G-Protein Phosphorylation: Aspects of Binding Specificity and Function in the Plant Kingdom

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jun 11;23(12):6544. doi: 10.3390/ijms23126544.

Abstract

Plant survival depends on adaptive mechanisms that constantly rely on signal recognition and transduction. The predominant class of signal discriminators is receptor kinases, with a vast member composition in plants. The transduction of signals occurs in part by a simple repertoire of heterotrimeric G proteins, with a core composed of α-, β-, and γ-subunits, together with a 7-transmembrane Regulator G Signaling (RGS) protein. With a small repertoire of G proteins in plants, phosphorylation by receptor kinases is critical in regulating the active state of the G-protein complex. This review describes the in vivo detected phosphosites in plant G proteins and conservation scores, and their in vitro corresponding kinases. Furthermore, recently described outcomes, including novel arrestin-like internalization of RGS and a non-canonical phosphorylation switching mechanism that drives G-protein plasticity, are discussed.

Keywords: AGB1; AGG; G protein; GPA1; RGS; XLG; kinase; phosphorylation; regulation; structure.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / metabolism
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins* / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants / metabolism
  • RGS Proteins* / genetics
  • RGS Proteins* / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits
  • Plant Proteins
  • RGS Proteins
  • Phosphotransferases
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins