Characterization of Heterotrimeric G Protein γ4 Subunit in Rice.

Heterotrimeric G proteins are the molecule switch that transmits information from external signals to intracellular target proteins in mammals and yeast cells. In higher plants, heterotrimeric G proteins regulate plant architecture. Rice harbors one canonical α subunit gene (), four extra-large GTP-binding protein genes (XLGs), one canonical β-subunit gene (), and five γ-subunit genes (tentatively designated , , ///, ////, and /) as components of the heterotrimeric G protein complex. Among the five γ-subunit genes, encodes the canonical γ-subunit, encodes a plant-specific type of γ-subunit with additional amino acid residues at the N-terminus, and the remaining three γ-subunit genes encode atypical γ-subunits with cysteine-rich C-termini. We characterized the //// gene product Gγ4 in the wild type (WT) and truncated protein Gγ4∆Cys in the //// mutant, , as littele information regarding the native Gγ4 and Gγ4∆Cys proteins is currently available. Based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, immunoprecipitated Gγ4 candidates were confirmed as actual Gγ4. Similar to α-(Gα) and β-subunits (Gβ), Gγ4 was enriched in the plasma membrane fraction and accumulated in the developing leaf sheath. As //// mutants exhibited dwarfism, tissues that accumulated Gγ4 corresponded to the abnormal tissues observed in //// mutants.