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. 1989 Mar;86(6):1776–1780. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.6.1776

Epinephrine induces changes in the subcellular distribution of the inhibitory GTP-binding protein Gi alpha-2 and a 38-kDa phosphorylated protein in the human platelet.

M F Crouch 1, D A Winegar 1, E G Lapetina 1
PMCID: PMC286787  PMID: 2538814

Abstract

By using antibodies specific for alpha subunits of inhibitory GTP-binding proteins (Gi alpha polypeptides) to probe Western blots of whole platelet protein, we detected Gi alpha-2 as the predominant Gi alpha species present in platelets. The subcellular compartmentalization of distinct Gi alpha-2-immunoreactive polypeptides coupled to thrombin and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors was examined in Triton X-100 platelet lysates prepared by highspeed centrifugation. This treatment permitted separation of the Triton-insoluble membrane skeleton from Triton-soluble cell components. In cells treated with either alpha-thrombin or epinephrine, we observed that a greater proportion of Gi alpha-2 was localized in the Triton-soluble fraction than in the Triton-insoluble fraction. Pertussis toxin was found to catalyze ADP-ribosylation of Gi alpha-2 in whole platelets. In thrombin-stimulated cells, this activity was confined to the Triton-soluble fraction and was markedly lower than that of unstimulated cells. Epinephrine, on the other hand, promoted translocation of a portion of the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi alpha-2 from the Triton-soluble fraction to the Triton-insoluble fraction. In addition, epinephrine stimulated translocation of a phosphorylated protein of approximately 38 kDa that was not ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. This protein expressed immunoreactivity with the general Gi alpha antiserum AS/7 but not with the Gi alpha-2 antiserum LE/3. These findings suggest a role for specific localization of Gi alpha proteins in epinephrine-induced platelet responses.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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