Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Roles of G protein subunits in transmembrane signalling

Abstract

A family of proteins called G proteins couples cell surface receptors to a variety of enzymes and ion channels. Since many cells contain several very similar G proteins, an important question is how signals remain specific as they cross the cell membrane.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dohlman, H. G., Caron, M. G. & Lefkowitz, R. J. Biochemistry 26, 2657–2664 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lochrie, M. A., Hurley, J. B. & Simon, M. Science 228, 96–99 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tanabe, T. et al. Nature 315, 242–245 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Medynski, D. C. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 4311–4315 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Yatsunami, K. & Khorana, H. G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 4316–4320 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Itoh, H. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 3776–3780 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Michel, T., Winslow, J. W., Smith, J., Seidman, J. G. & Neer, E. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 7663–7667 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nukada, T. et al. FEBS Lett. 197, 305–310 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sullivan, K. A. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 83, 6687–6691 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jones, D. T. & Reed, R. R. J. biol. Chem. 262, 14241–14249 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim, S. Y. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (in the press).

  12. Robishaw, J. D., Smigel, M. D. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 261, 9587–9590 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Bray, P. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8893–8897 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kurachi, Y., Nakajima, T. & Sugimoto, T. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 407, 264–274 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stryer, L. & Bourne, H. R. A. Rev. Cell. Biol. 2, 391–419 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gilman, A. G. A. Rev. biochem. 56, 615–650 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Huff, R. M., Axton, J. M. & Neer, E. J. J. biol. Chem. 260, 10864–10871 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Codina, J. et al. J. biol. Chem. 259, 5871–5886 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sternweis, P. C. J. biol. Chem. 261, 631–637 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rodbell, M. Trends Biochem. Sci. 10, 461–464 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Buss, J. E., Mumby, S. M., Casey, P. J., Gilman, A. G. & Sefton, B. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (in the press).

  22. Hamaguchi, M. & Hanafusa, H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 2312–2316 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sugimoto, K. et al. FEBS Lett. 191, 235–240 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fong, H. K. W. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 2162–2166 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Codina, J., Stengel, D., Woo, S. L. & Birnbaumer, L. FEBS Lett. 207, 187–192 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fong, H. K. W., Amatruda, T. T., Birren, B. W. & Simon, M. I. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 3792–3796 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gao, B., Gilman, A. G. & Robishaw, J. D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 6122–6125 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Strittmatter, S. & Neer, E. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 6344–6348 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Limbird, L. E., Gill, D. M. & Lefkowitz, R. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 775–779 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gill, D. M. & Meren, R. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 3050–3054 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Katada, T. & Ui, M. J. biol. Chem. 257, 7210–7216 (1982).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sternweis, P. C., Northup, J. K., Smigel, M. D. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 256, 11517–11526 (1981).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Northup, J. K., Smigel, M. D., Sternweis, P. C. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 258, 11369–11376 (1983).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Graziano, M. P., Casey, P. J. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 262, 11375–11381 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Neer, E. J., Michel, T., Eddy, R., Shows, T. & Seidman, J. G. Hum. Genet. 77, 259–262 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Neer, E. J., Lok, J. M. & Wolf, L. G. J. biol. Chem. 259, 14222–14229 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Sternweis, P. C. & Robishaw, J. J. biol. Chem. 259, 13806–13813 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lerea, C. L., Somers, D. E., Hurley, J. B., Klock, I. B. & Bunt-Milam, A. M. Science, 234, 77–80 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Masters, S. B., Stroud, R. M. & Bourne, H. R. Protein Engng 1, 47–54 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Halliday, K. R., J. cyclic Nucleotide Protein Phosphor Res. 9, 435–448 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Masters, S. B., Sullivan, K. A., Miller R. T., Beiderman, B., Lopez, N. G., Ramachandran, J. & Bourne H. R. (in preparation).

  42. Ellis, J. Nature 238, 378–379 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Roof, D. J., Applebury, M. L. & Sternweis, P. C. J. biol. Chem. 260, 16242–16249 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Evans, T., Fawzi, A., Fraser, E. D., Brown, M. L., Northup, J. K. J. biol. Chem. 262, 176–181 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ashkenazi, A. et al. Science 238, 672–675 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Pedersen, S. E. & Ross, E. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 7228–7232 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Asano, T., Pedersen, S. E., Scott, C. W. & Ross, E. M. Biochemistry 23, 5460–5467 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. May, D. C., Ross, E. M., Gilfman, A. G. & Smigel, M. D. J. biol. Chem. 260, 15829–15833 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Cerione, R. A. et al. J. biol. Chem. 259, 9979–9982 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Smigel, M. et al. Adv. cyclic Nucl. Prot. Phosphoryl Res. 17, 1–18 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Asano, T., Katada, T., Gilman, A. G. & Ross, E. M. J. biol. Chem. 259, 9351–9354 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kim, M. H. & Neubig, R. R. Biochemistry, 26, 3664–3672 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Asano, T., Ui, M. & Ogasawara, N. J. biol. Chem. 260, 12653–12658 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kanaho, Y. et al. J. biol. Chem. 259, 7378–7381 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Cerione, R. A. et al. J. biol. Chem. 260, 1493–1500 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Florio, V. A. & Sternweis, P. C. J. biol. Chem. 260, 3477–3483 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Kurose, H. et al. J. biol. Chem. 261, 6423–6428 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Kikuchi, A. et al. J. biol. Chem. 261, 11558–11562 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Hildebrandt, J. D., Codina, J. & Birnbaumer, L. J. biol. Chem. 259, 13178–13185 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Cerione, R. A. et al. Biochemistry 24, 4499–4503 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Yatani, A. et al. Science 238, 1288–1291 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Katada, T., Oinuma, M. & Ui, M. J. biol. Chem. 261, 5215–5221 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Asano, T., Ogasawara, N., Kitajima, S. & Sano, M. FEBS Lett. 203, 135–138 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Codina, J., Yatani, A., Grenet, D., Brown, A. M. & Birnbaumer, L. Science 236, 442–445 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Logothetis, D. E., Kurachi, Y., Galper, J., Neer, E. J. & Clapham, D. E. Nature 325, 321–326 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Jelsema, C. L. & Axelrod, J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 3623–3627 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Tsai, S-C., Adamik, R., Kanako, Y., Halpern, J. L. & Moss, J. Biochemistry 26, 4728–4733 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Katada, T., Kusakabe, K., Oinuma, M. & Ui, M. J. biol. Chem. 262, 11897–11900 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Neer, E. J., Wolf, L. G. & Gill, D. M. Biochem. J. 241, 325–336 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Katada, T., Oinuma, M., Kusakabe, K. & Ui, M. FEBS Lett. 213, 353–358 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Cerione, R. A. et al. Biochemistry 26, 1485–1491 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Bender, J. L., Wolf, L. G. & Neer, E. J. Adv. cycl. Nucl. Prot. Phosph. Res. 17, 101–110 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Logothetis, D. E., Kim, D. H., Northup, J., Neer, E. J. & Clapham, D. E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (in the press).

