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In contrast to G protein-coupled receptors, for which chemical and peptidic inhibitors have been extensively explored, few compounds are available that directly modulate heterotrimeric G proteins. Active Gα q binds its two major classes of effectors, the phospholipase C (PLC)-β isozymes and Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) related to Trio, in a strikingly similar fashion: a continuous helix-turn-helix of the effectors engages Gα q within its canonical binding site consisting of a groove formed between switch II and helix α3. This information was exploited to synthesize peptides that bound active Gα q in vitro with affinities similar to full-length effectors and directly competed with effectors for engagement of Gα q A representative peptide was specific for active Gα q because it did not bind inactive Gα q or other classes of active Gα subunits and did not inhibit the activation of PLC-β3 by Gβ 1 γ 2 In contrast, the peptide robustly prevented activation of PLC-β3 or p63RhoGEF by Gα q ; it also prevented G protein-coupled receptor-promoted neuronal depolarization downstream of Gα q in the mouse prefrontal cortex. Moreover, a genetically encoded form of this peptide flanked by fluorescent proteins inhibited Gα q -dependent activation of PLC-β3 at least as effectively as a dominant-negative form of full-length PLC-β3. These attributes suggest that related, cell-penetrating peptides should effectively inhibit active Gα q in cells and that these and genetically encoded sequences may find application as molecular probes, drug leads, and biosensors to monitor the spatiotemporal activation of Gα q in cells.

The human P2Y1 receptor (P2Y1-R) was purified after high-level expression from a recombinant baculovirus in Sf9 insect cells. Quantification by protein staining and with a radioligand binding assay using the high-affinity P2Y1-R antagonist [3H]MRS2279 ([3H]2-chloro-N6-methyl-(N)-methanocarba-2'-deoxyadenosine 3',5'-bis-phosphate) indicated a nearly homogenous preparation of receptor protein. Ki values determined in [3H]MRS2279 binding assays for antagonists with the purified P2Y1-R were in good agreement with the Ki and KB values determined for these molecules in membrane binding and activity assays, respectively. Availability of P2Y1-R in purified form allowed direct determination of nucleotide agonist affinities under conditions not compromised by nucleotide metabolism/interconversion, and an order of affinities of 2-methylthio-ADP (2MeSADP)ADP = 2-methylthioATP = adenosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate = adenosine-5'-O(2-thiodiphosphate)ATP was obtained. The signaling activity of the purified P2Y1-R was quantified after reconstitution in proteoliposomes with heterotrimeric G proteins. Steady-state GTP hydrolysis in vesicles reconstituted with P2Y1-R and Galpha(q)beta(1)gamma(2) was stimulated by the addition of either 2MeADP or RGS4 alone and was increased by up to 50-fold in their combined presence. EC50 values of agonists for activation of the purified P2Y1-R were similar to their respective Ki values determined in radioligand binding experiments with the purified receptor. Moreover, ATP exhibited 20-fold higher EC50 and Ki values than did ADP and was a partial agonist relative to ADP and 2MeSADP under conditions in which no metabolism of the nucleotide occurred. Both RGS4 and PLC-beta1 were potent and efficacious GTPase-activating proteins for Galphaq and Galpha11 in P2Y1-R-containing vesicles. These results illustrate that the binding and signaling properties of the human P2Y1-R can be studied with purified proteins under conditions that circumvent the complications that occur in vivo.

The human P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12-R) is a member of the G protein coupled P2Y receptor family, which is intimately involved in platelet physiology. We describe here the purification and functional characterization of recombinant P2Y12-R after high-level expression from a baculovirus in Sf9 insect cells. Purified P2Y12-R, Gbeta1gamma2, and various Galpha-subunits were reconstituted in lipid vesicles, and steady-state GTPase activity was quantified. GTP hydrolysis in proteoliposomes formed with purified P2Y12-R and Galphai2beta1gamma2 was stimulated by addition of either 2-methylthio-ADP (2MeSADP) or RGS4 and was markedly enhanced by their combined presence. 2MeSADP was the most potent agonist (EC50 = 80 nM) examined, whereas ADP, the cognate agonist of the P2Y12-R, was 3 orders of magnitude less potent. ATP had no effect alone but inhibited the action of 2MeSADP; therefore, ATP is a relatively low-affinity antagonist of the P2Y12-R. The G protein selectivity of the P2Y12-R was examined by reconstitution with various G protein alpha-subunits in heterotrimeric form with Gbeta1gamma2. The most robust coupling of the P2Y12-R was to Galphai2, but effective coupling also occurred to Galphai1 and Galphai3. In contrast, little or no coupling occurred to Galphao or Galphaq. These results illustrate that the signaling properties of the P2Y12-R can be studied as a purified protein under conditions that circumvent the complications that occur in vivo because of nucleotide metabolism and interconversion as well as nucleotide release.

2-Chloro- N 6 -methyl-( N )-methanocarba-2′-deoxyadenosine-3′,5′- bisphosphate (MRS2279) was developed previously as a selective high-affinity, non-nucleotide P2Y 1 receptor (P2Y1-R) antagonist ( J Med Chem 43: 829–842, 2002; Br J Pharmacol 135: 2004–2010, 2002). We have taken advantage of the N 6 -methyl substitution in the adenine base to incorporate [ 3 H]methylamine into the synthesis of [ 3 H]MRS2279 to high (89 Ci/mmol) specific radioactivity and have used this molecule as a radioligand for the P2Y1-R. [ 3 H]MRS2279 bound to membranes from Sf9 insect cells expressing recombinant human P2Y1-R but not to membranes from wild-type Sf9 cells or Sf9 cells expressing high levels of recombinant P2Y 2 or P2Y 12 receptors. Equilibrium binding of [ 3 H]MRS2279 to P2Y1-R expressed in Sf9 membranes was with a high affinity ( K d = 8 nM) essentially identical to the apparent affinity of MRS2279 determined previously in studies of P2Y1-R–promoted inositol phosphate accumulation or platelet aggregation. A kinetically derived K d calculated from independent determinations of the rate constants of association (7.15 × 10 7 M −1 min −1 ) and dissociation (0.72 min −1 ) of [ 3 H]MRS2279 also was in good agreement with the K d derived from equilibrium binding studies. Competition binding assays with [ 3 H]MRS2279 and P2Y1-R expressing Sf9 cell membranes revealed K i values for the P2Y1-R antagonists MRS2279 ( K i = 13 nM), N 6 -methyl-2′-deoxyadenosine-3′,5′-bisphosphate (MRS2179; K i = 84 nM), adenosine-3′, 5′-bisphosphate ( K i =900 nM), and pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid ( K i = 6 μM) that were in good agreement with antagonist activities of these molecules previously determined at the P2Y1-R in intact tissues. Moreover, [ 3 H]MRS2279 also bound with high affinity ( K d = 4–8 nM) to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells stably expressing the human P2Y1-R, but specific binding was not observed in wild-type CHO or 1321N1 cells. [ 3 H]MRS2279 bound with high affinity ( K d = 16 nM) to a binding site on out-dated human platelets (5–35 receptors/platelet) and rat brain membranes (210 fmol/mg protein) that fit the expected drug selectivity of a P2Y1-R. Taken together, these results indicate that [ 3 H]MRS2279 is the first broadly applicable antagonist radioligand for a P2Y receptor.

All peripheral membrane proteins must negotiate unique constraints intrinsic to the biological interface of lipid bilayers and the cytosol. Phospholipase C-β (PLC-β) isozymes hydrolyze the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to propagate diverse intracellular responses that underlie the physiological action of many hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. PLC-β isozymes are autoinhibited, and several proteins, including Gαq, Gβγ, and Rac1, directly engage distinct regions of these phospholipases to release autoinhibition. To understand this process, we used a novel, soluble analog of PIP2 that increases in fluorescence upon cleavage to monitor phospholipase activity in real time in the absence of membranes or detergents. High concentrations of Gαq or Gβ1γ2 did not activate purified PLC-β3 under these conditions despite their robust capacity to activate PLC-β3 at membranes. In addition, mutants of PLC-β3 with crippled autoinhibition dramatically accelerated the hydrolysis of PIP2 in membranes without an equivalent acceleration in the hydrolysis of the soluble analog. Our results illustrate that membranes are integral for the activation of PLC-β isozymes by diverse modulators, and we propose a model describing membrane-mediated allosterism within PLC-β isozymes.

