G-protein beta gamma forms: identity of beta and diversity of gamma subunits

Signal-transducing G-proteins are heterotrimers composed of GTP-binding alpha subunits in association with a tightly bound complex of beta and gamma subunits. While the alpha subunits are recognized as a family of diverse structures, beta and gamma subunits have also been found as heterogeneous isoforms. To investigate the diversity and tissue specificity of the beta gamma complexes, we have examined homogeneous oligomeric G-proteins from a variety of sources. The beta and gamma subunits isolated from the major-abundance G-proteins from bovine brain, bovine retina, rabbit liver, human placenta, and human platelets were purified and subjected to biochemical and immunological analysis. Protease mapping and immune recognition revealed an identical profile for each of the two distinctly migrating beta isoforms (beta 36 and beta 35) regardless of tissue or G-protein origin. Digestion with V8 protease revealed four distinct, clearly resolved terminal fragments for beta 36 and two for beta 35. Trypsin and chymotrypsin digestion yielded numerous bands, but again each form had a unique profile with no tissue specificity. Tryptic digestion was found to be conformationally specific with the most resistant structure being the native beta gamma complex. With increasing trypsin, the complex was digested but in a pattern distinct from that for denatured beta. In contrast to the two highly homologous beta structures, examination of this set of proteins revealed at least six distinct gamma peptides. Two unique gamma peptides were found in bovine retinal Gt and three gamma peptides in samples of bovine brain derived Go/Gi. Human placental and platelet Gi samples each contained a unique gamma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)