Rhes and AGS1/Dexras1 affect signaling by dopamine D1 receptors through adenylyl cyclase

The GTP binding proteins Rhes and AGS1/Dexras1 define a subfamily of the Ras superfamily and have been shown to affect signaling by G-protein-coupled receptors. We tested the effects of both proteins at an early stage of signaling by dopamine receptors, activation of adenylyl cyclase. Rhes decreased dopamine D1 receptor agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. It had no effect on cAMP accumulation in the absence of agonist. AGS1/Dexras1, on the other hand, decreased cAMP accumulation in both vehicle-treated and agonist-treated cells, resulting in a higher percentage of stimulation by agonist or a higher signal-to-noise ratio. The effects of AGS1/Dexras1 on cAMP accumulation were not blocked by pertussis toxin, suggesting that it may produce these effects through interaction with a G(α) i monomer. Both Rhes and AGS1/Dexras1 were associated with GTP-bound G(α) i in pull-down assays. However, Rhes had no effect on the ability of activated D2 receptor to inhibit cAMP. Neither Rhes nor AGS1/Dexras1 interacted with the D1 receptor in pull-down assays. These findings show that, in addition to its well-known effects on signaling through Gi-coupled receptors, AGS1/Dexras1 can affect signaling through a Gs/olf-coupled receptor. Furthermore, the results suggest that Rhes exerts some of its effects by interacting with G(α) i.