Contents of this article

Useful Tools
Measurement of Agonist-Stimulated [35S]GTPγS Binding to Assess Total G-Protein and Gα-Subtype-Specific Activation by G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
Abstract
On activation, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) exert many of their cellular actions through promotion of guanine nucleotide exchange on the Gα-subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins to release free Gα-GTP and βγ-subunits. In membrane preparations, GTP can be substituted by 35S-labeled guanosine 5′-O-(3-thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTγS) and on agonist stimulation a stable [35S]GTPγS-Gα complex will form and accumulate. Separation of 35S-bound GTPγS-Gα complexes from free [35S]GTPγS allows differences between basal and agonist-stimulated rates of [35S]GTPγS-Gα complex formation to be used to obtain pharmacological information on receptor-G-protein information transfer. Further, by releasing Gα-subunits into solution following the [35S]GTPγS binding step, Gα-subunit-specific antibodies can be used to investigate the Gα-protein subpopulations activated by receptors by immunoprecipitation of [35S]GTPγS-Gα complexes and quantification by scintillation counting. Here we describe a total [35S]GTPγS binding assay and a modification of this method that incorporates a Gα-specific immunoprecipitation step.
Affiliation(s): (2) Novartis Horsham Research Center, Horsham, West Sussex, UK
(3) Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Series: Methods in Molecular Biology  |  Volume: 259  |  Pub. Date: Mar-01-2004  |  Page Range: 197-206  |  DOI: 10.1385/1-59259-754-8:197
Subject:  Cell Biology
Comments (Loading...)
Loading...