G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) that couple to Gi/o proteins modulate neurotransmission presynaptically by inhibiting exocytosis. Release of Gβγ subunits from activated G proteins decreases the activity of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs), decreasing excitability. A less understood Gβγ-mediated mechanism downstream of Ca2+ entry is the binding of Gβγ to SNARE complexes, which facilitate the fusion of vesicles with the cell plasma membrane in exocytosis. Here, we generated mice expressing a form of the SNARE protein SNAP25 with premature truncation of the C terminus and that were therefore partially deficient in this interaction. SNAP25Δ3 homozygote mice exhibited normal presynaptic inhibition by GABAB receptors, which inhibit VGCCs, but defective presynaptic inhibition by receptors that work directly on the SNARE complex, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 5-HT1b receptors and adrenergic α2a receptors. Simultaneously stimulating receptors that act through both mechanisms showed synergistic inhibitory effects. SNAP25Δ3 homozygote mice had various behavioral phenotypes, including increased stress-induced hyperthermia, defective spatial learning, impaired gait, and supraspinal nociception. These data suggest that the inhibition of exocytosis by Gi/o-coupled GPCRs through the Gβγ-SNARE interaction is a crucial component of numerous physiological and behavioral processes.

Specificity for signaling by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is achieved by both targeting and isoform diversity. The inactive PKA holoenzyme has two catalytic (C) subunits and a regulatory (R) subunit dimer (R 2 :C 2 ). Although the RIα, RIIα, and RIIβ isoforms are well studied, little is known about RIβ. We show here that RIβ is enriched selectively in mitochondria and hypothesized that its unique biological importance and functional nonredundancy will correlate with its structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering showed that the overall shape of RIβ 2 :C 2 is different from its closest homolog, RIα 2 :C 2 . The full-length RIβ 2 :C 2 crystal structure allows us to visualize all the domains of the PKA holoenzyme complex and shows how isoform-specific assembly of holoenzyme complexes can create distinct quaternary structures even though the R 1 :C 1 heterodimers are similar in all isoforms. The creation of discrete isoform-specific PKA holoenzyme signaling "foci" paves the way for exploring further biological roles of PKA RIβ and establishes a paradigm for PKA signaling.structural biology | signal transduction | allostery C yclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) regulates a plethora of biological events that extend from development and differentiation to memory, ion transport, and metabolism. The inactive PKA holoenzyme is composed of a regulatory (R) subunit dimer and two catalytic (C) subunits. Binding of cAMP to the R-subunits unleashes the C-subunits, thereby allowing phosphorylation of PKA substrates. Specificity of PKA signaling is achieved in large part by the isoform diversity of its R-subunits. There are two classes of R-subunits, RI and RII, which are subclassified into α and β subtypes. Each isoform is encoded by a unique gene and is functionally nonredundant. RIα-null mice display early embryonic lethality (1), whereas RIIβ-null mice have a lean phenotype and are resistant to diet-induced diabetes (2). Specific isoforms also are expressed differently in cells and tissues. The RIβ isoform is expressed abundantly in brain and spinal cord (3-5). Hippocampal slices from RIβ-null mice show a severe deficit in long-term potentiation and also in long-term depression and memory. Although RIα protein levels are increased in these mice, the hippocampal function is not rescued, suggesting a unique role for RIβ, which is the least studied Rsubunit (6, 7). Most localization studies have focused on the differences between RI and RII and showed that RI isoforms are diffused mainly in the cytoplasm, whereas RIIs typically are associated with membranous organelles. More than 50 A kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs) have been identified as targeting PKA to a specific subcellular location (8). The only potential AKAP that binds preferentially to the RIβ isoform identified so far is the neurofibromatosis 2 tumor suppressor protein, merlin (9).All R isoforms share the same domain organization, which includes a docking and dimerization (D/D) domain followed by an inhibitor sequence and two cAMP-binding domains (Fig. 1E)....

Spatial and temporal regulation of neurotransmitter release is a complex process accomplished by the exocytotic machinery working in tandem with numerous regulatory proteins. G-protein ␤␥ dimers regulate the core process of exocytosis by interacting with the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein-25 (SNAP-25), syntaxin 1A, and synaptobrevin. G␤␥ binding to ternary SNAREs overlaps with calcium-dependent binding of synaptotagmin, inhibiting synaptotagmin-1 binding and fusion of the synaptic vesicle. To further explore the binding sites of G␤␥ on SNAP-25, peptides based on the sequence of SNAP-25 were screened for G␤␥ binding. Peptides that bound G␤␥ were subjected to alanine scanning mutagenesis to determine their relevance to the G␤␥-SNAP-25 interaction. Peptides from this screen were tested in protein-protein interaction assays for their ability to modulate the interaction of G␤␥ with SNAP-25. A peptide from the C terminus, residues 193 to 206, significantly inhibited the interaction. In addition, Ala mutants of SNAP-25 residues from the C terminus of SNAP-25, as well as from the amino-terminal region decreased binding to G␤ 1 ␥ 1 . When SNAP-25 with eight residues mutated to alanine was assembled with syntaxin 1A, there was significantly reduced affinity of this mutated t-SNARE for G␤␥, but it still interacted with synaptotagmin-1 in a Ca 2ϩ -dependent manner and reconstituted evoked exocytosis in botulinum neurotoxin E-treated neurons. However, the mutant SNAP-25 could no longer support 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated inhibition of exocytosis.

Gβγ dimers are one of the essential signaling units of activated G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). There are five Gβ and twelve Gγ subunits in humans; numerous studies have demonstrated that different Gβ and Gγ subunits selectively interact to form unique Gβγ dimers, which in turn may target specific receptors and effectors. Perturbation of Gβγ signaling can lead to impaired physiological responses. Moreover, previous targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) studies of Gβ and Gγ subunits have shown distinct regional and subcellular localization patterns in four brain regions. Nevertheless, no studies have quantified and compared their individual protein levels. In this study, we have developed a quantitative MRM method to not only quantify but also compare the protein abundance of neuronal Gβ and Gγ subunits. In whole and fractionated crude synaptosomes, we were able to identify the most abundant neuronal Gβ and Gγ subunits and their subcellular localizations. For example, Gβ1 was mostly localized at the membrane while Gβ2 was evenly distributed throughout synaptosomal fractions. The protein expression levels and subcellular localizations of Gβ and Gγ subunits may affect the Gβγ dimerization and Gβγ-effector interactions. This study offers not only a new tool to quantify and compare Gβ and Gγ subunits, but also new insights into the in vivo distribution of Gβ and Gγ subunits, and Gβγ dimer assembly in normal brain function.