A Ab bs st tr ra ac ct t The heterotrimeric G-protein alpha subunit has long been considered a bimodal, GTP-hydrolyzing switch controlling the duration of signal transduction by seven-transmembrane domain (7TM) cell-surface receptors.In 1996, we and others identified a superfamily of "regulator of G-protein signaling" (RGS) proteins that accelerate the rate of GTP hydrolysis by Gα subunits (dubbed GTPase-accelerating protein or "GAP" activity). This discovery resolved the paradox between the rapid physiological timing seen for 7TM receptor signal transduction in vivo and the slow rates of GTP hydrolysis exhibited by purified Gα subunits in vitro. Here, we review more recent discoveries that have highlighted newly-appreciated roles for RGS proteins beyond mere negative regulators of 7TM signaling. These new roles include the RGS-box-containing, RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RGS-RhoGEFs) that serve as Gα effectors to couple 7TM and semaphorin receptor signaling to RhoA activation, the potential for RGS12 to serve as a nexus for signaling from tyrosine kinases and G-proteins of both the Gα and Ras-superfamilies, the potential for R7-subfamily RGS proteins to couple Gα subunits to 7TM receptors in the absence of conventional Gβγ dimers, and the potential for the conjoint 7TM/RGS-box Arabidopsis protein AtRGS1 to serve as a ligand-operated GAP for the plant Gα AtGPA1. Moreover, we review the discovery of novel biochemical activities that also impinge on the guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis cycle of Gα subunits: namely, the guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) activity of the GoLoco motif-containing proteins and the 7TM receptorindependent guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity of Ric-8/synembryn. Discovery of these novel GAP, GDI, and GEF activities have helped to illuminate a new role for Gα subunit GDP/GTP cycling required for microtubule force generation and mitotic spindle function in chromosomal segregation.

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) play important roles in several cellular processes, including signaling, gene regulation, and transport of proteins and nucleic acids, to impact growth, differentiation, proliferation, and development. PRMT5 symmetrically di-methylates the two-terminal ω-guanidino nitrogens of arginine residues on substrate proteins. PRMT5 acts as part of a multimeric complex in concert with a variety of partner proteins that regulate its function and specificity. A core component of these complexes is the WD40 protein MEP50/WDR77/p44, which mediates interactions with binding partners and substrates. We have determined the crystal structure of human PRMT5 in complex with MEP50 (methylosome protein 50), bound to an S-adenosylmethionine analog and a peptide substrate derived from histone H4. The structure of the surprising hetero-octameric complex reveals the close interaction between the seven-bladed β-propeller MEP50 and the N-terminal domain of PRMT5, and delineates the structural elements of substrate recognition.epigenetics | protein-protein complex | A9145C P osttranslational methylation of lysine and arginine residues by protein lysine methyltransferases and protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) alters the activity and interactions of substrate proteins, with crucial consequences to diverse cellular functions (1-3). Histone methylation is an epigenetic mark that plays a vital role in normal cell function, and whose dysregulation is associated with several diseases (4).The PRMT family of methyltransferases belongs to the largest class (class I) of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferase enzymes, responsible for the transfer of a methyl group from AdoMet to the arginine side-chains of histones and other proteins. PRMTs are further subdivided into type I, type II, type III, and type IV enzymes based on their patterns of arginine methylation. Eleven human PRMTs have been identified to date (5), and they all methylate the terminal guanidino nitrogen atoms of arginine residues. Type I PRMT enzymes (PRMT1, -2, -3, -4, -6, and -8) generate ω-NG-monomethyl and ω-NG,NG-asymmetric di-methyl arginines, whereas PRMT5 is a type II PRMT that catalyzes the formation of ω-NG-monomethyl and ω-NG,N′G-symmetric di-methyl arginine residues. PRMT7 was initially thought to have type II activity, but recent evidence suggests that it may be a type III enzyme that is only able to monomethylate substrates to form ω-NG-monomethyl arginine (6). A type IV enzyme that catalyses the formation of δ-N-methyl arginine has been identified in yeast (7). All PRMTs share the highly conserved methyltransferase catalytic domain, and several PRMTs contain additional domains that modulate their activity and specificity. PRMT2, PRMT3, and PRMT9 contain SH3, zinc finger, and TRP2 domains, respectively, and PRMT5 contains a largely uncharacterized N-terminal region.In contrast to type I PRMTs, PRMT5 functions as part of various high molecular weight protein complexes that invariably contain the WD-repe...

Asymmetric divisions are crucial for generating cell diversity; they rely on coupling between polarity cues and spindle positioning, but how this coupling is achieved is poorly understood. In one-cell stage Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, polarity cues set by the PAR proteins mediate asymmetric spindle positioning by governing an imbalance of net pulling forces acting on spindle poles. We found that the GoLoco-containing proteins GPR-1 and GPR-2, as well as the Galpha subunits GOA-1 and GPA-16, were essential for generation of proper pulling forces. GPR-1/2 interacted with guanosine diphosphate-bound GOA-1 and were enriched on the posterior cortex in a par-3- and par-2-dependent manner. Thus, the extent of net pulling forces may depend on cortical Galpha activity, which is regulated by anterior-posterior polarity cues through GPR-1/2.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) at the cell surface activate heterotrimeric G proteins by inducing the G protein alpha (Galpha) subunit to exchange guanosine diphosphate for guanosine triphosphate. Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins accelerate the deactivation of Galpha subunits to reduce GPCR signaling. Here we identified an RGS protein (AtRGS1) in Arabidopsis that has a predicted structure similar to a GPCR as well as an RGS box with GTPase accelerating activity. Expression of AtRGS1 complemented the pheromone supersensitivity phenotype of a yeast RGS mutant, sst2Delta. Loss of AtRGS1 increased the activity of the Arabidopsis Galpha subunit, resulting in increased cell elongation in hypocotyls in darkness and increased cell production in roots grown in light. These findings suggest that AtRGS1 is a critical modulator of plant cell proliferation.

Abstract. Heterotrimeric G-proteins are intracellular partners of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs act on inactive Ga·GDP/Gbg heterotrimers to promote GDP release and GTP binding, resulting in liberation of Ga from Gbg. Ga·GTP and Gbg target effectors including adenylyl cyclases, phospholipases and ion channels. Signaling is terminated by intrinsic GTPase activity of Ga and heterotrimer reformation -a cycle accelerated by 'regulators of G-protein signaling' (RGS proteins). Recent studies have identified several unconventional G-protein signaling pathways that diverge from this CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 62 (2005) 551-577 1420-682X/05/050551-27 DOI 10.1007/s00018-004-4462-3 © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2005 CMLS Cellular and Molecular Life Sciencesstandard model. Whereas phospholipase C (PLC) b is activated by Ga q and Gbg, novel PLC isoforms are regulated by both heterotrimeric and Ras-superfamily G-proteins. An Arabidopsis protein has been discovered containing both GPCR and RGS domains within the same protein. Most surprisingly, a receptor-independent Ga nucleotide cycle that regulates cell division has been delineated in both Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we revisit classical heterotrimeric G-protein signaling and explore these new, non-canonical G-protein signaling pathways.