title: Galpha12 and galpha13 are phosphorylated during platelet activation.
abstract: The ubiquitously expressed G-proteins G12 and G13 whose function is currently not clear have been shown to be activated in platelet membranes through receptors that stimulate platelet aggregation. We used intact human platelets to determine whether alpha subunits of both G-proteins can be phosphorylated under physiological conditions. Activation of human platelets by thrombin and the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 lead to phosphorylation of Galpha12 and Galpha13. Phosphorylation occurred rapidly after addition of thrombin and was not mediated by glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin alphaIIbbeta3) activation. Phosphorylation of Galpha12 and Galpha13 could be mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and thrombin-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C indicating an involvement of protein kinase C in Galpha12/13 phosphorylation induced by thrombin in human platelets. The phosphorylation of both G protein alpha subunits was reconstituted in COS-7 cells cotransfected with Galpha12 or Galpha13 and different protein kinase C isoforms. Among the protein knase C isoforms tested, protein kinase C beta, delta, and epsilon were most effective in promoting phosphorylation of Galpha12 and Galpha13 in a phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that Galpha12 and Galpha13 are phosphorylated under in vivo conditions and that this phosphorylation involves protein kinase C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology 147-75, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Offermanns
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D019556:COS Cells; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051960:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunit, Gi2; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013917:Thrombin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C498015:GNAI2 protein, human; D051960:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunit, Gi2; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; C058819:calphostin C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate