title: AGS proteins: receptor-independent activators of G-protein signaling.
abstract: The identification of AGS proteins as receptor-independent activators of G-protein signaling reveals unexpected mechanisms for the regulation of heterotrimeric G-protein activation and has opened up new areas of research related to the role of G proteins as signal transducers. In addition to their obvious interest associated with G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, AGS proteins might provide alternative binding partners for G-protein subunits that enable them to serve unexpected functions related to cell division, differentiation and organelle structure that might operate independently of a GPCR. Thus, these proteins and the concepts advanced with their discovery highlight the diversity associated with G-protein signaling and present new avenues for the development of therapeutics that target G-protein signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Joe B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cismowski
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lanier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C400132:RASD1 protein, human; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins