimeric protein-coupled receptors that signal through Galpha(q) can induce Rho-dependent responses, but the pathways that mediate the interaction between Galpha(q) and Rho have not yet been identified. In this report we present evidence that Galpha(q) expressed in COS-7 cells coprecipitates with the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Lbc. Furthermore, Galpha(q) expression enhances Rho-dependent responses. Coexpressed Galpha(q) and Lbc have a synergistic effect on the Rho-dependent rounding of 1321N1 astrocytoma cells. In addition, serum response factor-dependent gene expression, as assessed by the SRE.L reporter gene, is synergistically activated by Galpha(q) and Rho GEFs. The synergistic effect of Galpha(q) on this response is inhibited by C3 exoenzyme and requires phospholipase C activation. Surprisingly, expression of Galpha(q), in contrast to that of Galpha(12) and Galpha(13), does not increase the amount of activated Rho. We also observe that Galpha(q) enhances SRE.L stimulation by activated Rho, indicating that the effect of Galpha(q) occurs downstream of Rho activation. Thus, Galpha(q) interacts physically and/or functionally with Rho GEFs; however this does not appear to lead to or result from increased activation of Rho. We suggest that Galpha(q)-generated signals enhance responses downstream of Rho activation.     

Palmitoylation of a conserved cysteine in the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain modulates the GTPase-activating activity of RGS4 and RGS10

RGS4 and RGS10 expressed in Sf9 cells are palmitoylated at a conserved Cys residue (Cys(95) in RGS4, Cys(66) in RGS10) in the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain that is also autopalmitoylated when the purified proteins are incubated with palmitoyl-CoA. RGS4 also autopalmitoylates at a previously identified cellular palmitoylation site, either Cys(2) or Cys(12). The C2A/C12A mutation essentially eliminates both autopalmitoylation and cellular [(3)H]palmitate labeling of Cys(95). Membrane-bound RGS4 is palmitoylated both at Cys(95) and Cys(2/12), but cytosolic RGS4 is not palmitoylated. RGS4 and RGS10 are GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) for the G(i) and G(q) families of G proteins. Palmitoylation of Cys(95) on RGS4 or Cys(66) on RGS10 inhibits GAP activity 80-100% toward either Galpha(i) or Galpha(z) in a single-turnover, solution-based assay. In contrast, when GAP activity was assayed as acceleration of steady-state GTPase in receptor-G protein proteoliposomes, palmitoylation of RGS10 potentiated GAP activity >/=20-fold. Palmitoylation near the N terminus of C95V RGS4 did not alter GAP activity toward soluble Galpha(z) and increased G(z) GAP activity about 2-fold in the vesicle-based assay. Dual palmitoylation of wild-type RGS4 remained inhibitory. RGS protein palmitoylation is thus multi-site, complex in its control, and either inhibitory or stimulatory depending on the RGS protein and its sites of palmitoylation.     

A novel mechanism for JAK2 activation by a G protein-coupled receptor, the CCK2R: implication of this signaling pathway in pancreatic tumor models

To date very few G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to be connected to the Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT pathway. Thus our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the activation of this signaling pathway by GPCRs remains limited. In addition, little is known about the role of the JAK pathway in the physiological or pathophysiological functions of GPCRs. Here, we described a new mechanism of JAK activation that involves Galpha(q) proteins. Indeed, transfection of a constitutively activated mutant of Galpha(q) (Q209L) in COS-7 cells demonstrated that Galpha(q) is able to associate and activate JAK2. In addition, we showed that this mechanism is used to activate JAK2 by a GPCR principally coupled to G(q), the CCK2 receptor (CCK2R), and involves a highly conserved sequence in GPCRs, the NPXXY motif. In a pancreatic tumor cell line expressing the endogenous CCK2R, we demonstrated the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway by this receptor and the involvement of this signaling pathway in the proliferative effects of the CCK2R. In addition, we showed in vivo that the targeted CCK2R expression in pancreas of Elas-CCK2 mice leads to the activation of JAK2 and STAT3. This process may contribute to the increase of pancreas growth as well as the formation of preneoplastic lesions leading to pancreatic tumor development observed in these transgenic animals.     

