Activation of the regulator of G protein signaling 14-Gαi1-GDP signaling complex is regulated by resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase-8A

Biochemistry. 2011 Feb 8;50(5):752-62. doi: 10.1021/bi101910n. Epub 2011 Jan 11.

Abstract

RGS14 is a brain scaffolding protein that integrates G protein and MAP kinase signaling pathways. Like other RGS proteins, RGS14 is a GTPase activating protein (GAP) that terminates Gαi/o signaling. Unlike other RGS proteins, RGS14 also contains a G protein regulatory (also known as GoLoco) domain that binds Gαi1/3-GDP in cells and in vitro. Here we report that Ric-8A, a nonreceptor guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), functionally interacts with the RGS14-Gαi1-GDP signaling complex to regulate its activation state. RGS14 and Ric-8A are recruited from the cytosol to the plasma membrane in the presence of coexpressed Gαi1 in cells, suggesting formation of a functional protein complex with Gαi1. Consistent with this idea, Ric-8A stimulates dissociation of the RGS14-Gαi1-GDP complex in cells and in vitro using purified proteins. Purified Ric-8A stimulates dissociation of the RGS14-Gαi1-GDP complex to form a stable Ric-8A-Gαi complex in the absence of GTP. In the presence of an activating nucleotide, Ric-8A interacts with the RGS14-Gαi1-GDP complex to stimulate both the steady-state GTPase activity of Gαi1 and binding of GTP to Gαi1. However, sufficiently high concentrations of RGS14 competitively reverse these stimulatory effects of Ric-8A on Gαi1 nucleotide binding and GTPase activity. This observation correlates with findings that show RGS14 and Ric-8A share an overlapping binding region within the last 11 amino acids of Gαi1. As further evidence that these proteins are functionally linked, native RGS14 and Ric-8A coexist within the same hippocampal neurons. These findings demonstrate that RGS14 is a newly appreciated integrator of unconventional Ric-8A and Gαi1 signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Guanosine Diphosphate / metabolism*
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • RGS Proteins / genetics
  • RGS Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RGS Proteins
  • Rgs14 protein, mouse
  • Ric8a protein, mouse
  • Guanosine Diphosphate
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go