High level expression of transfected G protein alpha i3 subunit is required for plasma membrane targeting and adenylyl cyclase inhibition in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Heterotrimeric G-proteins associate with microtubules during differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells

Tubulin modifies G-protein signaling and heterotrimeric G-proteins regulate microtubule assembly. Here we report an interplay among G-protein-coupled receptor and receptor tyrosine kinase (such as nerve growth factor-NGF) signaling systems in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells that resulted in a translocation of Galpha(s), Galpha(i1), and Galpha(o) from cell bodies to cellular processes where they appear to localize with tubulin-containing structures. This relocation appeared to depend on the integrity of microtubules, as it was blocked and reversed by nocodazole. Latrunculin, which promotes actin filament depolymerization, had no effect. Both deconvolution microscopy and immunoprecipitation showed a significant increase of Galpha association with microtubules that was coincident with the extension of "neurites." There were distinctions among the Galpha subtypes, with Galpha(s) showing the most profound NGF-induced colocalization with tubulin. Translocation of Galpha was blocked by agents that inhibit the MAP kinases required for neuronal differentiation, suggesting that G-protein relocation is triggered by the intracellular signals for differentiation. Consistent with this, Galpha in Neuro-2A cells, which spontaneously differentiate, showed a similar translocation coincident with differentiation. Thus, diverse signals that promote neuronal differentiation and changes in cell morphology may use specific G-proteins to evoke cytoskeletal rearrangement.

Gi/Go couple met-enkephalin to inhibition of cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation of lacrimal secretion

PURPOSE

To determine whether G-protein-mediated inhibition of secretion by met-enkephalin involves cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent events and to identify the G proteins that couple met-enkephalin to inhibition of lacrimal secretion.

METHODS

Secretion of protein was measured in 3-day primary cultures of rabbit lacrimal acini exposed to vehicle, the cholinergic agonist carbachol (Cch), the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Isop), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), or forskolin (FSK) with or without the enkephalin analog D-ala2-met-enkephalinamide (DALA). In separate experiments, cells were pretreated with pertussis toxin or polyclonal antibodies against the alpha subunits of Gi/Go to determine the physiologic role of G proteins in met-enkephalin inhibition of the release of lacrimal protein. Adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity was measured by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase binding assay in lacrimal membranes in response to the same agonists used in the secretion studies.

RESULTS

Cch resulted in a significant increase in protein release from cultured lacrimal acini. Increased secretion also occurred with Isop, VIP, and FSK. Cch- and Isop-stimulated secretion was inhibited by DALA to near-basal values. However, DALA did not inhibit VIP- or FSK-stimulated secretion. The inhibitory effect of DALA on Cch and Isop stimulation of secretion was reversed by pertussis toxin. Inhibition of Cch-stimulated secretion was blocked by antibody specific to a common peptide sequence of Gialpha1 and Gialpha2 but was not blocked by anti-Gialpha1 antibody. The inhibitory effect on Cch-stimulated secretion was also blocked by anti-Gialpha3 and anti-Goalpha. Similar experiments resulted in a reversal of DALA inhibition of beta-adrenergic stimulation of secretion by immunoneutralization of Gialpha1/2 and Goalpha but not by immunoneutralization of Gialpha1 or Gialpha3. VIP, Isop, and FSK significantly stimulated AC. However, Cch had no effect on the activity of the enzyme. In addition, DALA had no effect on AC activity under any conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that enkephalin inhibition of cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation of secretion is mediated by Gi2, Gi3, and Go. The effector coupled by the G proteins is not AC. However, we suggest a role for met-enkephalin in G-protein-coupled modulation of ion channels important for cholinergic and beta-adrenergic stimulation of lacrimal secretion.

