Stimulation and conformational change of Goα induced by GAP-43

GAP-43 and Go are peripheral membrane proteins enriched in neuronal growth cone. GAP-43 was highly purified from bovine cerebral cortex and myristoylated Go? was highly purified from Escherichia coli cotransformed with pQE60 (Goα) and pBB131 (NMT). GAP-43 stimulated GTPγS binding to Goα and the stimulation effect was dependent on concentration of GAP-43. Protein-protein binding experiments using CaM-Sepharose affinity media revealed that Goα·GDP bound GAP-43 directly to form intermolecular complex. This interaction induced conformational change of Goα. In the presence of GAP-43, fluorescence spectrum of Goα·GDP blue shifted 4 nm; fluorescence intensity increased 35.3% and apparent quenching constant (Ksv) increased from (1.1 ± 0.22) × 105 to (4.1 ± 0.43)× 105 (M-1). However, no obvious changes of fluorescence spectra of Goα·GTP(S were observed in the absence or presence of GAP-43. Our results indicated that GAP-43 induced conformational change of Goα·GDP so as to accelerate GDP release and subsequent GTPγS binding, which activates G proteins to trigger signal transduction and amplification. These results provided insights into understanding the function of G proteins in coupling between receptors and effectors and the key role of GDP/GTP exchange mode in GTPase cycle.