Fidelity of G protein -subunit association by the G protein -subunit-like domains of RGS6, RGS7, and RGS11

Several regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins contain a G protein γ-subunit-like (GGL) domain, which, as we have shown, binds to Gβ5 subunits. Here, we extend our original findings by describing another GGL-domain-containing RGS, human RGS6. When RGS6 is coexpressed with different Gβ subunits, only RGS6 and Gβ5 interact. The expression of mRNA for RGS6 and Gβ5 in human tissues overlaps. Predictions of α-helical and coiled-coil character within GGL domains, coupled with measurements of Gβ binding by GGL domain mutants, support the contention that Gγ-like regions within RGS proteins interact with Gβ5 subunits in a fashion comparable to conventional Gβ/Gγ pairings. Mutation of the highly conserved Phe-61 residue of Gγ2 to tryptophan, the residue present in all GGL domains, increases the stability of the Gβ5/Gγ2 heterodimer, highlighting the importance of this residue to GGL/Gβ5 association

High-Throughput Screening for Small-Molecule Inhibitors of LARG-Stimulated RhoA Nucleotide Binding via a Novel Fluorescence Polarization Assay

Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) stimulate guanine nucleotide exchange and the subsequent activation of Rho-family proteins in response to extracellular stimuli acting upon cytokine, tyrosine kinase, adhesion, integrin, and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Upon Rho activation, several downstream events occur, such as morphological and cytokskeletal changes, motility, growth, survival, and gene transcription. The RhoGEF Leukemia-Associated RhoGEF (LARG) is a member of the Regulators of G-protein Signaling Homology Domain (RH) family of GEFs originally identified as a result of chromosomal translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. Using a novel fluorescence polarization guanine nucleotide binding assay utilizing BODIPY-Texas Red-GTPγS (BODIPY-TR-GTPγS), we performed a ten-thousand compound high-throughput screen for inhibitors of LARG-stimulated RhoA nucleotide binding. Five compounds identified from the high-throughput screen were confirmed in a non-fluorescent radioactive guanine nucleotide binding assay measuring LARG-stimulated [35S] GTPγS binding to RhoA, thus ruling out non-specific fluorescent effects. All five compounds selectively inhibited LARG-stimulated RhoA [35S] GTPγS binding, but had little to no effect upon RhoA or Gαo [35S] GTPγS binding. Therefore, these five compounds should serve as promising starting points for the development of small molecule inhibitors of LARG-mediated nucleotide exchange as both pharmacological tools and therapeutics. In addition, the fluorescence polarization guanine nucleotide binding assay described here should serve as a useful approach for both high-throughput screening and general biological applications

Gα q 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 Gα12/13 and Gαq/11 families of heterotrimeric G proteins signal downstream to RhoA via distinct pathways. Although studies have elucidated mechanisms governing Gα12/13-mediated RhoA activation, proteins that functionally couple Gαq/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 Gαq/11 signaling to RhoA based on its ability to synergize with Gαq/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 Gαq directly engages and stimulates p63RhoGEF. Basally, p63RhoGEF is autoinhibited by the Dbl homology (DH)-associated pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; activated Gαq 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 Gαq

Release of autoinhibition of ASEF by APC leads to CDC42 activation and tumor suppression

Autoinhibition of the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor ASEF is relieved by interaction with the APC tumor suppressor. Here we show that binding of the armadillo repeats of APC to a ‘core APC-binding’ (CAB) motif within ASEF, or truncation of the SH3 domain of ASEF, relieves autoinhibition, allowing the specific activation of CDC42. Structural determination of autoinhibited ASEF reveals that the SH3 domain forms an extensive interface with the catalytic DH and PH domains to obstruct binding and activation of CDC42, and the CAB motif is positioned adjacent to the SH3 domain to facilitate activation by APC. In colorectal cancer cell lines, full-length, but not truncated, APC activates CDC42 in an ASEF-dependent manner to suppress anchorage-independent growth. We therefore propose a model in which ASEF acts as a tumor suppressor when activated by APC and inactivation of ASEF by mutation or APC truncation promotes tumorigenesis

Prediction of Protein–Protein Interfaces on G-Protein β Subunits Reveals a Novel Phospholipase C β2 Binding Domain

Gβ subunits from heterotrimeric G-proteins directly bind diverse proteins, including effectors and regulators, to modulate a wide array of signaling cascades. These numerous interactions constrained the evolution of the molecular surface of Gβ. Though mammals contain five Gβ genes comprising two classes (Gβ1-like and Gβ5-like), plants and fungi have a single ortholog and organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster contain one copy from each class. A limited number of crystal structures of complexes containing Gβ subunits and complementary biochemical data highlight specific sites within Gβs needed for protein interactions. It is difficult to determine from these interaction sites what, if any, additional regions of the Gβ molecular surface comprise interaction interfaces essential to Gβ's role as a nexus in numerous signaling cascades. We used a comparative evolutionary approach to identify five known and eight previously-unknown putative interfaces on the surface of Gβ. We show that one such novel interface occurs between Gβ and phospholipase C β2 (PLC-β2), a mammalian Gβ interacting protein. Substitutions of residues within this Gβ-PLC-β2 interface reduce the activation of PLC-β2 by Gβ1, confirming that our de novo comparative evolutionary approach predicts previously unknown Gβ-protein interfaces. Similarly, we hypothesize the seven remaining untested novel regions contribute to putative interfaces for other Gβ interacting proteins. Finally, this comparative evolutionary approach is suitable for application to any protein involved in a significant number of protein-protein interactions