Heterotrimeric Gi protein is associated with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor complex and modulates calcium flux

In vascular smooth muscle, pertussis toxin (PT) inhibits thrombin-induced Ca2+ release by a mechanism independent of its effect on IP3 formation. Thus, the possibility of a direct role of G alpha i proteins in regulating IP3-sensitive Ca2+ release was investigated by examining whether G alpha i proteins are associated with the IP3 receptor complex. Purified microsomal membranes were prepared and separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The relative density of [3H]-IP3 binding sites between the microsomal fractions was inversely related to the distribution of the plasma membrane marker. The relative distribution of G alpha i3 determined by immunoblotting was closely correlated with the density of [3H]-IP3 binding. Levels of G alpha i2 were more evenly distributed with highest levels present in plasma membrane-enriched fractions. IP3 receptor immunoprecipitated from triton-solubilized microsomal membranes contained G alpha i3 immunoreactivity. To determine whether G alpha i proteins influence IP3-induced Ca2+ release, the effect of PT on Ca2+ release from digitonin-permeabilized cell suspensions using Fluo-3 was examined. Exposure to PT (0.1 microgram/ml, 5 min) attenuated the initial rate of IP3 (1 microM)-induced Ca2+ release. Together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a heterotrimeric G alpha i protein directly regulates IP3-dependent Ca2+ release.

Inhibition of an inward rectifier potassium channel (Kir2.3) by G-protein betagamma subunits

The molecular basis of G-protein inhibition of inward rectifier K+ currents was examined by co-expression of G-proteins and cloned Kir2 channel subunits in Xenopus oocytes. Channels encoded by Kir2.3 (HRK1/HIR/BIRK2/BIR11) were completely suppressed by co-expression with G-protein betagamma subunits, whereas channels encoded by Kir2. 1 (IRK1), which shares 60% amino acid identity with Kir2.3, were unaffected. Co-expression of Galphai1 and Galphaq subunits also partially suppressed Kir2.3 currents, but Galphat, Galphas, and a constitutively active mutant of Galphail (Q204L) were ineffective. Gbetagamma and Kir2.3 subunits were co-immunoprecipitated using an anti-Kir2.3 antibody. Direct binding of G-protein betagamma subunits to fusion proteins containing Kir2.3 N terminus, but not to fusion proteins containing Kir2.1 N terminus, was also demonstrated. The results are consistent with suppression of Kir2.3 currents resulting from a direct protein-protein interaction between the channel and G-protein betagamma subunits. When Kir2.1 and Kir2.3 subunits were coexpressed, the G-protein inhibitory phenotype of Kir2.3 was dominant, suggesting that co-expression of Kir2.3 with other Kir subunits might give rise to novel G-protein-inhibitable inward rectifier currents.

Guanine nucleotide exchange on heterotrimeric Gi3 protein controls autophagic sequestration in HT-29 cells

Recent results have shown that autophagic sequestration in the human colon cancer cell line HT-29 is controlled by the pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric Gi3 protein. Here we show that transfection of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the alphai3-subunit markedly inhibits autophagic sequestration, whereas transfection of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the alphai2-subunit does not change the rate of autophagy in HT-29 cells. Autophagic sequestration was arrested in cells transfected with a mutant of the alphai3-subunit (Q204L) that is restricted to the GTP-bound form. In Q204L-expressing cells, 3-methyladenine-sensitive degradation of long lived [14C]valine-labeled proteins was severely impaired and could not be stimulated by nutrient deprivation. Autophagy was also reduced when dissociation of the betagamma dimer from the GTP-bound alphai3-subunit was impaired in cells transfected with the G203A mutant. In contrast, a high rate of pertussis toxin-sensitive autophagy was observed in cells transfected with an alphai3-subunit mutant (S47N) which has an increased guanine nucleotide exchange rate and increased preference for GDP over GTP. Cells that express pertussis toxin-insensitive mutants of either wild-type alphai3-subunit (C351S) or S47N alphai3-subunit (S47N/C351S) exhibit a high rate of autophagy.

