Identification of multiple Gi subtypes and a novel G protein in bovine kidney cortex

GTP-binding proteins in luminal and basolateral membranes from pars convoluta and pars recta of rabbit kidney proximal tubule

The GTP-binding proteins on luminal and basolateral membrane vesicles from outer cortex (pars convoluta) and outer medulla (pars recta) of rabbit proximal tubule have been examined. The membrane vesicles were highly purified, as ascertained by electron microscopy, by measurements of marker enzymes, and by investigating segmental-specific transport systems. The [35S]GTP gamma S binding to vesicles, and to sodium cholate-extracted proteins from vesicles, indicated that the total content of GTP-binding proteins were equally distributed on pars convoluta, pars recta luminal and basolateral membranes. The membranes were ADP-ribosylated with [32P]NAD+ in the presence of pertussis toxin and cholera toxin. Gel electrophoresis revealed, for all preparations, the presence of cholera toxin [32P]ADP-ribosylated 42 and 45 kDa G alpha s proteins, and pertussis toxin [32P]ADP-ribosylated 41 kDa G alpha i1, 40 kDa G alpha i2 and 41 kDa G alpha i3 proteins. The 2D electrophoresis indicated that Go's were not present in luminal nor in basolateral membranes of pars convoluta or pars recta of rabbit proximal tubule.

Localization and polar distribution of several G-protein subunits along nephron segments

Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) are heterotrimeric proteins involved in signal transduction in epithelia. In addition to possessing a polarized epithelium the nephron is composed of well defined segments, each with distinct receptors, transporters and other functions. Since different G-proteins interact with different receptors, a differential distribution of the various G-protein subunits would be expected. To investigate this possibility, polyclonal antipeptide antibodies to several G-protein subunits were used to examine the distribution of these proteins in nephron segments and their localization to apical or basal membrane domains. Immunoblotting of cortical membrane vesicles demonstrated the presence of G-proteins in both the brush border and basolateral membrane. Staining with G alpha common and G alpha s antibodies demonstrated more of these G-protein subunits in the brush border than basolateral membrane. G-protein beta subunits were also present in greater quantity in brush border membranes. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated good antigenic preservation and basically confirmed the results of immunoblotting of renal cortex. G-proteins were also found to be differentially distributed in the medulla, the amounts increasing with proximity to inner medulla. Only G alpha s and G beta subunits were demonstrated in glomeruli, but all subunits examined were detected in brush borders of proximal and apical membrane of distal tubules in cortex. In outer medulla G alpha s was detected in both basolateral and brush borders of some tubules and only brush borders of others, G alpha i2 and G beta were found in brush border and G alpha i3 was not detected in this area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Localization of several G-protein subunits to the apical and basolateral membranes of cortical tubular cells from the rat kidney

Dopamine was shown to affect Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in basolateral membranes of the rat kidney via a pertussis toxin dependent mechanism. In order to examine if some form of pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein is present exclusively in the basolateral membrane of the rat renal cortex we examined the G-protein composition of both apical and basolateral membrane vesicles. Western blots showed an essentially uniform distribution of G alpha total, G alpha S and G beta over the two membranes. Go could not be detected with western blot technique in the vesicle preparations. By contrast, the distribution of ADP-ribosylation with the bacterial toxins pertussis toxin and cholera toxin depended on the amount of detergent in the assay and perhaps other factors, and thus could not be used to evaluate the relative amounts of G-protein subunits. Thus, in contrast to the situation in cultured renal cells, unequal distribution of receptor and G-protein substrates is apparently not paralleled by an unequal distribution of the detected forms of G-proteins under physiological conditions.