RGS proteins (regulators of G protein signaling) attenuate heterotrimeric G protein signaling by functioning as both GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and inhibitors of G protein/effector interaction. RGS2 has been shown to regulate Galpha(q)-mediated inositol lipid signaling. Although purified RGS2 blocks PLC-beta activation by the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog guanosine 5'-O-thiophosphate (GTPgammaS), its capacity to regulate inositol lipid signaling under conditions where GTPase-promoted hydrolysis of GTP is operative has not been fully explored. Utilizing the turkey erythrocyte membrane model of inositol lipid signaling, we investigated regulation by RGS2 of both GTP and GTPgammaS-stimulated Galpha(11) signaling. Different inhibitory potencies of RGS2 were observed under conditions assessing its activity as a GAP versus as an effector antagonist; i.e. RGS2 was a 10-20-fold more potent inhibitor of aluminum fluoride and GTP-stimulated PLC-betat activity than of GTPgammaS-promoted PLC-betat activity. We also examined whether RGS2 was regulated by downstream components of the inositol lipid signaling pathway. RGS2 was phosphorylated by PKC in vitro to a stoichiometry of approximately unity by both a mixture of PKC isozymes and individual calcium and phospholipid-dependent PKC isoforms. Moreover, RGS2 was phosphorylated in intact COS7 cells in response to PKC activation by 4beta-phorbol 12beta-myristate 13alpha-acetate and, to a lesser extent, by the P2Y(2) receptor agonist UTP. In vitro phosphorylation of RGS2 by PKC decreased its capacity to attenuate both GTP and GTPgammaS-stimulated PLC-betat activation, with the extent of attenuation correlating with the level of RGS2 phosphorylation. A phosphorylation-dependent inhibition of RGS2 GAP activity was also observed in proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified P2Y(1) receptor and Galpha(q)betagamma. These results identify for the first time a phosphorylation-induced change in the activity of an RGS protein and suggest a mechanism for potentiation of inositol lipid signaling by PKC.

A turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C (PLC) has been instrumental in delineating the role of G-proteins in receptor-regulated inositol lipid signalling. This isoenzyme is uniquely regulated both by alpha-subunits of the Gq family and by G-protein beta gamma-subunits. A 4819 bp cDNA encoding this PLC has been cloned from a turkey erythrocyte cDNA library. The open reading frame of this cDNA encodes a 1211-amino-acid protein (calculated molecular mass 139050 Da) that contains amino acid sequences of 16 peptides sequenced from the turkey erythrocyte PLC. The predicted sequence of the turkey PLC shows considerable similarity with the sequences of previously cloned members of the PLC-beta family, with the highest identity (71%) shared with PLC-beta 2 and lesser identities observed with PLC-beta 1 (49%), PLC-beta 3 (46%) and PLC-beta 4 (37%). The largest differences in sequence between the turkey PLC-beta and other PLC-beta isoenzymes occur in the C-terminal domain and in the region between the X- and Y-domains. The turkey isoenzyme and PLC-beta 2, which differ in their regulation by G-protein alpha-subunits, are only 44% similar across the approx. 400 amino acid residues of the C-terminal domain that has been implicated in alpha q activation of these proteins. Recombinant turkey PLC-beta was purified to homogeneity following expression from a recombinant baculovirus in Sf9 insect cells. The immunoreactivity and mobility on SDS/PAGE of the recombinant enzyme were the same as observed with native turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta. Moreover, the catalytic activities of the recombinant enzyme were indistinguishable from those of native turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta in assays carried out in the presence of cholate and Ca2+, or in assays of activity after reconstitution with G alpha 11 or G-protein beta gamma-subunits. The turkey PLC-beta was more sensitive to activation by G alpha 11 than was PLC-beta 2, and was more sensitive to activation by beta gamma-subunits than either PLC-beta 2 or PLC-beta 1.

Synergistic activation by heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) coupled receptors (GPCRs) and receptor tyrosine kinases distinguishes p110beta from other class IA phosphoinositide 3 kinases (PI3Ks). Activation of p110beta is specifically implicated in various physiological and pathophysiological processes such as the growth of tumors deficient in phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN). To determine the specific contribution of GPCR signaling to p110beta dependent functions we identified the site in p110beta that binds to the Gbetagamma subunit of G proteins. Mutation of this site eliminated Gbetagamma dependent activation of PI3Kbeta (a dimer of p110beta and the p85 regulatory subunit) in vitro and in cells without affecting basal activity or phosphotyrosine peptide mediated activation. Disrupting the p110beta Gbetagamma interaction by mutation or with a cell permeable peptide inhibitor blocked the transforming capacity of PI3Kbeta in fibroblasts and reduced the proliferation chemotaxis and invasiveness of PTEN null tumor cells in culture. Our data suggest that specifically targeting GPCR signaling to PI3Kbeta could provide a therapeutic approach for tumors that depend on p110beta for growth and metastasis.

Receptor activation of phospholipase C (PLC) via G-proteins occurs by pertussis toxin-sensitive and toxin-insensitive signaling pathways. The alpha-subunits of the Gq family are presumed to mediate the toxin-insensitive pathway, but the nature of the G-proteins mediating the toxin-sensitive pathway is not established. Recently, PLC-beta has been shown to be activated by G-protein beta gamma-subunits of mixed or undefined composition. The relative activities of G-protein subunits that might activate PLC-beta were examined using defined recombinant alpha- and beta gamma-subunits obtained from the baculovirus expression system by reconstituting the purified subunits with purified bovine brain PLC-beta 1 or turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta in unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. Turkey erythrocyte G alpha 11 and recombinant G alpha 11 and G alpha q obtained after expression in Sf9 cells activated both bovine brain PLC-beta 1 and turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta. In contrast, under the same assay conditions, recombinant G alpha i1, G alpha i2, G alpha i3, and G alpha o were without effect on either type of PLC. All types of beta gamma-subunits tested (r beta 1 gamma 2, r beta 1 gamma 3, r beta 2 gamma 2, r beta 2 gamma 3, bovine brain beta gamma or turkey erythrocyte beta gamma) inhibited G alpha 11-mediated activation of PLC, presumably by promotion of formation of inactive heterotrimeric G-protein. All types of beta gamma-subunits also markedly stimulated the activity of turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta but did not activate bovine brain PLC-beta 1. Of the four different beta gamma complexes of defined composition, three stimulated PLC with similar activities whereas beta 2 gamma 3 was less effective. The data suggest that pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of PLC is mediated by the beta gamma-subunits of G-proteins acting on specific phospholipase C isoenzymes.

The phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes catalyze conversion of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) into the Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (inositol (1,4,5)P3) and the protein kinase-activating second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG).1 Many PLC-dependent cellular responses occur in addition to those mediated by these classical second messengers since the activities of a broad range of membrane, cytosolic, and cytoskeletal proteins are regulated by PtdIns(4,5)P2 binding.2–4 Mammals express 13 different PLCs (Figure 1), which differ markedly in their modes of upstream regulation and physiological functions.5 Many growth factors, antigens, and other extracellular stimuli signal through tyrosine phosphorylation of the PLC-γ isozymes, whereas an even larger group of hormones, neurotransmitters, chemoattractant and chemosensory molecules, and other extracellular stimuli promote physiological effects through heterotrimeric G protein-dependent activation of the PLC-β isozymes. These and other forms of receptor-promoted signaling pathways also communicate to Ras superfamily GTPases, which in turn directly activate certain PLC isoyzmes. Thus, PLC-dependent signal transduction provides one of the major fabrics for communication of cells, and delineation of its function at all levels from the intact animal to the atomic resolution of mechanism is fundamental to understanding mammalian biology. Figure 1 Conserved domain structure of the mammalian PLC isozymes. The 13 functional human PLC isozymes were aligned on the basis of the conservation of the protein sequence, and a dendrogram was constructed to cluster similar sequences into shared branches. The ... Many excellent reviews on PLC-dependent signaling are available that focus, for example, on early aspects of the discovery and function of receptor-promoted formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3/diacylglycerol and mobilization of Ca2+,1,6,7 classification and regulation of the PLC isozymes,8–10 tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent activation,11,12 activation through Ras superfamily GTPases,5,13,14 physiology,15,16 and structure/function.17–19 We have limited this review to a general introduction of the domain and structural features of the PLC isozymes and then consider in detail recent advances made in understanding the mechanisms through which Gα-subunits of the Gq family bind to and activate PLC-β isozymes and how the PLC-β isozymes in turn promote inactivation of this signaling complex by stimulating GTP hydrolysis by the GTP-activated G protein.

Reciprocal Regulation An essential step in many signaling cascades is inositol lipid hydrolysis catalyzed by phospholipase C–β. The latter is activated by the α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein Gq, and it in turn inactivates Gαq, thus sharpening the signal. Waldo et al. (p. 974 , published online 21 October) report structural and biochemical data that explain the basis of this reciprocal regulation. One domain of phospholipase C–β binds to activated Gαq. Though the phospholipase C–β active site remains occluded in the structure, the plug is probably removed upon G protein–dependent orientation of the lipase at the membrane. A second domain of phospholipase C–β accelerates guanosine triphosphate hydrolysis by Gαq causing the signaling complex to dissociate.

The availability of purified G alpha 11 and the G-protein-regulated phospholipase C from turkey erythrocytes has allowed an examination of the direct effects of G-protein beta gamma-subunit on the components of the inositol lipid signaling system. Reconstitution of purified turkey erythrocyte or bovine brain beta gamma-subunit into phospholipid vesicles containing G alpha 11 inhibited AlF4- induced activation of phospholipase C. However, beta gamma-subunit at higher concentrations increased phospholipase C activity. This stimulatory effect of beta gamma-subunit on phospholipase C did not require the presence of the alpha-subunit. G alpha o had no effect on the catalytic activity of phospholipase C. However, coreconstitution of G alpha o and beta gamma-subunit shifted to the right the concentration-effect curve for beta gamma-subunit-promoted activation of phospholipase C. As was observed with G alpha 11, the increase in activity observed in the presence of beta gamma-subunit occurred as an increase in the maximal activity and with no change in the apparent affinity for Ca2+ for phospholipase C activation. The concentration dependence of G alpha 11 for activation of turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C and bovine brain phospholipase C-beta, as well as the concentration dependence of the two enzymes for activation by G alpha 11, were very similar. In contrast, beta gamma-subunit was a much less effective activator of bovine brain phospholipase C-beta than the turkey erythrocyte enzyme. The observation of direct effects of free beta gamma-subunit on phospholipase C extend the possibilities for receptor-mediated regulation of this signaling pathway.

The preceding paper describes purification and properties of a 150-kDa polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C from a cytosolic fraction of turkey erythrocytes (Morris, A. J., Waldo, G. L., Downes, C. P., and Harden, T. K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13501-13507). Turkey erythrocytes express a P2Y-purinergic receptor that employs an unidentified G-protein to activate phospholipase C (Boyer, J. L., Downes, C. P., and Harden, T. K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 884-890; Cooper, C. L., Morris, A. J., and Harden, T. K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6202-6206). This paper describes receptor and G-protein regulation of the purified turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C after reconstitution of the enzyme using [3H]inositol pre-labeled turkey erythrocyte ghosts as acceptor membranes. These membranes contain polyphosphoinositides labeled to high specific radioactivity and display reduced responsiveness of their endogenous phospholipase C to P2Y-purinergic receptor agonists and guanine nucleotides. Reconstitution of purified enzyme had no effect on basal inositol phosphate production, but markedly increased P2Y-purinergic receptor agonist and guanine nucleotide-dependent accumulation of inositol phosphates. Reconstitution of 5 ng of purified phospholipase C with 10 micrograms of acceptor membrane protein produced half-maximal effects, and maximal activity was observed with reconstitution of 100 ng of purified enzyme. Agonist and guanine nucleotide-regulated phospholipase C activity measured using a reconstitution assay co-purified with phospholipase C activity detected using exogenously provided phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate during purification of the 150-kDa protein. Only the maximal rate of inositol phosphate formation attained upon activation was increased in the presence of the purified phospholipase C. K0.5 values for adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate, and A1F4- activation of the purified enzyme were the same as for the endogenous phospholipase C activity of the acceptor membranes.

Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) of heterotrimeric G-proteins that alter the amplitude and kinetics of receptor-promoted signaling. In this study we defined the G-protein alpha-subunit selectivity of purified Sf9 cell-derived R7 proteins, a subfamily of RGS proteins (RGS6, -7, -9, and -11) containing a Ggamma-like (GGL) domain that mediates dimeric interaction with Gbeta(5). Gbeta(5)/R7 dimers stimulated steady state GTPase activity of Galpha-subunits of the G(i) family, but not of Galpha(q) or Galpha(11), when added to proteoliposomes containing M2 or M1 muscarinic receptor-coupled G-protein heterotrimers. Concentration effect curves of the Gbeta(5)/R7 proteins revealed differences in potencies and efficacies toward Galpha-subunits of the G(i) family. Although all four Gbeta(5)/R7 proteins exhibited similar potencies toward Galpha(o), Gbeta(5)/RGS9 and Gbeta(5)/RGS11 were more potent GAPs of Galpha(i1), Galpha(i2), and Galpha(i3) than were Gbeta(5)/RGS6 and Gbeta(5)/RGS7. The maximal GAP activity exhibited by Gbeta(5)/RGS11 was 2- to 4-fold higher than that of Gbeta(5)/RGS7 and Gbeta(5)/RGS9, with Gbeta(5)/RGS6 exhibiting an intermediate maximal GAP activity. Moreover, the less efficacious Gbeta(5)/RGS7 and Gbeta(5)/RGS9 inhibited Gbeta(5)/RGS11-stimulated GTPase activity of Galpha(o). Therefore, R7 family RGS proteins are G(i) family-selective GAPs with potentially important differences in activities.

GTP-bound subunits of the Gq family of G alpha subunits directly activate phospholipase C-beta (PLC-beta) isozymes to produce the second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. PLC-betas are GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that also promote the formation of GDP-bound, inactive G beta subunits. Both phospholipase activation by G alpha-GTP subunits and GAP activity require a C-terminal region unique to PLC-beta isozymes. The crystal structure of the C-terminal region from an avian PLC-beta, determined at 2.4 A resolution, reveals a novel fold composed almost entirely of three long helices forming a coiled-coil that dimerizes along its long axis in an antiparallel orientation. The dimer interface is extensive ( approximately 3,200 A(2)), and, based on gel exclusion chromatography, full length PLC-betas are dimeric, indicating that PLC-betas likely function as dimers. Sequence conservation, mutational data and molecular modeling show that an electrostatically positive surface of the dimer contains the major determinants for binding G beta q. Effector dimerization, as highlighted by PLC-betas, provides a viable mechanism for regulating signaling cascades linked to heterotrimeric G proteins.

