scholarly journals A Regulator of G Protein Signaling-containing Kinase Is Important for Chemotaxis and Multicellular Development inDictyostelium

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1727-1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binggang Sun ◽  
Richard A. Firtel
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Membrane Localization ◽  
Pleckstrin Homology Domain ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Encoding

We have identified a gene encoding RGS domain-containing protein kinase (RCK1), a novel regulator of G protein signaling domain-containing protein kinase. RCK1 mutant strains exhibit strong aggregation and chemotaxis defects. rck1 null cells chemotax ∼50% faster than wild-type cells, suggesting RCK1 plays a negative regulatory role in chemotaxis. Consistent with this finding, overexpression of wild-type RCK1 reduces chemotaxis speed by ∼40%. On cAMP stimulation, RCK1 transiently translocates to the membrane/cortex region with membrane localization peaking at ∼10 s, similar to the kinetics of membrane localization of the pleckstrin homology domain-containing proteins CRAC, Akt/PKB, and PhdA. RCK1 kinase activity also increases dramatically. The RCK1 kinase activity does not rapidly adapt, but decreases after the cAMP stimulus is removed. This is particularly novel considering that most other chemoattractant-activated kinases (e.g., Akt/PKB, ERK1, ERK2, and PAKa) rapidly adapt after activation. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we further show that both the RGS and kinase domains are required for RCK1 function and that RCK1 kinase activity is required for the delocalization of RCK1 from the plasma membrane. Genetic evidence suggests RCK1 function lies downstream from Gα2, the heterotrimeric G protein that couples to the cAMP chemoattractant receptors. We suggest that RCK1 might be part of an adaptation pathway that regulates aspects of chemotaxis in Dictyostelium.

scholarly journals Regulation of the Epithelial Na+ Channel by the RH Domain of G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase, GRK2, and Gαq/11

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (22) ◽  
pp. 19259-19269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Il-Ha Lee ◽  
Sung-Hee Song ◽  
Craig R. Campbell ◽  
Sharad Kumar ◽  
David I. Cook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Na Channel ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Receptor Kinase ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptor ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Α Subunits

The G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK2) belongs to a family of protein kinases that phosphorylates agonist-activated G protein-coupled receptors, leading to G protein-receptor uncoupling and termination of G protein signaling. GRK2 also contains a regulator of G protein signaling homology (RH) domain, which selectively interacts with α-subunits of the Gq/11 family that are released during G protein-coupled receptor activation. We have previously reported that kinase activity of GRK2 up-regulates activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in a Na+ absorptive epithelium by blocking Nedd4-2-dependent inhibition of ENaC. In the present study, we report that GRK2 also regulates ENaC by a mechanism that does not depend on its kinase activity. We show that a wild-type GRK2 (wtGRK2) and a kinase-dead GRK2 mutant (K220RGRK2), but not a GRK2 mutant that lacks the C-terminal RH domain (ΔRH-GRK2) or a GRK2 mutant that cannot interact with Gαq/11/14 (D110AGRK2), increase activity of ENaC. GRK2 up-regulates the basal activity of the channel as a consequence of its RH domain binding the α-subunits of Gq/11. We further found that expression of constitutively active Gαq/11 mutants significantly inhibits activity of ENaC. Conversely, co-expression of siRNA against Gαq/11 increases ENaC activity. The effect of Gαq on ENaC activity is not due to change in ENaC membrane expression and is independent of Nedd4-2. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which GRK2 and Gq/11 α-subunits regulate the activity ENaC.

scholarly journals Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signaling Is Required for Cellulose Degradation in Neurospora crassa

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Logan A. Collier ◽  
Arit Ghosh ◽  
Katherine A. Borkovich
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Cellulose Degradation ◽  
Cellulase Activity ◽  
Cellulase Production ◽  
Camp Signaling ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Posttranscriptional Control ◽  
Heterotrimeric G Protein Signaling

