Beyond the plasma membrane: new Functions for heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in asymmetric and symmetric cell division.
Plasma membrane heterotrimeric G proteins transduce extracellular signals from seven transmembrane receptors to downstream effectors. In addition, G proteins and their regulators localize at multiple intracellular sites and play crucial roles in cell division. In model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila receptor-independent heterotrimeric G protein function is vital for the orientation of mitotic spindle, generation of microtubule pulling force, aster-induced cytokinesis, and centration of the nucleus-centrosome complex. This new paradigm is now being extended to mammalian cells. Mammalian G protein signaling components localize in centrosomes and at the midbody, and altered function or expression of these proteins can cause cell division defects. Here, we highlight the role and possible mechanisms of G protein signaling in mammalian cell division in conjunction with recent findings in model organisms. Together the evidence argues for a more direct role of non-canonical heterotrimeric G protein signaling in microtubule- and actin cytoskeleton-mediated cellular processes.
Cho
Hyeseon
H
B-Cell Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. hcho@niaid.nih.gov
Kehrl
John H
JH
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000199:Actins; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins