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. 1991 Mar 1;88(5):1898–1902. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.5.1898

Drosophila stimulatory G protein alpha subunit activates mammalian adenylyl cyclase but interacts poorly with mammalian receptors: implications for receptor-G protein interaction.

F Quan 1, L Thomas 1, M Forte 1
PMCID: PMC51133  PMID: 1848015

Abstract

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) transduce signals from cell-surface receptors to intracellular effector proteins. Two forms of stimulatory G protein (Gs) alpha-like subunit have been described in Drosophila melanogaster. To examine the function of these subunits we have used vaccinia virus vectors to express both proteins in cyc- cells, a murine S49 cell line deficient for Gs alpha activity. Receptor-independent activation of each Drosophila Gs alpha has demonstrated that both forms are capable of activating mammalian adenylyl cyclase and thus have the activity expected of stimulatory G proteins. However, the Drosophila Gs alpha subunits interact poorly with mammalian Gs-coupled receptors. These observations have helped to identify a region of high variability in Gs alpha proteins that may be important for receptor interactions.

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Selected References

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