A Highly Conserved Glycine within Linker I and the Extreme C Terminus of G Protein α Subunits Interact Cooperatively in Switching G Protein-Coupled Receptor-to-Effector Specificity

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Abstract
Numerous studies have attested to the importance of the extreme C terminus of G protein α subunits in determining their selectivity of receptor recognition. We have previously reported that a highly conserved glycine residue within linker I is important for constraining the fidelity of receptor recognition by Gαq proteins. Herein, we explored whether both modules (linker I and extreme C terminus) interact cooperatively in switching G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-to-effector specificity and created as models mutant Gαq proteins in which glycine was replaced with various amino acids and the C-terminal five Gαq residues with the corresponding Gαi or Gαs sequence. Coupling properties of the mutated Gαq proteins were determined after coexpression with a panel of 13 Gi-and Gs -selective receptors and compared with those of Gα proteins modified in only one module. Gα proteins modified in both modules are significantly more efficacious in channeling non-Gq -selective receptors to Gq-mediated signaling events compare with those containing each module alone. Additive effects of both modules were observed even if individual modules lacked an effect on GPCR-to-effector specificity. Dually modified Gα proteins were also superior in conferring high-affinity agonist sites onto a coexpressed GPCR in the absence, but not in the presence, of guanine nucleotides. Together, our data suggest that receptor-G protein coupling selectivity involves cooperative interactions between the extreme C terminus and linker I of Gα proteins and that distinct determinants of selectivity exist for individual receptors.