scholarly journals Different triggers for calcium oscillations in mouse eggs involve a ryanodine-sensitive calcium store

1992 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Swann
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Calcium Oscillations ◽  
Release Mechanism ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Calcium Store ◽  
Thiol Reagent ◽  
Sperm Factor ◽  
Mouse Eggs

Relative intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were monitored in mature unfertilized mouse eggs by measuring fluorescence of intracellular fluo3. A number of different agents were found to cause sustained repetitive transient [Ca2+]i oscillations. These were microinjection of a cytosolic sperm factor, sustained injection of Ins-(1,4,5)P1, or extracellular addition of the thiol reagent thimerosal. Stimulating G-protein activity by injection of guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate plus application of carbachol also caused [Ca2+]i oscillations, but less reliably than other stimuli. A role for Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release and a ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ channel in mouse eggs was suggested by the finding that microinjection, or external addition, of ryanodine also caused [Ca2+]i increases. Furthermore, ryanodine, along with thimerosal, increased the sensitivity of eggs to Ca(2+)-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations. When ryanodine was added to eggs oscillating in response to the sperm factor, InsP3 or thimerosal, it caused a decrease in amplitude of oscillations and eventually a block of [Ca2+]i oscillations associated with a sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. These data suggest that a ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+)-release mechanism exists in mouse eggs and that a ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ store plays a role in generating intracellular [Ca2+]i oscillations.

scholarly journals G Proteins and GPCRs in C. elegans Development: A Story of Mutual Infidelity

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Matúš ◽  
Simone Prömel
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Cell Polarity ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Downstream Effectors ◽  
Complex Signaling ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Many vital processes during C. elegans development, especially the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity in embryogenesis, are controlled by complex signaling pathways. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as the four Frizzled family Wnt receptors, are linchpins in regulating and orchestrating several of these mechanisms. However, despite being GPCRs, which usually couple to G proteins, these receptors do not seem to activate classical heterotrimeric G protein-mediated signaling cascades. The view on signaling during embryogenesis is further complicated by the fact that heterotrimeric G proteins do play essential roles in cell polarity during embryogenesis, but their activity is modulated in a predominantly GPCR-independent manner via G protein regulators such as GEFs GAPs and GDIs. Further, the triggered downstream effectors are not typical. Only very few GPCR-dependent and G protein-mediated signaling pathways have been unambiguously defined in this context. This unusual and highly intriguing concept of separating GPCR function and G-protein activity, which is not restricted to embryogenesis in C. elegans but can also be found in other organisms, allows for essential and multi-faceted ways of regulating cellular communication and response. Although its relevance cannot be debated, its impact is still poorly discussed, and C. elegans is an ideal model to understand the underlying principles.

scholarly journals Mutations in a gene encoding the alpha subunit of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae G protein indicate a role in mating pheromone signaling.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2484-2493 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Y Jahng ◽  
J Ferguson ◽  
S I Reed
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Pheromone Receptor

Mutations which allowed conjugation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking a mating pheromone receptor gene were selected. One of the genes defined by such mutations was isolated from a yeast genomic library by complementation of a temperature-sensitive mutation and is identical to the gene GPA1 (also known as SCG1), recently shown to be highly homologous to genes encoding the alpha subunits of mammalian G proteins. Physiological analysis of temperature-sensitive gpa1 mutations suggests that the encoded G protein is involved in signaling in response to mating pheromones. Mutational disruption of G-protein activity causes cell-cycle arrest in G1, deposition of mating-specific cell surface agglutinins, and induction of pheromone-specific mRNAs, all of which are responses to pheromone in wild-type cells. In addition, mutants can conjugate without the benefit of mating pheromone or pheromone receptor. A model is presented where the activated G protein has a negative impact on a constitutive signal which normally keeps the pheromone response repressed.

scholarly journals Stabilizing Role of Calcium Store-Dependent Plasma Membrane Calcium Channels in Action-Potential Firing and Intracellular Calcium Oscillations

2005 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 3741-3756 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M.A.M. Kusters ◽  
M.M. Dernison ◽  
W.P.M. van Meerwijk ◽  
D.L. Ypey ◽  
A.P.R. Theuvenet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Calcium Channels ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Calcium Oscillations ◽  
Action Potential Firing ◽  
Calcium Store ◽  
Potential Firing

scholarly journals High-resolution structure of RGS17 suggests a role for Ca2+ in promoting the GTPase-activating protein activity by RZ subfamily members

2019 ◽  
Vol 294 (20) ◽  
pp. 8148-8160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monita Sieng ◽  
Michael P. Hayes ◽  
Joseph B. O'Brien ◽  
C. Andrew Fowler ◽  
Jon C. Houtman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Rgs Proteins ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Gtpase Activating Proteins ◽  
Ability To Act ◽  
Binding Surface ◽  
High Resolution Structure ◽  
Resolution Structure

Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are negative regulators of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling through their ability to act as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) for activated Gα subunits. Members of the RZ subfamily of RGS proteins bind to activated Gαo, Gαz, and Gαi1–3 proteins in the nervous system and thereby inhibit downstream pathways, including those involved in Ca2+-dependent signaling. In contrast to other RGS proteins, little is known about RZ subfamily structure and regulation. Herein, we present the 1.5-Å crystal structure of RGS17, the most complete and highest-resolution structure of an RZ subfamily member to date. RGS17 cocrystallized with Ca2+ bound to conserved positions on the predicted Gα-binding surface of the protein. Using NMR chemical shift perturbations, we confirmed that Ca2+ binds in solution to the same site. Furthermore, RGS17 had greater than 55-fold higher affinity for Ca2+ than for Mg2+. Finally, we found that Ca2+ promotes interactions between RGS17 and activated Gα and decreases the Km for GTP hydrolysis, potentially by altering the binding mechanism between these proteins. Taken together, these findings suggest that Ca2+ positively regulates RGS17, which may represent a general mechanism by which increased Ca2+ concentration promotes the GAP activity of the RZ subfamily, leading to RZ-mediated inhibition of Ca2+ signaling.

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