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. 1996 Aug;7(8):1225–1233. doi: 10.1091/mbc.7.8.1225

Activation-induced subcellular redistribution of Gs alpha.

P B Wedegaertner 1, H R Bourne 1, M von Zastrow 1
PMCID: PMC275974  PMID: 8856666

Abstract

We have examined the subcellular distribution of alpha s, the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein Gs, by using immunofluorescence microscopy. In transiently transfected HEK293 cells, wild-type alpha s localizes to the plasma membrane. However, a mutationally activated alpha s (alpha sR201C) is diffusely distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Similarly, cholera toxin activation of alpha s causes it to redistribute from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm in stably transfected cells. In HEK293 cells stably transfected with alpha s and the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR), stimulation of the beta-AR by the agonist isoproterenol also causes a translocation of alpha s from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm. Replacing the agonist with antagonist allows alpha s to return to the plasma membrane, demonstrating the reversibility of alpha s translocation. Receptor-activated alpha s does not colocalize with internalized beta-AR at endosomes. Incubation of cells in hypertonic sucrose to inhibit clathrin-coated pit-mediated endocytosis of agonist-activated beta-AR failed to block agonist-stimulated redistribution of alpha s. These findings demonstrate that activated alpha s reversibly undergoes a translocation from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm and begin to address the relationship between regulated trafficking of a seven-transmembrane receptor and its cognate G protein.

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