Activation-induced subcellular redistribution of Gs alpha

We have examined the subcellular distribution of alpha s, the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein Gs, by using immunofluorescence microscopy. In transiently transfected HEK293 cells, wild-type alpha s localizes to the plasma membrane. However, a mutationally activated alpha s (alpha sR201C) is diffusely distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Similarly, cholera toxin activation of alpha s causes it to redistribute from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm in stably transfected cells. In HEK293 cells stably transfected with alpha s and the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR), stimulation of the beta-AR by the agonist isoproterenol also causes a translocation of alpha s from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm. Replacing the agonist with antagonist allows alpha s to return to the plasma membrane, demonstrating the reversibility of alpha s translocation. Receptor-activated alpha s does not colocalize with internalized beta-AR at endosomes. Incubation of cells in hypertonic sucrose to inhibit clathrin-coated pit-mediated endocytosis of agonist-activated beta-AR failed to block agonist-stimulated redistribution of alpha s. These findings demonstrate that activated alpha s reversibly undergoes a translocation from the plasma membrane to cytoplasm and begin to address the relationship between regulated trafficking of a seven-transmembrane receptor and its cognate G protein.

Role of myristoylation in membrane attachment and function of G alpha i-3 on Golgi membranes

Heterotrimeric G protein alpha-subunits localized on the cytoplasmic face of Golgi membranes are involved in regulating vesicle trafficking and protein secretion. We investigated the role of myristoylation in attachment of the G alpha i-3 subunit to Golgi membranes. G alpha i-3 was epitope-tagged by insertion of a FLAG sequence at an NH2-terminal site predicted to interfere with myristoylation, and the resulting NT-alpha i-3 construct was stably transfected and expressed in polarized epithelial LLC-PK1 cells. Metabolic labeling confirmed that the translation product of NT-alpha i-3 was not myristoylated. In contrast to endogenous G alpha 1-3, which is tightly bound to Golgi membranes, the unmyristoylated FLAG-tagged NT-alpha i-3 did not attach to membranes; it was localized by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm of LLC-PK1 cells and was detected only in the cytosol fraction of cell homogenates. Pertussis toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation was used to test the ability of NT-alpha i-3 to interact with membrane-bound beta gamma-subunits. In both in vitro and in vivo assays, cytosolic NT-alpha i-3 alone was not ADP-ribosylated, although in the presence of membranes it could interact with G beta gamma-subunits to form heterotrimers. The expression of NT-alpha i-3 in LLC-PK1 cells altered the rate of basolateral secretion of sulfated proteoglycans, consistent with the demonstrated function of endogenous G alpha i-3. These data are consistent with a model in which G alpha i-3 utilizes NH2-terminal myristoylation to bind to Golgi membranes and to maximize its interaction with G beta gamma-subunits. Furthermore, our results show that stable attachment of G alpha i-3 to Golgi membranes is not required for it to participate as a regulatory element in vesicle trafficking in the secretory pathway.

Adenylyl cyclase inhibition and altered G protein subunit expression and ADP-ribosylation patterns in tissues and cells from Gi2 alpha-/-mice

The inhibition of alpha i2-/- mouse cardiac isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC; EC 4.6.1.1) activity by carbachol and that of alpha i2-/- adipocyte AC by phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA), prostaglandin E2, and nicotinic acid were partially, but not completely, inhibited. While the inhibition of cardiac AC was affected in all alpha i2-/- animals tested, only 50% of the alpha i2-/- animals showed an impaired inhibition of adipocyte AC, indicative of a partial penetrance of this phenotype. In agreement with previous results, the data show that Gi2 mediates hormonal inhibition of AC and that Gi3 and/or Gi1 is capable of doing the same but with a lower efficacy. Disruption of the alpha i2 gene affected about equally the actions of all the receptors studied, indicating that none of them exhibits a striking specificity for one type of Gi over another and that receptors are likely to he selective rather than specific in their interaction with functionally homologous G proteins (e.g., Gi1, Gi2, Gi3). Western analysis of G protein subunit levels in simian virus 40-transformed primary embryonic fibroblasts from alpha i2+/+ and alpha i2-/- animals showed that alpha i2 accounts for about 50% of the immunopositive G protein alpha subunits and that loss of the alpha i2 is accompanied by a parallel reduction in G beta 35 and G beta 36 subunits and by a 30-50% increase in alpha i3. This suggests that G beta-gamma levels may be regulated passively through differential rates of turnover in their free vs. trimeric states. The existence of compensatory increase(s) in alpha i subunit expression raises the possibility that the lack of effect of a missing alpha i2 on AC inhibition in adipocytes of some alpha i2-/- animals may be the reflection of a more pronounced compensatory expression of alpha i3 and/or alpha i1.

