Persistent membrane association of activated and depalmitoylated G protein α subunits

Heterotrimeric signal-transducing G proteins are organized at the inner surface of the plasma membrane, where they are positioned to interact with membrane-spanning receptors and appropriate effectors. G proteins are activated when they bind GTP and inactivated when they hydrolyze the nucleotide to GDP. However, the topological fate of activated G protein α subunits is disputed. One model declares that depalmitoylation of α, which accompanies activation by a receptor, promotes release of the protein into the cytoplasm. Our data suggest that activation of G protein α subunits causes them to concentrate in subdomains of the plasma membrane but not to be released from the membrane. Furthermore, α subunits remained bound to the membrane when they were activated with guanosine 5′-(3-O-thio)triphosphate and depalmitoylated with an acyl protein thioesterase. Limitation of α subunits to the plasma membrane obviously restricts their mobility and may contribute to the efficiency and specificity of signaling.