  74. Schramm, M., Orly, J., Eimerl, S. & Korner, M. Nature 268, 310–313 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Tolkovsky, A. M. & Levitzki, A. Biochemistry 17, 3811–3816 (1978).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Birnbaumer, L. & Rodbell, M. J. biol. Chem. 244, 3477–3482 (1969).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Sabol, S. L. & Niremberg, M. J. biol. Chem. 254, 1913–1920 (1979).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Katada, T., Bokoch, G. M., Northup, J. K., Ui, M. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 259, 3568–3577 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Katada, T., Northup, J. K., Bokoch, G. M., Ui, M. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 259, 3578–3585 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Huff, R. M. & Neer, E. J. J. biol. Chem. 261, 1105–1110 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Dufau, M. L. et al. J. biol. Chem. 253, 3721–3729 (1978).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Buxton, K. O. & Brunton, L. L. J. biol. Chem. 258, 10233–10239 (1983).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Schlegel, W., Kempner, E. S. & Rodbell, M. J. biol. Chem. 254, 5168–5176 (1979).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Martin, B. R., Stein, J. M., Kennedy, E. L., Doberska, C. A. & Metcalfe, J. C. Biochem. J. 184, 253–260 (1979).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. Skorecki, K., Verkman, A. S., Jung, C. Y. & Ausiello, D. A. Am. J. Physiol. 250, C115–C123 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Sahyoun, N. E., LeVine, H., III, David, J., Hebdon, G. M. & Cuatrecasas, P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 6158–6162 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Cherskey, B. C., Zadunaisky, J. A. & Murphy, R. B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 6401–6405 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  88. Insel, P. A. & Kennedy, M. S. Nature 273, 471–473 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Rasenick, M. M., Stein, P. J. & Bitensky, M. L. J. Nature 294, 560–562 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Carlson, K. E., Woolkalis, M. J., Newhouse, M. G. & Manning, D. R. Molec. Pharmacol. 30, 463–468 (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Smigel, M. J. biol. Chem. 261, 1976–1982 (1986).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Stevens, C. Nature 328, 198–199, 1987.

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Jurnak, F. Science 230, 32–36 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. la Cour, T. F. M., Nyborg, J., Thirup, S. & Clark, B. F. C. EMBO J. 4, 2385–2388 (1985).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  95. Hurley, J. B., Simon, M. I. & Teplow, D. B. Science 226, 860–862 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. West, R. E., Moss, J., Vaughan, M., Liu, T. & Liu, T. Y. J. biol. Chem. 260, 14429–14430 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  97. Winslow, J. W., Bradley, J. D., Smith, J. A. & Neer, E. J. J. biol. Chem. 262, 4501–4507 (1987).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Shlatz, L. J., Schwartz, I. L., Kinne-Saffran, E. & Kinne, R. J. mem. Biol. 24, 131–144 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Dominguez, P., Velasco, G., Barros, F. & Lazo P. S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 6965–6969 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Neer, E. J., Pulsifer, L. & Wolf, L. G. J. biol. Chem. (in the press).

  101. Van Dop, C., Tsubokawa, M., Bourne, H. R. & Ramachandran, J. J. biol. Chem. 259, 696–698 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Katada, T., Bokoch, G. M., Smigel, M. D., Ui, M. & Gilman, A. G. J. biol. Chem. 259, 3586–3595 (1984).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Hescheler, J., Rosenthal, W., Trautwein, W. & Schultz, G. Nature 325, 445–447 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Ross, E. M. J. biol. Chem. 256, 1949–1953 (1981).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Gierschik, P., Codina, J., Simons, C., Birnbaumer, L. & Spiegel, A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 727–731 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. Rodbell, M. Nature 284, 17–22 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Bourne, H. R. Nature 325, 296–297 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Neer, E., Clapham, D. Roles of G protein subunits in transmembrane signalling. Nature 333, 129–134 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333129a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333129a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing