A G protein gamma subunit-specific peptide inhibits muscarinic receptor signaling

J Biol Chem. 1999 Dec 10;274(50):35305-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.50.35305.

Abstract

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors modulate the function of a variety of effectors through heterotrimeric G proteins. A prenylated peptide specific to the G protein gamma5 subunit type inhibits G protein activation by the M2 muscarinic receptor in a reconstitution assay. Scrambling the amino acid sequence of the peptide significantly reduces the efficacy of the peptide. The peptide does not disrupt the G protein heterotrimer. In cultured sympathetic neurons, the gamma5 peptide inhibits modulation of Ca(2+) current by the M4 receptor. Peptide activity is specific, the scrambled peptide and peptides specific to two other members of the G protein gamma subunit family are significantly less effective. The gamma5 peptide has no effect on Ca(2+) current modulation by the alpha2-adrenergic and somatostatin receptors. In addition, the gamma5 peptide inhibits muscarinic receptor signaling in spinal cord slices with specificity. These results support a specific role for G protein gamma subunit types in signal transduction, most likely at the receptor-G protein interface.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Brain
  • CHO Cells
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels / drug effects
  • Calcium Channels / physiology*
  • Carbachol / pharmacology
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clonidine / pharmacology
  • Cricetinae
  • Cytoplasm / physiology
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / metabolism
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • N-Methylscopolamine / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Oxotremorine / pharmacology
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M4
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / drug effects
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / physiology
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / physiology*
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / drug effects
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / physiology*
  • Superior Cervical Ganglion / physiology*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M4
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
  • Receptors, Muscarinic
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)
  • Oxotremorine
  • Carbachol
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Clonidine
  • Calcium
  • N-Methylscopolamine