G proteins in adipocytes and preadipocytes: characterization, subcellular distribution, and potential roles for Gi2 and/or Gi3 in the control of cell proliferation

Guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein subunits were studied by immunoblot analysis in particulate fractions from mature adipocytes, confluent preadipocytes, and in vitro-differentiated preadipocytes. Mature adipocytes express Gi alpha 1, Gi alpha 2, Gi alpha 3, Go alpha, Gq/11 alpha, G13 alpha and the long and short isoforms of Gs alpha, but no Gz alpha or G12 alpha. Confluent and differentiated preadipocytes differ in having a higher content of Gi alpha 3 and G13 alpha and expressing G12 alpha. In contrast, they lack Gi alpha 1, Go alpha, and the short from of Gs alpha. The G-protein alpha subunits Gi alpha 2, Gs alpha (long isoform), and Gq/11 alpha, and G-protein beta subunits were unchanged throughout the differentiation process. By immunoblot and indirect immunofluorescence studies on confluent preadipocytes, we showed that Gi alpha 2 is present in the endoplasmic reticulum and marginally in plasma membranes and nuclei. In contrast, antibodies to Gi alpha 3 stained the Golgi apparatus. The role of G proteins on preadipocyte proliferation was studied using Bordetella pertussis toxin. Exposure of growing cells to this toxin in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation by 40% and induced a 40% increase in doubling time. This resulted in a 30% decrease in cell number per well after 48 h. These effects of B. pertussis toxin did not appear to be related to an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration, because forskolin had the opposite effect on cell proliferation. Finally, B. pertussis toxin prevented serum-induced Raf1 association to the plasma membrane, possibly by disrupting FCS-induced G beta gamma effects on the Ras/Raf1 pathway. Since Go alpha and Gi alpha 1 subunits were absent in preadipocytes, we conclude that Gi2 and/or Gi3 proteins transduce some mitogenic signals of FCS through release of G beta gamma subunits. The subcellular distribution of Gi alpha 2 and Gi alpha 3 suggests that part of their functions result from interactions with components other than the plasma membrane.

GAIP, a protein that specifically interacts with the trimeric G protein G alpha i3, is a member of a protein family with a highly conserved core domain

Using the yeast two-hybrid system we have identified a human protein, GAIP (G Alpha Interacting Protein), that specifically interacts with the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G alpha i3. Interaction was verified by specific binding of in vitro-translated G alpha i3 with a GAIP-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. GAIP is a small protein (217 amino acids, 24 kDa) that contains two potential phosphorylation sites for protein kinase C and seven for casein kinase 2. GAIP shows high homology to two previously identified human proteins, GOS8 and 1R20, two Caenorhabditis elegans proteins, CO5B5.7 and C29H12.3, and the FLBA gene product in Aspergillus nidulans--all of unknown function. Significant homology was also found to the SST2 gene product in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is known to interact with a yeast G alpha subunit (Gpa1). A highly conserved core domain of 125 amino acids characterizes this family of proteins. Analysis of deletion mutants demonstrated that the core domain is the site of GAIP's interaction with G alpha i3. GAIP is likely to be an early inducible phosphoprotein, as its cDNA contains the TTTTGT sequence characteristic of early response genes in its 3'-untranslated region. By Northern analysis GAIP's 1.6-kb mRNA is most abundant in lung, heart, placenta, and liver and is very low in brain, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and kidney. GAIP appears to interact exclusively with G alpha i3, as it did not interact with G alpha i2 and G alpha q. The fact that GAIP and Sst2 interact with G alpha subunits and share a common domain suggests that other members of the GAIP family also interact with G alpha subunits through the 125-amino-acid core domain.

