The G-Protein beta -Subunit GPB-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans Regulates the G sub(o) alpha - G sub(q) alpha Signaling Network Through Interactions With the Regulator of G-Protein Signaling Proteins EGL-10 and EAT-16

The genome of Caenorhabditis elegans harbors two genes for G-protein beta -subunits. Here, we describe the characterization of the second G-protein beta - subunit gene gpb-2. In contrast to gpb-1, gpb-2 is not an essential gene even though, like gpb-1, gpb-2 is expressed during development, in the n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetics (Austin) 2001-05, Vol.158 (1), p.221-235
Main Authors: Linden, AM3, Simmer, F, Cuppen, E, Plasterk, RHA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Caenorhabditis elegans
G protein ^b- subunit gene (gpb-1) gene
G protein ^b- subunit gene (gpb-2) gene
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Summary:The genome of Caenorhabditis elegans harbors two genes for G-protein beta -subunits. Here, we describe the characterization of the second G-protein beta - subunit gene gpb-2. In contrast to gpb-1, gpb-2 is not an essential gene even though, like gpb-1, gpb-2 is expressed during development, in the nervous system, and in muscle cells. A loss-of- function mutation in gpb-2 produces a variety of behavioral defects, including delayed egg laying and reduced pharyngeal pumping. Genetic analysis shows that GPB-2 interacts with the GOA-1 (homologue of mammalian G sub(o) alpha ) and EGL-30 (homologue of mammalian G sub(q) alpha ) signaling pathways. GPB-2 is most similar to the divergent mammalian G beta 5 subunit, which has been shown to mediate a specific interaction with a G gamma - subunit-like (GGL) domain of RGS proteins. We show here that GPB-2 physically and genetically interacts with the GGL-containing RGS proteins EGL-10 and EAT- 16. Taken together, our results suggest that GPB-2 works in concert with the RGS proteins EGL-10 and EAT- 16 to regulate GOA-1 (G sub(o) alpha ) and EGL-30 (G sub(q) alpha ) signaling.
ISSN:0016-6731