Heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gγ13 is critical to olfaction

J Neurosci. 2013 May 1;33(18):7975-84. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5563-12.2013.

Abstract

The activation of G-protein-coupled olfactory receptors on the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) triggers a signaling cascade, which is mediated by a heterotrimeric G-protein consisting of α, β, and γ subunits. Although its α subunit, Gαolf, has been identified and well characterized, the identities of its β and γ subunits and their function in olfactory signal transduction, however, have not been well established yet. We, and others, have found the expression of Gγ13 in the olfactory epithelium, particularly in the cilia of the OSNs. In this study, we generated a conditional gene knock-out mouse line to specifically nullify Gγ13 expression in the olfactory marker protein-expressing OSNs. Immunohistochemical and Western blot results showed that Gγ13 subunit was indeed eliminated in the mutant mice's olfactory epithelium. Intriguingly, Gαolf, β1 subunits, Ric-8B and CEP290 proteins, were also absent in the epithelium whereas the presence of the effector enzyme adenylyl cyclase III remained largely unaltered. Electro-olfactogram studies showed that the mutant animals had greatly reduced responses to a battery of odorants including three presumable pheromones. Behavioral tests indicated that the mutant mice had a remarkably reduced ability to perform an odor-guided search task although their motivation and agility seemed normal. Our results indicate that Gαolf exclusively forms a functional heterotrimeric G-protein with Gβ1 and Gγ13 in OSNs, mediating olfactory signal transduction. The identification of the olfactory G-protein's βγ moiety has provided a novel approach to understanding the feedback regulation of olfactory signal transduction pathways as well as the control of subcellular structures of OSNs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Electrooculography / methods
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Evoked Potentials / genetics
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
  • GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Marker Protein / metabolism
  • Olfactory Mucosa / metabolism
  • Olfactory Pathways / cytology
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / physiology
  • Reaction Time / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Smell / genetics
  • Smell / physiology*

Substances

  • G-protein Beta gamma
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
  • GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits
  • GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits
  • Ggamma13 protein, mouse
  • Olfactory Marker Protein
  • Omp protein, mouse
  • olfactory G protein subunit alpha olf
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins