Heterotrimeric G proteins containing G alpha i3 regulate multiple effector enzymes in the same cell. Activation of phospholipases C and A2 and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that a single type of transmembrane receptor is able to regulate multiple effectors through the activation of heterotrimeric G proteins. For example, the m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells inhibits adenylyl cyclase, stimulates phospholipase C-dependent intracellular Ca2+ release, and activates phospholipase A2 through pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. However, it is unclear whether multiple effector enzymes can be regulated by one type of heterotrimeric G protein within a single cell. To investigate this question, we constructed a derivative of G alpha i3 (termed G alpha i3 C > S) in which the carboxyl-terminal cysteine residue, the site for pertussis toxin modification, was changed to a serine. Following pertussis toxin treatment of transfected CHO cells expressing the m2 mAChR, we found that the G alpha i3 C > S protein underwent guanine nucleotide exchange in response to the muscarinic agonist carbachol, while the m2 mAChR failed to activate the endogenous G alpha i2 and G alpha i3 proteins. Moreover, coupling of heterotrimeric G proteins containing G alpha i3 C > S to the m2 mAChR resulted in pertussis toxin-resistant inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, stimulation of phospholipase C-induced intracellular Ca2+ release, and phospholipase A2-mediated arachidonic acid release. Therefore, these studies provide conclusive evidence that heterotrimeric G proteins containing just G alpha i3 can regulate multiple effector enzymes within the same cell type.