NCAM180 Regulates Ric8A Membrane Localization and Potentiates β-Adrenergic Response

Activator of G protein signaling 3 forms a complex with resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase-8A without promoting nucleotide exchange on Gα(i3)

Activator of G protein signaling 3 (AGS3) is a guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) which stabilizes the Gα(i/o) subunits as an AGS3/Gα(i/o)-GDP complex. It has recently been demonstrated in reconstitution experiments that the AGS3/Gα(i/o)-GDP complex may act as a substrate of resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8A (Ric-8A), a guanine exchange factor (GEF) for heterotrimeric Gα proteins. Since the ability of Ric-8A to activate Gα(i/o) subunits that are bound to AGS3 in a cellular environment has not been confirmed, we thus examined the effect of Ric-8A on cAMP accumulation in HEK293 cells expressing different forms of AGS3 and Gα(i3). Co-immunoprecipitation assays indicate that full-length AGS3 and its N- and C-terminal truncated mutants can interact with Ric-8A in HEK293 cells. Yeast two-hybrid assay further confirmed that Ric-8A can directly bind to AGS3S, a short form of AGS3 which is endogenously expressed in heart. However, Ric-8A failed to facilitate Gα(i)-induced suppression of adenylyl cyclase, suggesting that it may not serve as a GEF for AGS3/Gα(i/o)-GDP complex in a cellular environment.

The G protein α chaperone Ric-8 as a potential therapeutic target

Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase (Ric-8)A and Ric-8B are essential genes that encode positive regulators of heterotrimeric G protein α subunits. Controversy persists surrounding the precise way(s) that Ric-8 proteins affect G protein biology and signaling. Ric-8 proteins chaperone nucleotide-free Gα-subunit states during biosynthetic protein folding prior to G protein heterotrimer assembly. In organisms spanning the evolutionary window of Ric-8 expression, experimental perturbation of Ric-8 genes results in reduced functional abundances of G proteins because G protein α subunits are misfolded and degraded rapidly. Ric-8 proteins also act as Gα-subunit guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) in vitro. However, Ric-8 GEF activity could strictly be an in vitro phenomenon stemming from the ability of Ric-8 to induce partial Gα unfolding, thereby enhancing GDP release. Ric-8 GEF activity clearly differs from the GEF activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). G protein βγ is inhibitory to Ric-8 action but obligate for receptors. It remains an open question whether Ric-8 has dual functions in cells and regulates G proteins as both a molecular chaperone and GEF. Clearly, Ric-8 has a profound influence on heterotrimeric G protein function. For this reason, we propose that Ric-8 proteins are as yet untested therapeutic targets in which pharmacological inhibition of the Ric-8/Gα protein-protein interface could serve to attenuate the effects of disease-causing G proteins (constitutively active mutants) and/or GPCR signaling. This minireview will chronicle the understanding of Ric-8 function, provide a comparative discussion of the Ric-8 molecular chaperoning and GEF activities, and support the case for why Ric-8 proteins should be considered potential targets for development of new therapies.

Ablation of RIC8A function in mouse neurons leads to a severe neuromuscular phenotype and postnatal death

Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 (RIC8) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor required for the intracellular regulation of G protein signalling. RIC8 activates different Gα subunits via non-canonical pathway, thereby amplifying and prolonging the G protein mediated signal. In order to circumvent the embryonic lethality associated with the absence of RIC8A and to study its role in the nervous system, we constructed Ric8a conditional knockout mice using Cre/loxP technology. Introduction of a synapsin I promoter driven Cre transgenic mouse strain (SynCre) into the floxed Ric8a (Ric8a (F/F) ) background ablated RIC8A function in most differentiated neuron populations. Mutant SynCre (+/-) Ric8 (lacZ/F) mice were born at expected Mendelian ratio, but they died in early postnatal age (P4-P6). The mutants exhibited major developmental defects, like growth retardation and muscular weakness, impaired coordination and balance, muscular spasms and abnormal heart beat. Histological analysis revealed that the deficiency of RIC8A in neurons caused skeletal muscle atrophy and heart muscle hypoplasia, in addition, the sinoatrial node was misplaced and its size reduced. However, we did not observe gross morphological changes in brains of SynCre (+/-) Ric8a (lacZ/F) mutants. Our results demonstrate that in mice the activity of RIC8A in neurons is essential for survival and its deficiency causes a severe neuromuscular phenotype.

Ric-8 regulation of heterotrimeric G proteins

Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 proteins (Ric-8A and Ric-8B) collectively bind the four classes of heterotrimeric G protein α subunits. Ric-8A and Ric-8B act as non-receptor guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) toward the Gα subunits that each binds in vitro and seemingly regulate diverse G protein signaling systems in cells. Combined evidence from worm, fly and mammalian systems has shown that Ric-8 proteins are required to maintain proper cellular abundances of G proteins. Ric-8 proteins support G protein levels by serving as molecular chaperones that promote Gα subunit biosynthesis. In this review, the evidence that Ric-8 proteins act as non-receptor GEF activators of G proteins in signal transduction contexts will be weighed against the evidence supporting the molecular chaperoning function of Ric-8 in promoting G protein abundance. I will conclude by suggesting that Ric-8 proteins may act in either capacity in specific contexts. The field awaits additional experimentation to delineate the putative multi-functionality of Ric-8 towards G proteins in cells.

Fine-tuning of GPCR signals by intracellular G protein modulators

Heterotrimeric G proteins convey receptor signals to intracellular effectors. Superimposed over the basic GPCR-G protein-effector scheme are three types of auxiliary proteins that also modulate Gα. Regulator of G protein signaling proteins and G protein signaling modifier proteins respectively promote GTPase activity and hinder GTP/GDP exchange to limit Gα activation. There are also diverse proteins that, like GPCRs, can promote nucleotide exchange and thus activation. Here we review the impact of these auxiliary proteins on GPCR signaling. Although their precise physiological functions are not yet clear, all of them can produce significant effects in experimental systems. These signaling changes are generally consistent with established effects on isolated Gα; however, the activation state of Gα is seldom verified and many such changes appear also to reflect the physical disruption of or indirect effects on interactions between Gα and its associated GPCR, Gβγ, and/or effector.