The classical view of heterotrimeric G protein signaling places G proteins at the cytoplasmic surface of the cell’s plasma membrane where they are activated by an appropriate G protein-coupled receptor. Once activated, the GTP-bound Gα and the free Gβγ are able to regulate plasma membrane-localized effectors, such as adenylyl cyclase, phospholipase C-β, RhoGEFs and ion channels. Hydrolysis of GTP by the Gα subunit returns the G protein to the inactive G αβγ heterotrimer. Although all of these events in the G protein cycle can be restricted to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, G protein localization is dynamic. Thus, it has become increasingly clear that G proteins are able to move to diverse subcellular locations where they perform non-canonical signaling functions. This chapter will highlight our current understanding of traf ficking pathways that target newly synthesized G proteins to the plasma membrane, activation-induced and reversible translocation of G proteins from the plasma membrane to intracellular locations, and constitutive traf ficking of G proteins.
CITATION STYLE
Wedegaertner, P. B. (2012). G Protein Traf ficking. Subcellular Biochemistry, 63, 193–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4765-4_11
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