Immunocytochemical studies of the Gi protein mediated muscarinic receptor-adenylyl cyclase system

The localization of three key signal transduction components was indicated in rat heart tissue by immunocytochemical and histochemical experiment. It was shown that: 1. The M2 muscarinic receptors are localized along outer cell membranes and T-tubule membranes of cardiomyocytes but additionally at membranes of endothelial cells and fibroblasts. 2. Gia was found along outer cell membranes of cardiomyocytes and other cells of the heart and also inside the cells of the perinuclear space in close contact to the nuclei envelope and the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Goa were found to be associated mainly in atrial tissue, especially at the nerval (neuronal) endings located among the cardiac muscle cells. This was shown in parallel incubation with specific neuronal antibody as a marker for these structures. 3. Adenylyl cyclase was localized along the sarcolemma and the T-tubule membranes in normal cardiomyocytes of rat and guinea pig hearts. Under ischemic conditions, the adenylyl cyclase was also seen in junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The reasons for this changed localization need further elucidation. Binding of the adenylyl cyclase within the molecular structure of the membrane or variation of the marker penetration remain to be clarified.

A heterotrimeric Gi3-protein controls autophagic sequestration in the human colon cancer cell line HT-29

Human colon cancer HT-29 cells exhibit a differentiation-dependent autophagic-lysosomal pathway that is responsible for the degradation of a pool of newly synthesized N-linked glycoproteins in undifferentiated cells. In the present study, we have investigated the molecular control of this degradative pathway in undifferentiated HT-29 cells. For this purpose, we have modulated the function and expression of the heterotrimeric G-proteins (Gs and Gi) in these cells. After pertussis toxin treatment which ADP-ribosylates heterotrimeric Gi-proteins, we observed an inhibition of autophagic sequestration and the complete restoration of the passage of N-linked glycoproteins through the Golgi complex. In contrast, autophagic sequestration was not reduced by cholera toxin, which acts on heterotrimeric Gs-proteins. Further insights on the nature of the pertussis toxin-sensitive alpha subunit controlling autophagic sequestration were obtained by cDNA transfections of alpha i subunits. Overexpression of the alpha i3 subunit increased autophagic sequestration and degradation in undifferentiated cells, whereas overexpression of the alpha i2 subunit, the only other pertussis toxin-sensitive alpha subunit expressed in HT-29 cells, did not alter the rate of autophagy.

Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by galanin in rat insulinoma cells is mediated by the G-protein Gi3

Galanin inhibits adenylate cyclase activity and insulin secretion and modulates ion channels in pancreatic beta-cells through pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-protein(s). Antibodies directed against the C-terminal region of specific G-protein alpha-subunits were used to determine which G-protein(s) couple galanin receptors to inhibition of adenylate cyclase in the rat insulinoma cell line RINm5F. Preincubation of membranes with EC antibody (anti-alpha i3) decreased the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by galanin (100 nM) by 45% compared with control IgG (P < 0.05) whereas preincubation with AS (anti-alpha i1, alpha i2) or GO (anti-alpha o) antibodies had no significant effect. To confirm these results, RINm5F cells were exposed intermittently over a 4-day period to phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides that were either sense or antisense to alpha i1, alpha i2, alpha i3 or alpha o. Oligodeoxynucleotides antisense to alpha i2, alpha i3 and alpha o specifically decreased the levels of the targeted alpha-subunit in membranes. alpha i1 was undetectable in these cells. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by galanin was largely abolished in membranes from cells exposed to the oligodeoxynucleotide antisense to alpha i3, whereas all other oligodeoxynucleotides had no significant effect on this pathway. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting of specific membrane fractions with EC antibody show significant localization of alpha i3 to intracellular membrane compartments. These results suggest that Gi3 is the G protein that couples galanin receptors to inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in RINm5F cells.

Lateral mobility of tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) labelled G protein alpha and beta gamma subunits in NG 108-15 cells