A family of G protein-coupled P2Y receptors that are activated by adenine and uridine nucleotides has been identified recently. Degenerate primers based on conserved sequences in these P2Y receptors were used to amplify turkey DNA, which was used to isolate the complete coding sequence of a cDNA that encodes a novel G protein-coupled receptor. Stable expression of this avian cDNA in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells resulted in the conveyance of marked inositol phosphate responses to various nucleotides. Although this cloned avian receptor exhibited its highest homology to the previously cloned mammalian P2Y4 receptor, its pharmacological selectivity was not consistent with the avian receptor's being a species homologue of the P2Y4 receptor. That is, whereas the P2Y4 receptor is selectively activated by UTP and is not activated by ATP or Ap4A, the novel avian receptor was potently activated by ATP and Ap4A as well as by UTP. Taken together, these results describe the identification of an avian phospholipase C-coupled P2Y receptor that, like the mammalian P2Y2 receptor, is activated by both adenine and uridine nucleotides.

A turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C (PLC) has been instrumental in delineating the role of G-proteins in receptor-regulated inositol lipid signalling. This isoenzyme is uniquely regulated both by alpha-subunits of the Gq family and by G-protein beta gamma-subunits. A 4819 bp cDNA encoding this PLC has been cloned from a turkey erythrocyte cDNA library. The open reading frame of this cDNA encodes a 1211-amino-acid protein (calculated molecular mass 139050 Da) that contains amino acid sequences of 16 peptides sequenced from the turkey erythrocyte PLC. The predicted sequence of the turkey PLC shows considerable similarity with the sequences of previously cloned members of the PLC-beta family, with the highest identity (71%) shared with PLC-beta 2 and lesser identities observed with PLC-beta 1 (49%), PLC-beta 3 (46%) and PLC-beta 4 (37%). The largest differences in sequence between the turkey PLC-beta and other PLC-beta isoenzymes occur in the C-terminal domain and in the region between the X- and Y-domains. The turkey isoenzyme and PLC-beta 2, which differ in their regulation by G-protein alpha-subunits, are only 44% similar across the approx. 400 amino acid residues of the C-terminal domain that has been implicated in alpha q activation of these proteins. Recombinant turkey PLC-beta was purified to homogeneity following expression from a recombinant baculovirus in Sf9 insect cells. The immunoreactivity and mobility on SDS/PAGE of the recombinant enzyme were the same as observed with native turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta. Moreover, the catalytic activities of the recombinant enzyme were indistinguishable from those of native turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta in assays carried out in the presence of cholate and Ca2+, or in assays of activity after reconstitution with G alpha 11 or G-protein beta gamma-subunits. The turkey PLC-beta was more sensitive to activation by G alpha 11 than was PLC-beta 2, and was more sensitive to activation by beta gamma-subunits than either PLC-beta 2 or PLC-beta 1.

A broad range of hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, and chemoattractants produce their physiological effects through phospholipase C (PLC)-catalyzed initiation of the inositol lipid signaling cascade (Berridge and Irvine, 1987). Although tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2- and SH3-domain-containing PLC-γ isoenzymes accounts for interface of a number of growth factors with this signaling pathway, the majority of extracellular stimuli act through seven-transmembrane-spanning receptors that activate G-proteins that in turn activate isoenzymes of the PLC-β family (Rhee and Choi, 1992). The focus of this chapter is on this latter group of signaling proteins.

Receptor activation of phospholipase C (PLC) via G-proteins occurs by pertussis toxin-sensitive and toxin-insensitive signaling pathways. The alpha-subunits of the Gq family are presumed to mediate the toxin-insensitive pathway, but the nature of the G-proteins mediating the toxin-sensitive pathway is not established. Recently, PLC-beta has been shown to be activated by G-protein beta gamma-subunits of mixed or undefined composition. The relative activities of G-protein subunits that might activate PLC-beta were examined using defined recombinant alpha- and beta gamma-subunits obtained from the baculovirus expression system by reconstituting the purified subunits with purified bovine brain PLC-beta 1 or turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta in unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. Turkey erythrocyte G alpha 11 and recombinant G alpha 11 and G alpha q obtained after expression in Sf9 cells activated both bovine brain PLC-beta 1 and turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta. In contrast, under the same assay conditions, recombinant G alpha i1, G alpha i2, G alpha i3, and G alpha o were without effect on either type of PLC. All types of beta gamma-subunits tested (r beta 1 gamma 2, r beta 1 gamma 3, r beta 2 gamma 2, r beta 2 gamma 3, bovine brain beta gamma or turkey erythrocyte beta gamma) inhibited G alpha 11-mediated activation of PLC, presumably by promotion of formation of inactive heterotrimeric G-protein. All types of beta gamma-subunits also markedly stimulated the activity of turkey erythrocyte PLC-beta but did not activate bovine brain PLC-beta 1. Of the four different beta gamma complexes of defined composition, three stimulated PLC with similar activities whereas beta 2 gamma 3 was less effective. The data suggest that pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of PLC is mediated by the beta gamma-subunits of G-proteins acting on specific phospholipase C isoenzymes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses purification of phospholipase C-activating G Protein G 11, from Turkey Erythrocytes. Turkey erythrocytes are an easily obtained homogeneous cell type which apparently express G 11 but not the similar (88% homologous) G q . These cells thus provides starting source for purification of a member of the Gq family. The turkey erythrocyte offers the further advantage that other protein components of the phosphoinositide-specific signal transduction pathway, including a G-protein-regulated PLC and G-protein βγ subunits, can be purified by relatively straightforward procedures. The purification of avian G 11 described in the chapter does not utilize βγ -affinity chromatography, a highly effective but specialized method of G-protein α-subunit purification that is not available in all laboratories. Rather, the procedure relies on conventional chromatographic techniques and monitors the capacity of column fractions to reconstitute AlF 4 - to purified turkey erythrocyte PLC.

A 43 kDa phospholipase C-activating protein has been purified previously from turkey erythrocytes and shown to express immunological properties expected of that of the Gq family of G-protein alpha-subunits [Waldo, Boyer, Morris and Harden (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 14217-14225]. Internal amino acid sequence has now been obtained from this protein which shares 50-100% sequence identity with sequences encoded by mammalian G alpha 11 and G alpha q cDNAs. To identify the purified protein unambiguously, it was necessary to compare its amino acid sequence with the sequence encoded by avian G-protein alpha-subunit cDNA. As such, mouse G alpha q was used as a probe to screen turkey brain and fetal-turkey blood cDNA libraries. A full-length cDNA was identified that encodes avian G alpha 11, on the basis of its 96-98% amino acid identity with mammalian G alpha 11. All eight peptides sequenced from the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C-activating protein are completely contained within the deduced amino acid sequence of the avian G alpha 11 cDNA. Expression of this cDNA in Sf9 cells by using a baculovirus expression system resulted in the production of a 43 kDa protein that reacts strongly with antisera to the Gq family of G-protein alpha-subunits and activated purified avian phospholipase C in an AlF4(-)-dependent manner. Taken together, these results unambiguously identify the protein purified from turkey erythrocytes, on the basis of its capacity to activate avian phospholipase C, as G alpha 11.

A wide variety of stimuli send signals into target cells by stimulating the hydrolysis of a minor phospholipid component of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. This reaction is catalyzed by an inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C (PLC) and produces two compounds each with intracellular second messenger functions. The lipid product of this reaction is 1,2-diacylglycerol which activates a Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C. D-Myoinositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate [Ins(l,4,5)P3] is a water-soluble product of this reaction that releases Ca2+ ions from stores within the cell (Berridge and Irvine 1987; Kikkawa et al. 1989).

