Phosphorylation of Gi protein by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibits its dissociation into alpha-subunits and beta gamma-subunits by Mg2+ and GTP gamma S.

Pretreatment of partially purified inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi, 41 kDa) with activated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) decreases its ADP-ribosylation by islet-activating protein (pertussis toxin, IAP). We examined whether this decrease was associated with dissociation of the trimer of alpha beta gamma-subunits of Gi protein into alpha-subunits and beta gamma-subunits. Results showed that phosphorylation of the Gi protein by PKA impaired its dissociation into alpha-subunits and beta gamma-subunits by 50 mM Mg2+ and 100 microM GTP gamma S. The results suggested that phosphorylation of the Gi protein by PKA possibly caused a conformational change of the trimer Gi protein.