G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that couple to the Gα family of G proteins are key regulators of cell and tissue physiology. Our previous work has revealed new roles for Gα in regulating the migration of neutrophils and fibrosarcoma cells downstream of activated chemoattractant receptors. Here, we used an intact cell proximity–based labeling coupled to tandem mass tag (TMT)–based quantitative proteomics analysis to identify proteins that selectively interacted with the GTP-bound form of Gα. Multiple targets were identified and validated with a BioID2-tagged, constitutively active Gα mutant, suggesting a network of interactions for activated Gα proteins in intact cells. We showed that active Gα, ... More
G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that couple to the Gα family of G proteins are key regulators of cell and tissue physiology. Our previous work has revealed new roles for Gα in regulating the migration of neutrophils and fibrosarcoma cells downstream of activated chemoattractant receptors. Here, we used an intact cell proximity–based labeling coupled to tandem mass tag (TMT)–based quantitative proteomics analysis to identify proteins that selectively interacted with the GTP-bound form of Gα. Multiple targets were identified and validated with a BioID2-tagged, constitutively active Gα mutant, suggesting a network of interactions for activated Gα proteins in intact cells. We showed that active Gα, but not Gα, stimulated one candidate protein, PDZ-RhoGEF (PRG), despite more than 85% sequence identity between the G proteins. We also demonstrated in primary human neutrophils that active Gα likely regulated the polarization of phosphorylated myosin light chain, a process critical for migration, through the activation of PRG. The identification and characterization of new targets directly or indirectly regulated by Gα will aid in the investigation of the functional roles of Gα-coupled GPCRs in multiple biological processes.