A 150-kDa phospholipase C previously was purified from turkey erythrocytes and shown to be a P2Y-purinergic receptor- and guanine nucleotide-binding protein-regulated enzyme [J. Biol. Chem. 265:13508-13514 (1990)]. The relationship of this enzyme to the 150-kDa mammalian phospholipase C isoenzymes, termed phospholipase C-beta and -gamma, has been examined. Four antisera to the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C recognized the avian enzyme in immunoblots but failed to recognize phospholipase C-gamma; one of the these weakly recognized phospholipase C-beta. Antibodies to phospholipase C-beta and -gamma failed to recognize the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C. However, two antibodies raised against peptide sequence in regions of conserved sequence common to mammalian phospholipase C isoenzymes recognized the 150-kDa turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C. Antisera against the native form of the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C inhibited the activity of this enzyme against phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate presented as a component of mixed phospholipid vesicles or of mixed phospholipid and sodium cholate micelles; inhibition occurred as a decrease in Vmax, with no apparent change in Km for substrate or in the Ca2+ dependence of phospholipase C activity. Catalytic activity of phospholipase C-beta or -gamma against exogenous substrate was unaffected by antisera to the turkey erythrocyte enzyme. Antisera against the native form of the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C also partially inhibited (50-60% inhibition) the capacity of AIF4- or adenosine 5'-O-(beta-thio) diphosphate plus guanosine 5'-O-(gamma-thio) triphosphate to stimulate phosphoinositide hydrolysis in ghosts prepared from [3H]inositol-prelabeled turkey erythrocytes. Moreover, the capacity of the purified 150-kDa enzyme to reconstitute receptor and G-protein-regulated phospholipase C activity in purified turkey erythrocyte plasma membranes devoid of this activity was completely inhibited by antisera to the turkey erythrocyte enzyme. Five peptides that were purified by high performance liquid chromatography from a tryptic digest of the turkey erythrocyte 150-kDa phospholipase C had no recognizable sequence homology with any deduced sequence of the mammalian phospholipase C isoenzymes. One turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C-derived peptide had clear homology with sequence in the first (X-domain) conserved region common to at least three of the mammalian phospholipase C isoenzymes, and another 16-amino acid peptide had partial sequence homology with the second (Y-domain) conserved region common to the mammalian enzymes. An 8-amino acid peptide from the tryptic digest had 75% homology with a sequence near the carboxyl terminus of mammalian phospholipase C-beta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A 150-kDa phospholipase C has previously been purified from turkey erythrocytes and has been shown by reconstitution with turkey erythrocyte membranes to be a receptor- and G-protein-regulated enzyme (Morris, A. J., Waldo, G. L., Downes, C.P., and Harden, T. K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13501-13507; Morris, A.J., Waldo, G.L., Downes, C.P., and Harden, T.K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13508-13514). Combination of this 150-kDa protein with phosphoinositide substrate-containing phospholipid vesicles prepared with a cholate extract from purified turkey erythrocyte plasma membranes resulted in conferrence of AlF4- sensitivity to the purified phospholipase C. Guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate also activated the reconstituted phospholipase C in a manner that was inhibited by guanosine 5'-2-O-(thio)-diphosphate. The magnitude of the AlF4- stimulation was increased with increasing amounts of plasma membrane extract, and was also dependent on the concentration of purified phospholipase C. Using reconstitution of AlF4- sensitivity as an assay, the putative G-protein conferring regulation to the 150-kDa phospholipase C was purified to near homogeneity by sequential chromatography over Q-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-300, octyl-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, and Mono-Q. Reconstituting activity co-purified with an approximately 43-kDa protein identified by silver staining; lesser amounts of a 35-kDa protein was present in the final purified fractions, as was a minor 40-kDa protein. The 43-kDa protein strongly reacted with antiserum against a 12-amino acid sequence found at the carboxyl terminus of Gq and G11, the 35-kDa protein strongly reacted with G-protein beta-subunit antiserum, and the 40-kDa protein reacted with antiserum that recognizes Gi3. Immunoprecipitation of the 43-kDa protein resulted in loss of phospholipase C-stimulating activity of the purified fraction. The idea that this is a phospholipase C-regulating G-protein is further supported by the observation that co-reconstitution of G-protein beta gamma-subunit with the purified phospholipase C-activating fraction resulted in a beta gamma-subunit-dependent inhibition of AlF(4-)-stimulated phospholipase C activity in the reconstituted preparation.

A 150-kDa phospholipase C has previously been purified from turkey erythrocytes and has been shown by reconstitution with turkey erythrocyte membranes to be a receptor- and G-protein-regulated enzyme (Morris, A. J., Waldo, G. L., Downes, C.P., and Harden, T. K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13501-13507; Morris, A.J., Waldo, G.L., Downes, C.P., and Harden, T.K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13508-13514). Combination of this 150-kDa protein with phosphoinositide substrate-containing phospholipid vesicles prepared with a cholate extract from purified turkey erythrocyte plasma membranes resulted in conferrence of AlF4- sensitivity to the purified phospholipase C. Guanosine 5‘-3-O-(thio)triphosphate also activated the reconstituted phospholipase C in a manner that was inhibited by guanosine 5‘-2-O-(thio)-diphosphate. The magnitude of the AlF4- stimulation was increased with increasing amounts of plasma membrane extract, and was also dependent on the concentration of purified phospholipase C. Using reconstitution of AlF4- sensitivity as an assay, the putative G-protein conferring regulation to the 150-kDa phospholipase C was purified to near homogeneity by sequential chromatography over Q-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-300, octyl-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, and Mono-Q. Reconstituting activity co-purified with an approximately 43-kDa protein identified by silver staining; lesser amounts of a 35-kDa protein was present in the final purified fractions, as was a minor 40-kDa protein. The 43-kDa protein strongly reacted with antiserum against a 12-amino acid sequence found at the carboxyl terminus of Gq and G11, the 35-kDa protein strongly reacted with G-protein beta-subunit antiserum, and the 40-kDa protein reacted with antiserum that recognizes Gi3. Immunoprecipitation of the 43-kDa protein resulted in loss of phospholipase C-stimulating activity of the purified fraction. The idea that this is a phospholipase C-regulating G-protein is further supported by the observation that co-reconstitution of G-protein beta gamma-subunit with the purified phospholipase C-activating fraction resulted in a beta gamma-subunit-dependent inhibition of AlF(4-)-stimulated phospholipase C activity in the reconstituted preparation.

Eighty-three percent of polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activity was recovered in a cytosolic fraction after nitrogen cavitation of turkey erythrocytes. This activity has been purified approximately 50,000-fold when compared to the starting cytosol with a yield of 1.7-5.0%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the phospholipase C preparation revealed a major polypeptide of 150 kDa. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 6.7-14.0 mumol/min/mg of protein with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate as substrate. Phospholipase C activity was markedly dependent on the presence of Ca2+. The phospholipase C showed an acidic pH optimum (pH 4.0). At neutral pH, noncyclic inositol phosphates were the major products formed by the phospholipase C, while at pH 4.0, substantial formation of inositol 1:2-cyclic phosphate derivatives occurred. Properties of the purified 150-kDa turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C were compared with the approximately 150-kDa phospholipase C-beta and -gamma isoenzymes previously purified from bovine brain (Ryu, S. H., Cho, K. S., Lee, K. Y., Suh, P. G., and Rhee, S. G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 12511-12518). The turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C differed from the two mammalian phospholipases with respect to the effect of sodium cholate on the rate of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis observed. Moreover, when presented with dispersions of pure inositol lipids, phospholipases C-beta and -gamma displayed comparable maximal rates of polyphosphoinositide and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. By contrast, the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C displays a marked preference for polyphosphoinositide substrates.

The preceding paper describes purification and properties of a 150-kDa polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C from a cytosolic fraction of turkey erythrocytes (Morris, A. J., Waldo, G. L., Downes, C. P., and Harden, T. K. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 13501-13507). Turkey erythrocytes express a P2Y-purinergic receptor that employs an unidentified G-protein to activate phospholipase C (Boyer, J. L., Downes, C. P., and Harden, T. K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 884-890; Cooper, C. L., Morris, A. J., and Harden, T. K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6202-6206). This paper describes receptor and G-protein regulation of the purified turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C after reconstitution of the enzyme using [3H]inositol pre-labeled turkey erythrocyte ghosts as acceptor membranes. These membranes contain polyphosphoinositides labeled to high specific radioactivity and display reduced responsiveness of their endogenous phospholipase C to P2Y-purinergic receptor agonists and guanine nucleotides. Reconstitution of purified enzyme had no effect on basal inositol phosphate production, but markedly increased P2Y-purinergic receptor agonist and guanine nucleotide-dependent accumulation of inositol phosphates. Reconstitution of 5 ng of purified phospholipase C with 10 micrograms of acceptor membrane protein produced half-maximal effects, and maximal activity was observed with reconstitution of 100 ng of purified enzyme. Agonist and guanine nucleotide-regulated phospholipase C activity measured using a reconstitution assay co-purified with phospholipase C activity detected using exogenously provided phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate during purification of the 150-kDa protein. Only the maximal rate of inositol phosphate formation attained upon activation was increased in the presence of the purified phospholipase C. K0.5 values for adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate, and A1F4- activation of the purified enzyme were the same as for the endogenous phospholipase C activity of the acceptor membranes.

Extracellular adenine nucleotides interact with cell surface receptors to produce a myriad of physiological effects in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues (Burnstock, 1978; Gordon, 1986; Burnstock and Kennedy, 1986; Fleetwood and Gordon, 1987). Burnstock proposed in 1978 that these responses are mediated by two major receptor types: those physiologically activated by adenosine, called P1-purinergic receptors, and exhibiting a potency order of adenosine > AMP > ATP, and those activated by ATP or ADP, called P2-purinergic receptors, and exhibiting the potency order of ATP > ADP > AMP > adenosine. Subsequent studies proved that at least two subtypes of P1-purinergic receptors exist (A1- and A2- purinergic receptors) (Van Calker et al., 1979; Stiles, 1986; Williams, 1987). Subclassification of P2-purinergic receptors proved more difficult, since in contrast to the receptors for adenosine, no good antagonists of P2-purinergic receptors are available, and cell surface hydrolases readily metabolize ATP and ADP to adenosine, which can then produce physiological effects through P1-purinergic receptors. However, the development of relatively non-hydrolyzable analogs of ATP helped resolve this issue, and the observation of differential effects of a large number of ATP and ADP analogs led Burnstock and Kennedy to propose in 1985 that subypes of P2-purinergic receptors exist. P2X-purinergic receptors exhibit the potency order of Ap(CH2)pp > App(CH2)p > ADP > 2-methylthio ATP (2MeSATP) and P2Y-purinergic receptors exhibit the potency order of 2MeSATP > ATP > Ap(CH2)pp = App(CH2)p.

The physiological effects of extracellular ATP and ADP have been broadly described for both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues (Burnstock, 1978; Burnstock and Kennedy, 1986; Gordon, 1986; Williams, 1987; Fleetwood and Gordon, 1987). In contrast to the clearly defined subtypes of P1-purinergic receptors (A1- and A2-receptors) responsible for the physiological effects of extracellular adenosine (Londos and Wolff, 1977; Van Calker, et al., 1979; Stiles, 1986). Subclassification of the ATP- and ADP-regulated P2-purinergic receptors has proven more difficult. No good antagonists of P2-purinergic receptors are available, and cell surface hydrolases metabolize ATP and ADP to adenosine, which could produce variable tissue-dependent effects through P1-purinergic receptors. In spite of these problems some progress in subclassification of P2-purinergic receptors has been made. The observation of differential effects of a large number of ATP and ADP analogs led Burnstock and Kennedy (1985) to propose that two subypes of P2-purinergic receptors exist. P2X-purinergic receptors were suggested to exhibit the potency order of Ap(CH2)pp > App(CH2)p > ATP > 2-methylthio ATP (2MeSATP) and P2Y-purinergic receptors were suggested to exhibit the potency order of 2MeSATP ≫ ATP > Ap(CH2)pp = App(CH2)p. Whether these two putative receptor subtypes account for all of the effects of ADP and ATP is an open question. Indeed, data obtained with several cultured cell lines suggest a third subtype of receptor of the P2-purinergic receptor class (Dubyak and De Young, 1985).

Eighty-three percent of polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activity was recovered in a cytosolic fraction after nitrogen cavitation of turkey erythrocytes. This activity has been purified approximately 50,000-fold when compared to the starting cytosol with a yield of 1.7-5.0%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the phospholipase C preparation revealed a major polypeptide of 150 kDa. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 6.7-14.0 mumol/min/mg of protein with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate as substrate. Phospholipase C activity was markedly dependent on the presence of Ca2+. The phospholipase C showed an acidic pH optimum (pH 4.0). At neutral pH, noncyclic inositol phosphates were the major products formed by the phospholipase C, while at pH 4.0, substantial formation of inositol 1:2-cyclic phosphate derivatives occurred. Properties of the purified 150-kDa turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C were compared with the approximately 150-kDa phospholipase C-beta and -gamma isoenzymes previously purified from bovine brain (Ryu, S. H., Cho, K. S., Lee, K. Y., Suh, P. G., and Rhee, S. G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 12511-12518). The turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C differed from the two mammalian phospholipases with respect to the effect of sodium cholate on the rate of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis observed. Moreover, when presented with dispersions of pure inositol lipids, phospholipases C-beta and -gamma displayed comparable maximal rates of polyphosphoinositide and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. By contrast, the turkey erythrocyte phospholipase C displays a marked preference for polyphosphoinositide substrates.

We have investigated the relationship between the catecholamine-induced occurrence in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells of beta-adrenergic receptors that exhibit low apparent affinity for hydrophilic ligands in short-time assays with intact cells and a population of beta-adrenergic receptors that migrate in a light vesicle fraction on sucrose density gradients. Pretreatment of cells with concanavalin A prevents the generation of both of these forms of the receptor during incubation with agonists but does not prevent the agonist-induced decrease in isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production that also occurs during desensitization. Selective labeling of the low affinity beta-receptors with 125I-pindolol followed by centrifugation on sucrose density gradients revealed that all of the receptors in the light vesicle fraction from desensitized cells were of the low affinity type, but that a portion of the low affinity receptors also migrated in a heavier sucrose fraction together with the plasma membrane. In contrast, in control cells, no low affinity receptors were present in the heavy sucrose fractions. The agonist-induced occurrence of these various forms of the beta-adrenergic receptor can be explained on the basis of current models of desensitization involving agonist-induced internalization of beta-adrenergic receptors.

Incubation of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells with carbachol resulted in a rapid loss of binding of [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) to muscarinic cholinergic receptors measured at 4 degrees C on intact cells; loss of muscarinic receptors in lysates from the same cells measured with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) at 37 degrees C occurred at a slower rate. Upon removal of agonist from the medium, the lost [3H]NMS binding sites measured on intact cells recovered with a t1/2 of approximately 20 min, but only to the level to which [3H]QNB binding sites had been lost; no recovery of "lost" [3H]QNB binding sites occurred over the same period. Based on these data and the arguments of Galper et al. (Galper, J. B., Dziekan, L. C., O'Hara, D. S., and Smith, T. W. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10344-10356) regarding the relative hydrophilicity of [3H]NMS versus [3H]QNB, it is proposed that carbachol induces a rapid sequestration of muscarinic receptors that is followed by a loss of these receptors from the cell. These carbachol-induced changes are accompanied by a change in the membrane form of the muscarinic receptor. Although essentially all of the muscarinic receptors from control cells co-purified with the plasma membrane fraction on sucrose density gradients, 20-35% of the muscarinic receptors from cells treated for 30 min with 100 microM carbachol migrated to a much lower sucrose density. This conversion of muscarinic receptors to a "light vesicle" form occurred with a t1/2 approximately 10 min, and reversed with a t1/2 approximately 20 min. In contrast to previous results in this cell line regarding beta-adrenergic receptors (Harden, T. K., Cotton, C. U., Waldo, G. L., Lutton, J. K., and Perkins, J. P. (1980) Science 210, 441-443), agonist binding to muscarinic receptors in the light vesicle fraction obtained from carbachol-treated cells was still regulated by GTP. One interpretation of these data is that agonists induce an internalization of muscarinic receptors with the retention of their functional interaction with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.

A guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) was purified from cholate extracts of bovine brain membranes by sequential DEAE-Sephacel, Ultrogel AcA-34, heptylamine-Sepharose and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. Guanosine 5′-[gamma-[35S]thio]triphosphate (GTP[35S])-binding activity copurified with a 25,000 Da peptide and a 35,000-36,000 Da protein doublet. Neither pertussis toxin nor cholera toxin catalysed the ADP-ribosylation of a protein associated with the GTP[35S]-binding activity. Photoaffinity labelling of the purified protein with 8-azido[gamma-32P]GTP indicated that the GTP-binding site resides on the 25,000 Da protein. The 35,000-36,000 Da protein doublet was electrophoretically indistinguishable from the beta-subunits of other GTP-binding proteins, and the 36,000 Da protein was recognized by antiserum to oligomeric Gt. The purified protein specifically bound 17.2 nmol of GTP[35S]/mg of protein. The Kd of the binding site for radioligand was approx. 15 nM. The brain GTP-binding protein co-migrated during SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis with a GTP-binding protein, named Gp, purified from human placenta [Evans, Brown, Fraser & Northup (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 7052-7059], and cross-reacted with antiserum raised against the placental protein, but not with antiserum raised to brain Go. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the brain and placental GTP-binding proteins in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease yielded identical peptide maps.

Turkey erythrocyte membranes possess a phospholipase C that is markedly activated by P2Y-purinergic receptor agonists and guanine nucleotides. Reconstitution of [3H]inositol-labeled turkey erythrocyte membranes with guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) beta gamma subunits resulted in inhibition of both AlF-4-stimulated adenylate cyclase and AlF-4-stimulated phospholipase C activities. The apparent potency (K0.5 approximately 1 microgram or 20 pmol of beta gamma/mg of membrane protein) of beta gamma subunits for inhibition of each enzyme activity was similar and occurred with beta gamma purified by different methodologies from turkey erythrocyte, bovine brain, or human placenta membranes. In contrast to the effect on AlF-4-stimulated activity, the stimulatory effect on phospholipase C of the P2Y-purinergic receptor agonist 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate in the presence of guanine nucleotides was potentiated by 50-100% in a concentration-dependent manner by reconstitution of beta gamma subunits. beta gamma subunits did not affect the K0.5 value of 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate for the stimulation of phospholipase C activity. These results indicate that beta gamma subunits influence phospholipase C activity in a concentration range similar to that necessary for regulation of adenylate cyclase activity and suggest the involvement of a G-protein possessing an alpha beta gamma heterotrimeric structure in coupling hormone receptors to phospholipase C.

P2Y receptors are G protein coupled receptors that respond to extracellular nucleotides to promote a multitude of signaling events. Our laboratory has purified several P2Y receptors with the goal of providing molecular insight into their: (1) ligand binding properties, (2) G protein signaling selectivities, and (3) regulation by RGS proteins and other signaling cohorts. The human P2Y(1) receptor and the human P2Y(12) receptor, both of which are intimately involved in ADP-mediated platelet aggregation, were purified to near homogeneity and studied in detail. After high-level expression from recombinant baculovirus infection of Sf9 insect cells, approximately 50% of the receptors were successfully extracted with digitonin. Purification of nearly homogeneous epitope-tagged P2Y receptor was achieved using metal-affinity chromatography followed by other traditional chromatographic steps. Yields of purified P2Y receptors range from 10 to 100 mug/l of infected cells. Once purified, the receptors were reconstituted in model lipid vesicles along with their cognate G proteins to assess receptor function. Agonist-promoted increases in steady-state GTPase assays demonstrated the functional activity of the reconstituted purified receptor. We have utilized this reconstitution system to assess the action of various nucleotide agonists and antagonists, the relative G protein selectivity, and the influence of other proteins, such as phospholipase C, on P2Y receptor-promoted signaling. Furthermore, we have identified the RGS expression profile of platelets and have begun to assess the action of these RGS proteins in a reconstituted P2Y receptor/G protein platelet model.

Exposure of postconfluent 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells to 1.0 microM isoproterenol for 12-24 hr results in a 90% loss of beta-adrenergic receptors. Upon removal of agonist, recovery of beta-receptors to control levels occurs within 72 hr. The recovery of receptors is completely blocked by cycloheximide [R. C. Doss, J. P. Perkins, and T. K. Harden, J. Biol. Chem. 256:12281-12286 (1981)]. In contrast cycloheximide does not block recovery of beta-receptors after down-regulation in preconfluent cultures. To determine unambiguously if beta-receptor synthesis accounts for the recovery of receptors after down-regulation, post confluent cultures were incubated with isoproterenol and then transferred to agonist-free medium containing either normal or "heavy" (2H, 13C, 15N) amino acids. The rate and extent of beta-receptor recovery were similar in both normal and heavy amino acid-containing medium. When beta-receptors that had recovered in the heavy amino acid-containing medium were labeled with 125I-cyanopindolol, solubilized in Lubrol PX, and subjected to centrifugation on a 5-15% sucrose density gradient, they exhibited an increased mass compared to beta-receptors that recovered in the presence of normal amino acids. These results confirm that the density shift method is a useful approach for the study of beta-receptor synthesis and that new receptor synthesis occurs during recovery of beta-receptors from catecholamine-induced down-regulation in postconfluent cultures.

Incubation of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells with 1 microM isoproterenol rapidly results in the conversion of a portion of the beta-adrenergic receptors to a membrane form that can be separated from markers for the plasma membrane by sucrose density gradient or differential centrifugation. This "light peak" form of the receptor reaches a maximal level within 10 min of incubation of cells with catecholamine. Two types of experiments suggest that the early phase of catecholamine-induced desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor-linked adenylate cyclase can be separated into at least two reactions. First, the agonist-induced loss of catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity precedes the appearance of beta-adrenergic receptors in the light peak fraction by 1-2 min. Second, pretreatment of cells with concanavalin A prior to induction of desensitization blocks the formation of the light peak form of beta-adrenergic receptors without blocking the "uncoupling" reaction as measured by catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Specificity for the reaction that converts beta-adrenergic receptors to the light peak form is indicated by the lack of a catecholamine-induced alteration in the sucrose density gradient distribution of muscarinic cholinergic receptors, adenylate cyclase or the guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, Ns and Ni. The light peak of beta-adrenergic receptors migrates at a density similar to that of at least a portion of the activity of galactosyltransferase, a marker for Golgi. Enzyme marker activities for lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum are not associated with this population of beta-adrenergic receptors. Taken together, these and other data suggest that incubation of 1321N1 cells with isoproterenol results in a rapid uncoupling of beta-adrenergic receptors from adenylate cyclase which is followed by a change in the membrane form of the receptor. This latter step most likely represents internalization of receptors into a vesicular form which may then serve as the precursor state from which receptors are eventually lost from the cell.

Turkey erythrocyte membranes possess a phospholipase C that is markedly activated by P2Y-purinergic receptor agonists and guanine nucleotides. Reconstitution of [3H]inositol-labeled turkey erythrocyte membranes with guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) beta gamma subunits resulted in inhibition of both AlF-4-stimulated adenylate cyclase and AlF-4-stimulated phospholipase C activities. The apparent potency (K0.5 approximately 1 microgram or 20 pmol of beta gamma/mg of membrane protein) of beta gamma subunits for inhibition of each enzyme activity was similar and occurred with beta gamma purified by different methodologies from turkey erythrocyte, bovine brain, or human placenta membranes. In contrast to the effect on AlF-4-stimulated activity, the stimulatory effect on phospholipase C of the P2Y-purinergic receptor agonist 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate in the presence of guanine nucleotides was potentiated by 50-100% in a concentration-dependent manner by reconstitution of beta gamma subunits. beta gamma subunits did not affect the K0.5 value of 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate for the stimulation of phospholipase C activity. These results indicate that beta gamma subunits influence phospholipase C activity in a concentration range similar to that necessary for regulation of adenylate cyclase activity and suggest the involvement of a G-protein possessing an alpha beta gamma heterotrimeric structure in coupling hormone receptors to phospholipase C.

