Molecular mechanism of Gαi activation by non-GPCR proteins with a Gα-Binding and Activating motif

Ibáñez de Opakua, A. et al. (2017) Molecular mechanism of Gαi activation by non-GPCR proteins with a Gα-Binding and Activating motif. Nature Communications, 8, 15163. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms15163) (PMID:28516903) (PMCID:PMC5454376)

[img]
Preview
Text
138019.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

3MB

Abstract

Heterotrimeric G proteins are quintessential signalling switches activated by nucleotide exchange on Gα. Although activation is predominantly carried out by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), non-receptor guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have emerged as critical signalling molecules and therapeutic targets. Here we characterize the molecular mechanism of G-protein activation by a family of non-receptor GEFs containing a Gα-binding and -activating (GBA) motif. We combine NMR spectroscopy, computational modelling and biochemistry to map changes in Gα caused by binding of GBA proteins with residue-level resolution. We find that the GBA motif binds to the SwitchII/α3 cleft of Gα and induces changes in the G-1/P-loop and G-2 boxes (involved in phosphate binding), but not in the G-4/G-5 boxes (guanine binding). Our findings reveal that G-protein-binding and activation mechanisms are fundamentally different between GBA proteins and GPCRs, and that GEF-mediated perturbation of nucleotide phosphate binding is sufficient for Gα activation.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work was supported by NIH grants R01GM108733, R01GM112631, American Cancer Society grants RSG-13-362-01-TBE and IRG-72-001-36, and the Karin Grunebaum Foundation (to MG-M) and CTQ2014-56966-R (to FJB). VDG is a recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the Hartwell Foundation.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Baillie, Professor George
Authors: Ibáñez de Opakua, A., Parag-Sharma, K., DiGiacomo, V., Merino, N., Leyme, A., Marivin, A., Villate, M., Nguyen, L. T., de la Cruz-Morcillo, M. A., Blanco-Canosa, J. B., Ramachandran, S., Baillie, G. S., Cerione, R. A., Blanco, F. J., and Garcia-Marcos, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Nature Communications
Publisher:Nature Research
ISSN:2041-1723
ISSN (Online):2041-1723
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nature Communications 8:15163
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record