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Real-time visualization of heterotrimeric G protein Gq activation in living cells.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Gq is a heterotrimeric G protein that plays an important role in numerous physiological processes. To delineate the molecular mechanisms and kinetics of signalling through this protein, its activation should be measurable in single living cells. Recently, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors have been developed for this purpose. RESULTS: In this paper, we describe the development of an improved FRET-based Gq activity sensor that consists of a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged G?2 subunit and a G?q subunit with an inserted monomeric Turquoise (mTurquoise), the best cyan fluorescent protein variant currently available. This sensor enabled us to determine, for the first time, the kon (2/s) of Gq activation. In addition, we found that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor p63RhoGEF has a profound effect on the number of Gq proteins that become active upon stimulation of endogenous histamine H1 receptors. The sensor was also used to measure ligand-independent activation of the histamine H1 receptor (H1R) upon addition of a hypotonic stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations reveal that the application of a truncated mTurquoise as donor and a YFP-tagged G?2 as acceptor in FRET-based Gq activity sensors substantially improves their dynamic range. This optimization enables the real-time single cell quantification of Gq signalling dynamics, the influence of accessory proteins and allows future drug screening applications by virtue of its sensitivity.

SUBMITTER: Adjobo-Hermans MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3129320 | biostudies-other | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Real-time visualization of heterotrimeric G protein Gq activation in living cells.

Adjobo-Hermans Merel J W MJ Goedhart Joachim J van Weeren Laura L Nijmeijer Saskia S Manders Erik M M EM Offermanns Stefan S Gadella Theodorus W J TW

BMC biology 20110527

<h4>Background</h4>Gq is a heterotrimeric G protein that plays an important role in numerous physiological processes. To delineate the molecular mechanisms and kinetics of signalling through this protein, its activation should be measurable in single living cells. Recently, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors have been developed for this purpose.<h4>Results</h4>In this paper, we describe the development of an improved FRET-based Gq activity sensor that consists of a yellow fluo ...[more]

PMID: 21619590

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Real-time visualization of heterotrimeric G protein Gq activation in living cells.

Publications

Real-time visualization of heterotrimeric G protein Gq activation in living cells.

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