Conformational activation of radixin by G13 protein alpha subunit

J Biol Chem. 2000 Aug 25;275(34):26206-12. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M001863200.

Abstract

G(13) protein, one of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins), regulates diverse and complex cellular responses by transducing signals from the cell surface presumably involving more than one pathway. Yeast two-hybrid screening of a mouse brain cDNA library identified radixin, a member of the ERM family of three closely related proteins (ezrin, radixin, and moesin), as a protein that interacted with Galpha(13). Interaction between radixin and Galpha(13) was confirmed by in vitro binding assay and by co-immunoprecipitation technique. Activated Galpha(13) induced conformational activation of radixin, as determined by binding of radixin to polymerized F-actin and by immunofluorescence in intact cells. Finally, two dominant negative mutants of radixin inhibited Galpha(13)-induced focus formation of Rat-1 fibroblasts but did not affect Ras-induced focus formation. Our results identifying a new signaling pathway for Galpha(13) indicate that ERM proteins can be activated by and serve as effectors of heterotrimeric G proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Signal Transduction
  • Yeasts

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • ezrin
  • moesin
  • radixin
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins