Browsing by Author "Lujan, Rafael"

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    Expression and localization of RGS9-2/G 5/R7BP complex in vivo is set by dynamic control of its constitutive degradation by cellular cysteine proteases
    (Society for Neuroscience, 2007-12-19) Anderson, Garret R.; Lujan, Rafael; Semenov, Arthur; Pravetoni, Marco; Posokhova, Ekaterina N.; Song, Joseph H.; Uversky, Vladimir; Chen, Ching-Kang; Wickman, Kevin; Martemyanov, Kirill A.; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine
    A member of regulator of G-protein signaling family, RGS9-2, is an essential modulator of signaling through neuronal dopamine and opioid G-protein-coupled receptors. Recent findings indicate that the abundance of RGS9-2 determines sensitivity of signaling in the locomotor and reward systems in the striatum. In this study we report the mechanism that sets the concentration of RGS9-2 in vivo, thus controlling G-protein signaling sensitivity in the region. We found that RGS9-2 possesses specific degradation determinants which target it for constitutive destruction by lysosomal cysteine proteases. Shielding of these determinants by the binding partner R7 binding-protein (R7BP) controls RGS9-2 expression at the posttranslational level. In addition, binding to R7BP in neurons targets RGS9-2 to the specific intracellular compartment, the postsynaptic density. Implementation of this mechanism throughout ontogenetic development ensures expression of RGS9-2/type 5 G-protein beta subunit/R7BP complexes at postsynaptic sites in unison with increased signaling demands at mature synapses.