Structure and Function of Vps15 in the Endosomal G Protein Signaling Pathway ,

G protein-coupled receptors mediate cellular responses to a wide variety of stimuli, including taste, light and neurotransmitters. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, activation of the pheromone pathway triggers events leading to mating. The view had long been held that the G protein-mediated signal occurs principally at the plasma membrane. Recently, it has been shown that the G protein α subunit Gpa1 can promote signaling at endosomes and requires two components of the sole phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase in yeast, Vps15 and Vps34. Vps15 contains multiple WD repeats and also binds to Gpa1 preferentially in the GDP-bound state; these observations led us to hypothesize that Vps15 may function as a G protein β subunit at the endosome. Here we show an X-ray crystal structure of the Vps15 WD domain that reveals a seven-bladed propeller resembling that of typical Gβ subunits. We show further that the WD domain is sufficient to bind Gpa1 as well as to Atg14, a potential Gγ protein that exists in a complex with Vps15. The Vps15 kinase domain together with the intermediate domain (linking the kinase and WD domains) also contributes to Gpa1 binding, and is necessary for Vps15 to sustain G protein signaling. These findings reveal that the Vps15 Gβ-like domain serves as a scaffold to assemble Gpa1 and Atg14, whereas the kinase and intermediate domains are required for proper signaling at the endosome

Multifunctional Roles for the PH Domain of Dbs in Regulating Rho GTPase Activation

Dbl family members are guanine nucleotide exchange factors specific for Rho guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) and invariably possess tandem Dbl (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. Dbs, a Dbl family member specific for Cdc42 and RhoA, exhibits transforming activity when overexpressed in NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. In this study, the PH domain of Dbs was mutated to impair selectively either guanine nucleotide exchange or phosphoinositide binding in vitro and resulting physiological alterations were assessed. As anticipated, substitution of residues within the PH domain of Dbs integral to the interface with GTPases reduced nucleotide exchange and eliminated the ability of Dbs to transform NIH 3T3 cells. More interestingly, substitutions within the PH domain that prevent interaction with phosphoinositides yet do not alter in vitro activation of GTPases also do not transform NIH 3T3 cell and fail to activate RhoA in vivo despite proper subcellular localization. Therefore, the PH domain of Dbs serves multiple roles in the activation of GTPases and cannot be viewed as a simple membrane-anchoring device. In particular, the data suggest that binding of phosphoinositides to the PH domain within the context of membrane surfaces may direct orientations or conformations of the linked DH and PH domains to regulate GTPases activation

Requirement For C-terminal Sequences in Regulation of Ect2 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Specificity and Transformation

Ect2 was identified originally as a transforming protein and a member of the Dbl family of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Like all Dbl family proteins, Ect2 contains a tandem Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain structure. Previous studies demonstrated that N-terminal deletion of sequences upstream of the DH domain created a constitutively activated, transforming variant of Ect2 (designated DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C), indicating that the N terminus served as a negative regulator of DH domain function in vivo. The role of sequences C-terminal to the DH domain has not been established. Therefore, we assessed the consequences of mutation of C-terminal sequences on Ect2-transforming activity. Surprisingly, in contrast to observations with other Dbl family proteins, we found that mutation of the invariant tryptophan residue in the PH domain did not impair DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C transforming activity. Furthermore, although the sequences C-terminal to the PH domain lack any known functional domains or motifs, deletion of these sequences (DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH) resulted in a dramatic reduction in transforming activity. Whereas DeltaN-Ect2 caused formation of lamellipodia, DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH enhanced actin stress fiber formation, suggesting that C-terminal sequences influenced Ect2 Rho GTPase specificity. Consistent with this possibility, we determined that DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH activated RhoA, but not Rac1 or Cdc42, whereas DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C activated all three Rho GTPases in vivo. Taken together, these observations suggest that regions of Ect2 C-terminal to the DH domain alter the profile of Rho GTPases activated in vivo and consequently may contribute to the enhanced transforming activity of DeltaN-Ect2 DH/PH/C

Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Phosphoinositide Interactions on the Function of Dbl Family Proteins

Normally, Rho GTPases are activated by the removal of bound GDP and the concomitant loading of GTP catalyzed by members of the Dbl family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). This family of GEFs invariantly contain a Dbl homology (DH) domain adjacent to a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, and while the DH domain usually is sufficient to catalyze nucleotide exchange, possible roles for the conserved PH domain remain ambiguous. Here we demonstrate that the conserved PH domains of three distinct Dbl family proteins, intersectin, Dbs, and Tiam1, selectively bind lipid vesicles only when phosphoinositides are present. While the PH domains of intersectin and Dbs promiscuously bind several multiphosphorylated phosphoinositides, Tiam1 selectively interacts with phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (K(D) approximately 5-10 microm). In addition, and in contrast to recent reports, catalysis of nucleotide exchange on nonprenylated Rac1 provided by various extended portions of Tiam1 is not influenced by (a) soluble phosphoinositide head groups, (b) dibutyl versions of phosphoinositides, or (c) lipid vesicles containing phosphoinositides. Likewise, GEF activity afforded by DH/PH fragments of intersectin and Dbs are also not altered by phosphoinositide interactions. These results strongly suggest that unless all relevant components are localized to a lipid membrane surface, Dbl family GEFs generally are not intrinsically modulated by binding phosphoinositides