title: Ric-8: different cellular roles for a heterotrimeric G-protein GEF.
abstract: Signaling via heterotrimeric G-proteins is evoked by agonist-mediated stimulation of seven transmembrane spanning receptors (GPCRs). During the last decade it has become apparent that Gα subunits can be activated by receptor-independent mechanisms. Ric-8 belongs to a highly conserved protein family that regulates heterotrimeric G-protein function, acting as a non-canonical guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF) over a subset of Gα subunits. In this review we discuss the roles of Ric-8 in the regulation of diverse cell functions, emphasizing the contribution of its multiple domain protein structure in these diverse functions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Hinrichs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrejón
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montecino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; C561938:Ric8A protein, human; C485884:Ric8a protein, mouse; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; C549039:RIC8B protein, human