The regulator of G protein signaling RGS4 selectively enhances alpha 2A-adreoreceptor stimulation of the GTPase activity of Go1alpha and Gi2alpha.

Agonist-stimulated high affinity GTPase activity of fusion proteins between the alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor and the alpha subunits of forms of the G proteins G(i1), G(i2), G(i3), and G(o1), modified to render them insensitive to the action of pertussis toxin, was measured following transient expression in COS-7 cells. Addition of a recombinant regulator of G protein signaling protein, RGS4, did not significantly affect basal GTPase activity nor agonist stimulation of the fusion proteins containing Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) but markedly enhanced agonist-stimulation of the proteins containing Galpha(i2) and Galpha(o1.) The effect of RGS4 on the alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(o1) fusion protein was concentration-dependent with EC(50) of 30 +/- 3 nm and the potency of the receptor agonist UK14304 was reduced 3-fold by 100 nm RGS4. Equivalent reconstitution with Asn(88)-Ser RGS4 failed to enhance agonist function on the alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(o1) or alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(i2) fusion proteins. Enzyme kinetic analysis of the GTPase activity of the alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(o1) and alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(i2) fusion proteins demonstrated that RGS4 both substantially increased GTPase V(max) and significantly increased K(m) of the fusion proteins for GTP. The increase in K(m) for GTP was dependent upon RGS4 amount and is consistent with previously proposed mechanisms of RGS function. Agonist-stimulated GTPase turnover number in the presence of 100 nm RGS4 was substantially higher for alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(o1) than for alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor-Galpha(i2). These studies demonstrate that although RGS4 has been described as a generic stimulator of the GTPase activity of G(i)-family G proteins, selectivity of this interaction and quantitative variation in its function can be monitored in the presence of receptor activation of the G proteins.