Dynamics of Gq Protein Interactions with PLCβ3 Studied by TIRF Microscopy

Abstract

G protein-mediated activation of phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) represents a primary mechanism to regulate many physiological events such induce smooth muscle contraction, secretion and modulation of synaptic transmission. Both Gαq- and Gβγ-subunits are known to interact and activate PLCβ enzymes, however little is known about the dynamics of this interactions and the relative contribution of the G protein subunits in intact cells. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer- (FRET-) based assays in single intact cells we studies kinetics of receptor-induced interactions between Gβγ- and Gαq-subunits, interactions of both Gαq and Gβγ with PLCβ3 as well as interactions of regulator of G proteins signalling 2 (RGS2) with Gαq- and Gβγ-subunits. In order to restrict the protein/protein interaction studies to the cell membrane we applied total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy. High temporal resolution ratiometric FRET imaging uncovered a markedly faster dissociation of Gαq and PLC upon withdrawal of purinergic agonists compared to the deactivation of Gq proteins in the absence of PLCβ3. This apparent difference in kinetics could be contributed to the GTPase-activating property of PLCβ3 in living cells. Furthermore we found that PLCβ3 modulated Gq protein kinetics to a similar extent compared to RGS2, which in vitro is about 100 fold more efficient in activating Gq-GTPase activity. We observed that both Gαq subunits and Gq-derived Gβγ-subunits interact with PLCβ3 in response to receptor stimulation. In the absence of receptor stimulation we did neither detect any specific FRET signals between Gq protein subunits and PLCβ3 nor did we detect any interactions between RGS2 and Gαq subunits. Finally we could not detect agonist- dependent FRET between RGS2 and Gβγ-subunits. Taken together, ratiometric FRET-imaging under conditions of TIRF allowed new insights into dynamics and interaction patterns within the Gq signalling pathway.