Activation of protein kinase D3 by signaling through Rac and the alpha subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins G12 and G13

PKD is the founding member of a novel protein kinase family that also includes PKD2 and PKD3. PKD has been the focus of most studies up to date, but little is known about the mechanisms that mediate PKD3 activation. Here, we show that addition of aluminum fluoride to COS-7 cells cotransfected with PKD3 and Galpha13 or Galpha12 induced PKD3 activation, which was associated with a transient plasma membrane translocation of cytosolic PKD3. Treatment with Clostridium difficile toxin B blocked PKD3 activation induced by either bombesin or by aluminum fluoride-stimulated Galpha12/13 but did not affect Galphaq-induced PKD3 activation. Furthermore, PKD3 immunoprecipitated from cells cotransfected with a constitutively active Rac (RacV12) exhibited a marked increase in PKD3 basal catalytic activity. In contrast, cotransfection with active Rho (RhoQ63L), Cdc42 (Cdc42Q61L), or Ras (RasV12) did not promote PKD3 activation. Expression of either COOH-terminal dominant-negative fragment of Galpha13 or dominant negative Rac (Rac N17) attenuated bombesin-induced PKD3 activation. Treatment with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors prevented the increase in PKD3 activity induced by RacV12 and aluminum fluoride-stimulated Galpha12/13. The catalytic activation of PKD3 in response to RacV12, alpha12/13 signaling or bombesin correlated with Ser-731/Ser-735 phosphorylation in the activation loop of this enzyme. Our results indicate that Galpha12/13 and Rac are important components in the signal transduction pathways that mediate bombesin receptor-induced PKD3 activation.     

Mechanisms for reversible regulation between G13 and Rho exchange factors.

The heterotrimeric G proteins, G(12) and G(13), mediate signaling between G protein-coupled receptors and the monomeric GTPase, RhoA. One pathway for this modulation is direct stimulation by Galpha(13) of p115 RhoGEF, an exchange factor for RhoA. The GTPase activity of both Galpha(12) and Galpha(13) is increased by the N terminus of p115 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). This region has weak homology to the RGS box sequence of the classic regulators of G protein signaling (RGS), which act as GTPase-activating proteins (GAP) for G(i) and G(q). Here, the RGS region of p115 RhoGEF is shown to be distinctly different in that sequences flanking the predicted "RGS box" region are required for both stable expression and GAP activity. Deletions in the N terminus of the protein eliminate GAP activity but retain substantial binding to Galpha(13) and activation of RhoA exchange activity by Galpha(13). In contrast, GTRAP48, a homolog of p115 RhoGEF, bound to Galpha(13) but was not stimulated by the alpha subunit and had very poor GAP activity. Besides binding to the N-terminal RGS region, Galpha(13) also bound to a truncated protein consisting only of the Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. However, Galpha(13) did not stimulate the exchange activity of this truncated protein. A chimeric protein, which contained the RGS region of GTRAP48 in place of the endogenous N terminus of p115 RhoGEF, was activated by Galpha(13). These results suggest a mechanism for activation of the nucleotide exchange activity of p115 RhoGEF that involves direct and coordinate interaction of Galpha(13) to both its RGS and DH domains.     

Activation of RhoA by association of Galpha(13) with Dbl

RhoA is a small G protein that is implicated in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, gene expression, and cell cycle progression. It is activated by many agonists whose receptors are linked to heterotrimeric G proteins, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. In this study, we show that the constitutively active alpha-subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein G(13) associated with the Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factor Dbl in NIH 3T3 cells and that this resulted in activation of RhoA. This activation was not seen with wild-type Galpha(13) or if Dbl and active Galpha(13) were expressed separately and mixed. In contrast, coexpression of constitutively active Galpha(q) with Dbl did not lead to their association and caused a weak activation of RhoA that was no greater than that observed with wild-type Galpha(q). These findings illustrate that activated Galpha(13) and Dbl can associate in vivo and that this leads to Rho activation.