TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeted knockdown of G protein subunits selectively prevents receptor-mediated modulation of effectors and reveals complex changes in non-targeted signaling proteins
AU - Krumins, Andrejs M.
AU - Gilman, Alfred G.
PY - 2006/4/14
Y1 - 2006/4/14
N2 - Heterotrimeric G protein signaling specificity has been attributed to select combinations of Gα, β, and γ subunits, their interactions with other signaling proteins, and their localization in the cell. With few exceptions, the G protein subunit combinations that exist in vivo and the significance of these specific combinations are largely unknown. We have begun to approach these problems in HeLa cells by: 1) determining the concentrations of Gα and Gβ subunits; 2) examining receptor-dependent activities of two effector systems (adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase Cβ); and 3) systematically silencing each of the Gα and Gβ subunits by using small interfering RNA while quantifying resultant changes in effector function and the concentrations of other relevant proteins in the network. HeLa cells express equimolar amounts of total Gα and Gβ subunits. The most prevalent Gα proteins were one member of each Gα subfamily (Gαs, Gαi3, Gα11, and Gα13). We substantially abrogated expression of most of the Gα and Gβ proteins expressed in these cells, singly and some in combinations. As expected, agonistdependent activation of adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase Cβ was specifically eliminated following the silencing of Gαs or Gαq/11, respectively. We also confirmed that Gβ subunits are necessary for stable accumulation of Gα proteins in vivo. Gβ subunits demonstrated little isoform specificity for receptor-dependent modulation of effector activity. We observed compensatory changes in G protein accumulation following silencing of individual genes, as well as an apparent reciprocal relationship between the expression of certain Gαq and Gαi subfamily members. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the adaptability and remarkable resilience of G protein signaling networks.
AB - Heterotrimeric G protein signaling specificity has been attributed to select combinations of Gα, β, and γ subunits, their interactions with other signaling proteins, and their localization in the cell. With few exceptions, the G protein subunit combinations that exist in vivo and the significance of these specific combinations are largely unknown. We have begun to approach these problems in HeLa cells by: 1) determining the concentrations of Gα and Gβ subunits; 2) examining receptor-dependent activities of two effector systems (adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase Cβ); and 3) systematically silencing each of the Gα and Gβ subunits by using small interfering RNA while quantifying resultant changes in effector function and the concentrations of other relevant proteins in the network. HeLa cells express equimolar amounts of total Gα and Gβ subunits. The most prevalent Gα proteins were one member of each Gα subfamily (Gαs, Gαi3, Gα11, and Gα13). We substantially abrogated expression of most of the Gα and Gβ proteins expressed in these cells, singly and some in combinations. As expected, agonistdependent activation of adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase Cβ was specifically eliminated following the silencing of Gαs or Gαq/11, respectively. We also confirmed that Gβ subunits are necessary for stable accumulation of Gα proteins in vivo. Gβ subunits demonstrated little isoform specificity for receptor-dependent modulation of effector activity. We observed compensatory changes in G protein accumulation following silencing of individual genes, as well as an apparent reciprocal relationship between the expression of certain Gαq and Gαi subfamily members. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the adaptability and remarkable resilience of G protein signaling networks.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33744544518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33744544518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1074/jbc.M511551200
DO - 10.1074/jbc.M511551200
M3 - Article
C2 - 16446365
AN - SCOPUS:33744544518
SN - 0021-9258
VL - 281
SP - 10250
EP - 10262
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
IS - 15
ER -