The characteristics of catecholamine-induced desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor-linked adenylate cyclase system is compared in C62B and C6BD12 rat glioma cells and 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. The process of receptor-specific (or agonist-specific) desensitization is demonstrated in the C62B subline. Thus, upon exposure of C62B cells to catecholamine a rapid decline (t 1/2 = 6-8 min) in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity occurs with minimal loss in basal or NaF-stimulated activity. With the same time course an uncoupled population of beta-receptors is formed and can be isolated as a low density, particulate subfraction of cell lysates. These early desensitization processes are not blocked by cycloheximide. With extended exposure to catecholamines beta-receptors are lost from detection with a t 1/2 of 150-180 min. This process in C62B cells exhibits the same characteristics observed by others for other sublines of C6 cells (Homburger, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 255: 10436, 1980; and Fishman, et al. Mol. Pharmacol. 20: 310, 1981) and by us for human astrocytoma cells (Su et al. J. Biol. Chem. 255: 7410, 1980). In addition, the existence in C62B cells of a cyclic AMP-induced, cycloheximide-sensitive desensitization process, such as that reported by others (Terasaki, et al. Adv. Cyclic Nuc. Res. 9: 33, 1978) is confirmed. Thus, it appears that C62B cells exhibit all of the characteristics typically attributed to receptor-specific desensitization in addition to the cyclic AMP-mediated heterologous process described previously.

We have investigated the relationship between the catecholamine-induced occurrence in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells of beta-adrenergic receptors that exhibit low apparent affinity for hydrophilic ligands in short-time assays with intact cells and a population of beta-adrenergic receptors that migrate in a light vesicle fraction on sucrose density gradients. Pretreatment of cells with concanavalin A prevents the generation of both of these forms of the receptor during incubation with agonists but does not prevent the agonist-induced decrease in isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production that also occurs during desensitization. Selective labeling of the low affinity beta-receptors with 125I-pindolol followed by centrifugation on sucrose density gradients revealed that all of the receptors in the light vesicle fraction from desensitized cells were of the low affinity type, but that a portion of the low affinity receptors also migrated in a heavier sucrose fraction together with the plasma membrane. In contrast, in control cells, no low affinity receptors were present in the heavy sucrose fractions. The agonist-induced occurrence of these various forms of the beta-adrenergic receptor can be explained on the basis of current models of desensitization involving agonist-induced internalization of beta-adrenergic receptors.

Incubation of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells with carbachol resulted in a rapid loss of binding of [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) to muscarinic cholinergic receptors measured at 4 degrees C on intact cells; loss of muscarinic receptors in lysates from the same cells measured with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate [( 3H]QNB) at 37 degrees C occurred at a slower rate. Upon removal of agonist from the medium, the lost [3H]NMS binding sites measured on intact cells recovered with a t1/2 of approximately 20 min, but only to the level to which [3H]QNB binding sites had been lost; no recovery of "lost" [3H]QNB binding sites occurred over the same period. Based on these data and the arguments of Galper et al. (Galper, J. B., Dziekan, L. C., O'Hara, D. S., and Smith, T. W. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10344-10356) regarding the relative hydrophilicity of [3H]NMS versus [3H]QNB, it is proposed that carbachol induces a rapid sequestration of muscarinic receptors that is followed by a loss of these receptors from the cell. These carbachol-induced changes are accompanied by a change in the membrane form of the muscarinic receptor. Although essentially all of the muscarinic receptors from control cells co-purified with the plasma membrane fraction on sucrose density gradients, 20-35% of the muscarinic receptors from cells treated for 30 min with 100 microM carbachol migrated to a much lower sucrose density. This conversion of muscarinic receptors to a "light vesicle" form occurred with a t1/2 approximately 10 min, and reversed with a t1/2 approximately 20 min. In contrast to previous results in this cell line regarding beta-adrenergic receptors (Harden, T. K., Cotton, C. U., Waldo, G. L., Lutton, J. K., and Perkins, J. P. (1980) Science 210, 441-443), agonist binding to muscarinic receptors in the light vesicle fraction obtained from carbachol-treated cells was still regulated by GTP. One interpretation of these data is that agonists induce an internalization of muscarinic receptors with the retention of their functional interaction with a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.

Binding of 125I-iodopindolol (IPIN) to intact 1321N1 human astrocytoma cell B-adrenergic receptors was measured at 37 degrees and on ice. Control cells showed a single component of IPIN binding on ice with the same total number of receptors as measured at 37 degrees. In desensitized cells (pretreated for 20 min with 1 microM isoproterenol) approximately 40% of IPIN binding on ice exhibited kinetics similar to those observed in control cells. The remaining 60% of receptors were labelled by IPIN at a much slower rate requiring the use of very high concentrations of IPIN. Sucrose density gradient fractionation was used to separately study the labelling of plasma membrane receptors and those associated with a light vesicle fraction. Labelling by IPIN on ice of the plasma membrane receptors of control cells was rapid, labelling of the light vesicle receptors of desensitized cells was slow, and labelling of the plasma membrane receptors of desensitized cells appeared to occur with both rapid and slow components. Selective labelling of the plasma membrane receptors of intact cells thus could be obtained by incubation with IPIN on ice under selected conditions. Similar results were obtained when broken cell preparations from control and desensitized cells were used. The decreased binding of IPIN on ice to B-adrenergic receptors in the light vesicle fraction not only provides further evidence consistent with sequestration of B-adrenergic receptors during desensitization, it also provides a convenient and inexpensive means to assay the sequestration reaction.

Incubation of astrocytoma cells with catecholamines results in a decrease in catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and a concomitant alteration in the sedimentation properties of particulate beta-adrenergic receptors. The altered receptors exhibit agonist binding properties similar to those of receptors that are "uncoupled" from adenylate cyclase.

Incubation of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells with 1 microM isoproterenol rapidly results in the conversion of a portion of the beta-adrenergic receptors to a membrane form that can be separated from markers for the plasma membrane by sucrose density gradient or differential centrifugation. This "light peak" form of the receptor reaches a maximal level within 10 min of incubation of cells with catecholamine. Two types of experiments suggest that the early phase of catecholamine-induced desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor-linked adenylate cyclase can be separated into at least two reactions. First, the agonist-induced loss of catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity precedes the appearance of beta-adrenergic receptors in the light peak fraction by 1-2 min. Second, pretreatment of cells with concanavalin A prior to induction of desensitization blocks the formation of the light peak form of beta-adrenergic receptors without blocking the "uncoupling" reaction as measured by catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Specificity for the reaction that converts beta-adrenergic receptors to the light peak form is indicated by the lack of a catecholamine-induced alteration in the sucrose density gradient distribution of muscarinic cholinergic receptors, adenylate cyclase or the guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, Ns and Ni. The light peak of beta-adrenergic receptors migrates at a density similar to that of at least a portion of the activity of galactosyltransferase, a marker for Golgi. Enzyme marker activities for lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum are not associated with this population of beta-adrenergic receptors. Taken together, these and other data suggest that incubation of 1321N1 cells with isoproterenol results in a rapid uncoupling of beta-adrenergic receptors from adenylate cyclase which is followed by a change in the membrane form of the receptor. This latter step most likely represents internalization of receptors into a vesicular form which may then serve as the precursor state from which receptors are eventually lost from the cell.