The structure of the G protein heterotrimer Giα1β1γ2

Mark A. Wall, David E. Coleman, Ethan Lee, Jorge A. Iñiguez-Lluhi, Bruce A. Posner, Alfred G. Gilman, Stephen R. Sprang

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Abstract

The crystallographic structure of the G protein heterotrimer Giα1(GDP)β1γ2 (at 2.3 A) reveals two nonoverlapping regions of contact between α and β, an extended interface between β and nearly all of γ, and limited interaction of α with γ. The major α/β interface covers switch II of α, and GTP-induced rearrangement of switch II causes subunit dissociation during signaling. Alterations in GDP binding in the heterotrimer (compared with α-GDP) explain stabilization of the inactive conformation of α by βγ. Repeated WD motifs in β form a circularized sevenfold β propeller. The conserved cores of these motifs are a scaffold for display of their more variable linkers on the exterior face of each propeller blade.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1047-1058
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume83
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 1995

Funding

Acknowledgments We are grateful to Albert Berghuis, Jim Naismith, and Ward Coates for assistance with data collection and processing; to Brian Sutton and Orelia Ortiz for assistance with illustrations; to Elliott M. Ross, Eva Neer, and Mark Mixon for helpful discussion; and to Marian Stanzel for skilled technical assistance. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant DK46371 and Welch Foundation grant I-1229 to (S. R. S.) and by NIH grant GM34497, American Cancer Society grant BE30-0, Welch Foundation grant I-1 271, and the Raymond and Ellen Willie Chair of Molecular Neuropharmacology (to A. G. G.).

FundersFunder number
American Cancer SocietyBE30-0, I-1 271
R01DK046371
GM34497, I-1229

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