title: Effect of activating and inactivating mutations of Gs- and Gi2-alpha protein subunits on growth and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
abstract: Previous investigations have demonstrated that both Gs- and the Gi-family of GTP-binding proteins are implicated in differentiation of the 3T3-L1 preadipocyte. In order to further analyze the role of Gs alpha vs. Gi2 alpha, which are both involved in adenylate cyclase modulation, we transfected undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells with two sets of G-protein cDNA: the pZEM vector with either wild type, the activating (i.e., GTP-ase inhibiting) R201C-Gs alpha or the inactivating G226A(H21a)-Gs alpha point mutations, or the pZIPNeoSV(X) retroviral vector constructs containing the Gi2 alpha wild type or the missense mutations R179E-Gi2 alpha, Q205L-Gi2 alpha, and G204A(H21a)-Gi2 alpha. The activating [R201C]Gs alpha-mutant did not significantly affect the differentiation process, i.e., increase in the steady-state levels of G-protein subunits, gross appearance, or insulin-elicited deoxy-glucose uptake into 3T3-L1 adipocytes, despite a marked initial increase in hormone-elicited adenylate cyclase activity. The [H21a]Gs alpha-mutant, on the other hand, enhanced the degree of differentiation slightly, as evidenced by an augmented production of lipid vesicles and insulin-stimulated deoxy-glucose uptake. However, an expected increase in mRNA for hormone-sensitive lipase was not seen. Secondly, it appeared that both activating [R179E]Gi2 alpha or [Q205L]Gi2 alpha mutants reduced cell doubling time in non-confluent 3T3-L1 cell cultures, while [H21a]Gi2 alpha slowed proliferation rate. Furthermore, it seemed that cell proliferation, as evidenced by thymidine incorporation, ceased at a much earlier stage prior to cell confluency when cultures were transfected with the [R179E]Gi2 alpha or [Q205L]Gi2 alpha mutants. Upon differentiation with insulin, dexamethasone, and iBuMeXan, the following cell characteristics emerged: the [R179E]Gi2 alpha and [Q205L]Gi2 alpha mutants consistently enhanced adenylate cyclase activation and cAMP accumulation stimulated by isoproterenol and corticotropin over controls. Deoxy-glucose uptake was also super-activated by the [R179E]Gi2 alpha and [Q205L]Gi2 alpha mutants. Finally, steady-state levels of hormone sensitive lipase mRNA were dramatically increased by [R179E]Gi2 alpha and [Q205L]Gi2 alpha over differentiated controls. The inactivating [H21a]Gi2 alpha-mutant obliterated all signs of preadipocyte differentiation. It is concluded that Gi2 plays a positive and much more important role than Gs in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Cyclic AMP appears to play no role in this process.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pathophysiology Branch, NIH, NIDDK, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Gordeladze
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Høvik
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Merendino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermouet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gutkind
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Accili
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D051381:Rats; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000235:genetics; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D003847:Deoxyglucose; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D002787:Sterol Esterase; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D013936:Thymidine