Role of G proteins in activation of phosphoinositide phospholipase C.

The pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins that stimulate phosphoinositide phospholipase C consist of 42- and 43-kDa alpha-subunits, 35-kDa beta-subunits and 8-kDa gamma-subunits. The alpha-subunits have been identified as alpha q and alpha 11, and both specifically stimulate the beta 1 isozyme of the phospholipase. Activation of Ca(2+)-mobilizing receptors in liver plasma membranes selectively induces the labelling of alpha q and alpha 11 by [alpha-32P]GTP-azidoanilide. Reconstitution of Gq and G11 with M1 muscarinic receptor and the beta 1 isozyme allows GTP gamma S-dependent stimulation of PtdInsP2 hydrolysis by carbachol. These data establish unequivocally that Gq and G11 function as the transducing G proteins for Ca(2+)-mobilizing receptors.