Efficient interaction with a receptor requires a specific type of prenyl group on the G protein gamma subunit.
Post-translational prenylation of the carboxyl-terminal cysteine is a characteristic feature of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) gamma subunits. Recent findings show that the farnesylated COOH-terminal tail of the gamma 1 subunit is a specific determinant of rhodopsin-transducin coupling. We show here that when synthetic peptides specific to the COOH-terminal tail of gamma 1 are chemically modified with geranyl, farnesyl, or geranylgeranyl groups and tested for their ability to interact with light activated rhodopsin, the farnesylated peptide is significantly more effective. These results show that an appropriate isoprenoid on the G protein gamma subunit serves not only a membrane anchoring function but in combination with the COOH-terminal domain specifies receptor-G protein coupling.
Kisselev
O
O
Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Ermolaeva
M
M
Gautam
N
N
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004224:Diterpenes; D005204:Farnesol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D017368:Protein Prenylation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D017299:Rod Opsins; D013729:Terpenes
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D004224:Diterpenes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017299:Rod Opsins; D013729:Terpenes; D005204:Farnesol; C013110:metarhodopsins; D012243:Rhodopsin; C017338:geranylgeraniol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C007836:geraniol