ABSTRACT The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa decomposes lignocellulosic biomass to generate soluble sugars as carbon sources. In this study, we investigated a role for heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in cellulose degradation. Loss of the Gα subunit genes gna-1 and gna-3, the Gβ subunit genes gnb-1 and cpc-2, the Gγ gene gng-1, or the gene for downstream effector adenylyl cyclase (cr-1) resulted in loss of detectable cellulase activity. This defect was also observed in strains expressing a constitutively active version of gna-3 (gna-3Q208L). We found that GNA-1 levels are greatly reduced in Δgna-3, Δgnb-1, and Δgng-1 strains, likely contributing to cellulase defects in these genetic backgrounds. The observation that gna-3Q208L Δgnb-1 strains exhibit cellulase activity, despite greatly reduced levels of GNA-1 protein, is consistent with positive control of cellulase production by GNA-3 that is manifested in the absence of gnb-1. Expression patterns for five cellulase genes showed that Δgna-1, Δgnb-1, and Δgna-3 mutants produce less cellulase mRNA than the wild type, consistent with transcriptional regulation. Δcpc-2 mutants had wild-type levels of cellulase transcripts, suggesting posttranscriptional control. In contrast, results for Δcr-1 mutants support both transcriptional and posttranscriptional control of cellulase activity by cAMP signaling. Cellulase activity defects in Δgna-3 mutants were fully remediated by cAMP supplementation, consistent with GNA-3 operating upstream of cAMP signaling. In contrast, cAMP addition only partially corrected cellulase activity defects in Δgna-1 and Δgnb-1 mutants, suggesting participation of GNA-1 and GNB-1 in additional cAMP-independent pathways that control cellulase activity. IMPORTANCE Filamentous fungi are critical for the recycling of plant litter in the biosphere by degrading lignocellulosic biomass into simpler compounds for metabolism. Both saprophytic and pathogenic fungi utilize plant cell wall-degrading enzymes to liberate carbon for metabolism. Several studies have demonstrated a role for cellulase enzymes during infection of economically relevant crops by fungal pathogens. Especially in developing countries, severe plant disease means loss of entire crops, sometimes leading to starvation. In this study, we demonstrate that G-protein signaling is a key component of cellulase production. Therefore, understanding the role of G-protein signaling in the regulation of the unique metabolism of cellulose by these organisms can inform innovations in strain engineering of industrially relevant species for biofuel production and in combatting food shortages caused by plant pathogens.

scholarly journals A Cell Number Counting Factor Regulates Akt/Protein Kinase B To Regulate Dictyostelium discoideum Group Size

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1176-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Gao ◽  
David Knecht ◽  
Lei Tang ◽  
R. Diane Hatton ◽  
Richard H. Gomer
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Protein Kinase B ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Pleckstrin Homology Domain ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
High Concentration

ABSTRACT Little is known about how individual cells can organize themselves to form structures of a given size. During development, Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates in dendritic streams and forms groups of ∼20,000 cells. D. discoideum regulates group size by secreting and simultaneously sensing a multiprotein complex called counting factor (CF). If there are too many cells in a stream, the associated high concentration of CF will decrease cell-cell adhesion and increase cell motility, causing aggregation streams to break up. The pulses of cyclic AMP (cAMP) that mediate aggregation cause a transient translocation of Akt/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) to the leading edge of the plasma membrane and a concomitant activation of the kinase activity, which in turn stimulates motility. We found that countin− cells (which lack bioactive CF) and wild-type cells starved in the presence of anticountin antibodies (which block CF activity) showed a decreased level of cAMP-stimulated Akt/PKB membrane translocation and kinase activity compared to parental wild-type cells. Recombinant countin has the bioactivity of CF, and a 1-min treatment of cells with recombinant countin potentiated Akt/PKB translocation to membranes and Akt/PKB activity. Western blotting of total cell lysates indicated that countin does not affect the total level of Akt/PKB. Fluorescence microscopy of cells expressing an Akt/PKB pleckstrin homology domain-green fluorescent protein (PH-GFP) fusion protein indicated that recombinant countin and anti-countin antibodies do not obviously alter the distribution of Akt/PKB PH-GFP when it translocates to the membrane. Our data indicate that CF increases motility by potentiating the cAMP-stimulated activation and translocation of Akt/PKB.

scholarly journals Identification of Critical Residues Involved in Ligand Binding and G Protein Signaling in Human Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (6) ◽  
pp. 2747-2755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse J. Parry ◽  
Ronald Chen ◽  
Rebecca Andrews ◽  
Kimberly A. Lears ◽  
Buck E. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Calcium Release ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Somatostatin Receptor ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2

G protein signaling through human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) is well known, but the amino acids involved in stimulation of intracellular responses upon ligand binding have not been characterized. We constructed a series of point mutants in SSTR2 at amino acid positions 89, 139, and 140 in attempts to disrupt G protein signaling upon ligand binding. The aspartic acid changes at position 89 to either Ala, Leu, or Arg generated mutant receptors with varying expression profiles and a complete inability to bind somatostatin-14 (SST). Mutations to Asp 139 and Arg 140 also led to varying expression profiles with some mutants maintaining their affinity for SST. Mutation of Arg 140 to Ala resulted in a mutated receptor that had a Bmax and dissociation constant (Kd) similar to wild-type receptor but was still coupled to the G protein as determined in both a cAMP assay and a calcium-release assay. In contrast, mutation of Asp 139 to Asn resulted in a mutated receptor with Bmax and Kd values that were similar to wild type but was uncoupled from G protein-mediated cAMP signaling, but not calcium release. Thus, we identified mutations in SSTR2 that result in either receptor expression levels that are similar to wild type but is completely ablated for ligand binding or a receptor that maintains affinity for SST and is uncoupled from G protein-mediated cAMP signaling.

Protein Kinase C-η and Phospholipase D2 Pathway Regulates Foam Cell Formation via Regulator of G Protein Signaling 2

2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyung-Kyoung Lee ◽  
Seungeun Yeo ◽  
Jin-Sik Kim ◽  
Jin-Gu Lee ◽  
Yoe-Sik Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Foam Cell ◽  
Cell Formation ◽  
Foam Cell Formation ◽  
G Protein Signaling ◽  
Protein Signaling ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Phospholipase D2
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