Here we propose to identify and characterize a new class of signaling molecules critical for a core mechanism of cellular communication, i.e., signaling via trimeric G proteins. Trimeric G proteins play a pivotal role in a signal transduction mechanism that is conserved from yeast to humans and that constitutes the target for >25% of marketed drugs. Despite major advances in the last decades, the understanding of this signaling mechanism remains incomplete- the network of regulators that control trimeric G proteins has expanded beyond what the traditional view of this signaling pathway proposes. This has made evident that the regulation of trimeric G proteins is more complex than previously appreciated and that novel therapeutic targets may arise from the discovery of alternative mechanisms of G protein regulation. Our goal is to further the understanding of the G protein regulatory network by identifying a new family of activators, dissecting the molecular basis of their coupling to G proteins and characterizing the basic molecular mechanisms by which the prototype member of this family promotes cancer progression towards metastasis. Based on previous observations by us and others we hypothesize that a new family of non-receptor G protein activators is defined by the presence of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) motif and that these activators assemble alternative G protein signaling circuits involved in disease. These new activators are not necessarily membrane proteins and may work in lieu of or in parallel to the canonical activators, i.e., G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), thereby representing a detour from the classical view of this signaling pathway. The experiments in SA#1 are designed to identify and characterize novel non-receptor G protein activators with a GEF motif by using bioinformatics, high-throughput peptide array screening and functional assays in yeast. We have validated this overall approach by identifying and partially characterizing the physiological function for some of the predicted candidates. In SA#2 we propose experiments to understand the structural basis for how this new family of non-receptor GEFs bind and activate G proteins. Taken together, these studies will determine the basic molecular principles that define a whole new family of G protein regulators and will also generate the tools required for future mechanistic studies on them. Experiments proposed in SA#3 tests the general hypothesis that these non-receptor GEFs assemble alternative signaling circuits in disease for the particular case of GIV, the prototype member of this new family of GEFs. Our work to date suggests a model in which GIV-dependent activation of G proteins is required to assemble a signaling pathway linking stimulation of integrins by extracellular matrix proteins to the acquisition of pro-metastatic features by tumor cells. In summary, we hope to unravel a new general mechanism of G protein regulation with broad implications in disease by combining discovery-based and targeted mechanistic studies.

Public Health Relevance

The vast majority of diseases that severely afflict the public health (including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammation, Parkinson's) are consequence of derangements in the molecular mechanisms by which our cells respond to external stimuli. Here we propose studies to identify a new class of signaling molecules and investigate the mechanisms by which they influence human disease. This work will have broad biomedical implications by providing insight to understand, manipulate and target a new class of molecular interfaces that control aberrant signal transduction in disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM108733-01A1
Application #
8759306
Study Section
Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction Study Section (MIST)
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2014-09-01
Project End
2019-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Maziarz, Marcin; Leyme, Anthony; Marivin, Arthur et al. (2018) Atypical activation of the G protein G?q by the oncogenic mutation Q209P. J Biol Chem 293:19586-19599
Maziarz, Marcin; Broselid, Stefan; DiGiacomo, Vincent et al. (2018) A biochemical and genetic discovery pipeline identifies PLC?4b as a nonreceptor activator of heterotrimeric G-proteins. J Biol Chem 293:16964-16983
DiGiacomo, Vincent; Marivin, Arthur; Garcia-Marcos, Mikel (2018) When Heterotrimeric G Proteins Are Not Activated by G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Structural Insights and Evolutionary Conservation. Biochemistry 57:255-257
Martemyanov, Kirill A; Garcia-Marcos, Mikel (2018) Making useful gadgets with miniaturized G proteins. J Biol Chem 293:7474-7475
Maziarz, Marcin; Garcia-Marcos, Mikel (2017) Fluorescence polarization assays to measure interactions between G? subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins and regulatory motifs. Methods Cell Biol 142:133-143
DiGiacomo, Vincent; de Opakua, Alain Ibáñez; Papakonstantinou, Maria P et al. (2017) The G?i-GIV binding interface is a druggable protein-protein interaction. Sci Rep 7:8575
de Opakua, Alain Ibáñez; Parag-Sharma, Kshitij; DiGiacomo, Vincent et al. (2017) Molecular mechanism of G?i activation by non-GPCR proteins with a G?-Binding and Activating motif. Nat Commun 8:15163
Maziarz, Marcin; Garcia-Marcos, Mikel (2017) Rapid kinetic BRET measurements to monitor G protein activation by GPCR and non-GPCR proteins. Methods Cell Biol 142:145-157
Leyme, Anthony; Marivin, Arthur; Maziarz, Marcin et al. (2017) Specific inhibition of GPCR-independent G protein signaling by a rationally engineered protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E10319-E10328
Marivin, Arthur; Leyme, Anthony; Parag-Sharma, Kshitij et al. (2016) Dominant-negative G? subunits are a mechanism of dysregulated heterotrimeric G protein signaling in human disease. Sci Signal 9:ra37

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