Multi-step signal transducing events, such as those mediated by G proteins, have been difficult to study in intact cells. We prepared fluorescently labelled G protein subunits, tetramethylrhodamine-alpha o (TMR-alpha o) and TMR-beta gamma, in order to study their subcellular distribution and lateral mobility. Heterotrimeric G proteins labelled in the alpha (TMR-alpha o/beta gamma) or beta (TMR-beta gamma/alpha o) subunit were reconstituted into lipid vesicles and fused to NG-108-15 cells using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Vesicles fused completely to the cells as determined by dequenching of a fluorescent lipid probe, octadecyl rhodamine B. The orientation of G protein beta gamma subunits after fusion followed the expected random distribution; the quenching of surface fluorescence with anti-fluorescein antibodies showed that about 50% of the label was accessible extracellularly. G proteins incorporated by the fusion method were able to couple to endogenous alpha 2 adrenergic receptors based on the restoration of high affinity agonist binding to pertussis toxin-treated cells. The subcellular localization of TMR-alpha o and TMR-beta gamma determined by differential centrifugation and confocal microscopy indicated that TMR-alpha o was present in the plasma membrane and in intracellular membranes, whereas TMR-beta gamma was mainly localized in the plasma membrane. The lateral mobility of TMR-alpha o and TMR-beta gamma measured using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrated low mobile fractions of 0.34 +/- 0.03 and 0.16 +/- 0.03, respectively. The translational diffusion coefficients of the mobile components were similar, 4.0 x 10(-9) and 2.0 x 10(-9) cm2/s, for alpha and beta gamma respectively. Neither activation of Gi-linked receptors nor cytoskeletal disruption with nocodozole or cytochalasin D changed the mobile fraction or diffusion coefficient of the alpha or beta gamma subunits. The FRAP data combined with the localization of fluorescent subunits by confocal microscopy suggest that the beta gamma subunits are highly constrained to localized regions of the plasma membrane while the alpha subunit may diffuse in intracellular regions to transmit signals from receptors to effector proteins.

Stable changes in expression or activation of G protein alpha i or alpha q subunits affect the expression of both beta 1 and beta 2 subunits

G proteins consist of three subunits: alpha, beta and gamma. Four beta subunits have been cloned: beta 1 and beta 4 (36 kDa), and beta 2 and beta 3 (35 kDa). We studied endogenous beta subunits in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts stably expressing high levels of G protein alpha subunits after transfection with cDNAs encoding alpha i1, alpha i2, alpha i3 and alpha q. Immunoblots showed that NIH 3T3 cells express beta 36 and beta 35 subunits; in these cells, beta 35 subunits are four times more abundant than beta 36 subunits. We could detect beta 1 and beta 2 mRNA, but neither beta 3 nor beta 4 mRNA. We found that a stable increase in expression of wild-type alpha i1, alpha i2, alpha i3 or alpha q subunits is always accompanied by an increase in beta 1 and beta 2 mRNA and protein levels. There was no evidence of selectivity for an increase in beta 1 rather than beta 2 subunits depending on the type of alpha subunit overexpressed. However, constitutive activation or inactivation of alpha subunits induced specific changes in beta subunits. Expression of constitutively inactivated alpha i2 subunits was accompanied by an increase in mRNA and protein levels of both beta subunits. In contrast, cells expressing constitutively activated alpha i2 subunits did not show any change in the amount of beta proteins expressed in membranes, despite a significant increase in beta 1 and beta 2 mRNA. We conclude that stable changes in the levels of expression or degree of activation of G alpha subunits affect the level of expression, and possibly the turn-over, of beta subunits, without selectivity among beta 1 and beta 2 subunits.

Mitogenic effects of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein alpha subunits: the mitogenic action of alpha i2 in NIH 3T3 cells is mimicked by alpha i1, but not alpha i3

In fibroblasts and other cell types, pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibits DNA synthesis in response to serum and certain growth factors. GTPase deficient forms of the PTX-sensitive G-protein alpha i2 subunit have been shown to induce partial transformation in fibroblasts. In order to determine whether other PTX-sensitive G-proteins can stimulate mitogenic pathways, we stably expressed constitutively activated G-protein alpha i1 and alpha i3 subunits in NIH 3T3 cells. Expression of activated alpha i1, alpha i2 or alpha i3 results in inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in intact cells. Constitutively activated alpha i1, but not alpha i3, induces a loss of contact inhibition, a loss of anchorage-dependence, a reduced serum requirement and a decreased doubling time in NIH 3T3 cells. We conclude that alpha i1 and alpha i2 are both capable of transducing mitogenic signals, but that alpha i3 is not involved in the regulation of fibroblast growth. Furthermore, adenylyl cyclase inhibition is clearly not sufficient to explain the effect of alpha i2 on fibroblast growth.