Endothelin-B receptors activate Gα13
Endothelin (ET) receptors activate heterotrimeric G proteins that are members of the Gi, Gq, and Gs families but may also activate members of other families such as Gα12/13. Gα13 has multiple complex cellular effects that are similar to those of ET. We studied the ability of ET receptors to activate Gα13 using an assay for G protein α-chain activation that is based on the fact that an activated (GTP-bound) α-chain is resistant to trypsinization compared with an inactive (GDP-bound) α-chain. Nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotides and AlMgF protected Gα13 from degradation by trypsin. In membranes from human embryonic kidney 293 cells that coexpress ETB receptors and α13, ET-3 and 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] increased the protection of α13 compared with Gpp(NH)p alone. The specificity of ETBreceptor-α13 coupling was documented by showing that β2receptors and isoproterenol or ETAreceptors and ET-1 did not activate α13 and that a specific antagonist for ETB receptors blocked ET-3-dependent activation of α13.