scholarly journals Homologous and unique G protein alpha subunits in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Lochrie ◽  
J E Mendel ◽  
P W Sternberg ◽  
M I Simon
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Predicted Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Alpha Subunits ◽  
G Protein Alpha Subunit ◽  
Protein Alpha Subunit

A cDNA corresponding to a known G protein alpha subunit, the alpha subunit of Go (Go alpha), was isolated and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence of C. elegans Go alpha is 80-87% identical to other Go alpha sequences. An mRNA that hybridizes to the C. elegans Go alpha cDNA can be detected on Northern blots. A C. elegans protein that crossreacts with antibovine Go alpha antibody can be detected on immunoblots. A cosmid clone containing the C. elegans Go alpha gene (goa-1) was isolated and mapped to chromosome I. The genomic fragments of three other C. elegans G protein alpha subunit genes (gpa-1, gpa-2, and gpa-3) have been isolated using the polymerase chain reaction. The corresponding cosmid clones were isolated and mapped to disperse locations on chromosome V. The sequences of two of the genes, gpa-1 and gpa-3, were determined. The predicted amino acid sequences of gpa-1 and gpa-3 are only 48% identical to each other. Therefore, they are likely to have distinct functions. In addition they are not homologous enough to G protein alpha subunits in other organisms to be classified. Thus C. elegans has G proteins that are identifiable homologues of mammalian G proteins as well as G proteins that appear to be unique to C. elegans. Study of identifiable G proteins in C. elegans may result in a further understanding of their function in other organisms, whereas study of the novel G proteins may provide an understanding of unique aspects of nematode physiology.

scholarly journals Phospholipase C in Dictyostelium discoideum. Identification of stimulatory and inhibitory surface receptors and G-proteins

1994 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Bominaar ◽  
P J M Van Haastert
Keyword(s):  
Phospholipase C ◽  
G Protein ◽  
G Proteins ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inhibitory Pathway ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
G Protein Alpha Subunit ◽  
Camp Receptor ◽  
Protein Alpha Subunit

A combined biochemical and genetic approach was used to show that phospholipase C in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium is under dual regulation by the chemoattractant cyclic AMP (cAMP). This dual regulation involves stimulatory and inhibitory surface receptors and G-proteins. In wild-type cells both cAMP and guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) stimulated phospholipase C. In contrast, mutant fgd A, lacking the G-protein alpha-subunit G alpha 2, showed no stimulation by either cAMP or GTP[S], indicating that G alpha 2 is the stimulatory G-protein. In mutant fgd C cAMP did not stimulate phospholipase C, but stimulation by GTP[S] was normal, suggesting that the defect in this mutant is upstream of the stimulatory G alpha 2. Inhibition of phospholipase C was achieved in wild-type cells by the partial antagonist 3′-deoxy-3′-aminoadenosine 3′,5′-phosphate (3′NH-cAMP). This inhibition was no longer observed in transformed cell lines lacking either the surface cAMP receptor cAR1 or the G-protein alpha-subunit G alpha 1; in these cells the agonist cAMP still activated phospholipase C. These results indicate that Dictyostelium phospholipase C is regulated via a stimulatory and an inhibitory pathway. The inhibitory pathway is composed of the surface receptor cAR1 and the G-protein G1. The stimulatory pathway consists of an unknown cAMP receptor (possibly the fgd C gene product) and the G-protein G2.

scholarly journals Isolation and expression of a novel chick G-protein cDNA coding for a Gαi3 protein with a Gα0 N-terminus

1994 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Kilbourne ◽  
J B Galper
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Alpha Subunits ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Brain Cdna Library ◽  
G Protein Alpha Subunit ◽  
Protein Alpha Subunit

We have cloned cDNAs coding for G-protein alpha subunits from a chick brain cDNA library. Based on sequence similarity to G-protein alpha subunits from other eukaryotes, one clone was designated G alpha i3. A second clone, G alpha i3-o, was identical to the G alpha i3 clone over 932 bases on the 3′ end. The 5′ end of G alpha i3-o, however, contained an alternative sequence in which the first 45 amino acids coded for are 100% identical to the conserved N-terminus of G alpha o from species such as rat, mouse, human, bovine and hamster. Both clones were found to be expressed in all tissues studied. The unusual alpha o-alpha i3-like G-protein chimera, G alpha i3-o, was found to be expressed at significantly lower levels than G alpha i3. In vitro transcription and translation of the G alpha i3-o cDNA clone gave a protein of approx. 41 kDa which stably bound guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. G alpha i3-o appears to be the first G-protein alpha subunit cloned which contains ends that are homologous to two different alpha subunit isoforms, G alpha o and G alpha i3.

scholarly journals Cloning and targeted mutations of G alpha 7 and G alpha 8, two developmentally regulated G protein alpha-subunit genes in Dictyostelium.

1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 691-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Wu ◽  
C Gaskins ◽  
K Zhou ◽  
R A Firtel ◽  
P N Devreotes
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Hydrolysis Rate ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Developmental Defects ◽  
Alpha Subunits ◽  
Alpha 7 ◽  
G Protein Alpha Subunit ◽  
Protein Alpha Subunit

GTP-binding protein (G protein)-mediated signal transduction pathways play essential roles during the aggregation and differentiation process of Dictyostelium. In addition to the five known G protein alpha-subunit genes, we recently identified three novel alpha-subunit genes, G alpha 6, G alpha 7, and G alpha 8, using the polymerase chain reaction technique. We present here a more complete analysis of G alpha 7 and G alpha 8. The cDNAs of these two genes were cloned, and their complete nucleotide sequences were determined. Sequence analyses indicate that G alpha 8 possesses some unusual features. It lacks the "TCATDT" motif, a sequence of amino acids highly conserved among G alpha subunits, and has an additional 50 amino acids at its C-terminus consisting of long stretches of asparagine. Moreover, G alpha 8 is unusually resistant to protease digestion, which may indicate a slow GTP hydrolysis rate. The possible functions of these alpha-subunits were assessed by generating mutants lacking G alpha 7 or G alpha 8 by gene targeting through homologous recombination and by overexpressing G alpha 7 or G alpha 8 protein. Overexpression of G alpha 7 resulted in abnormal morphogenesis starting at the slug stage, whereas analysis of the other strains failed to reveal any obvious growth or developmental defects under either normal or stressful conditions. The implications of these results are discussed.

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