Ggamma-like (GGL) domains: new frontiers in G-protein signaling and beta-propeller scaffolding

The standard model of signal transduction from G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involves guanine nucleotide cycling by a heterotrimeric G-protein assembly composed of Galpha, Gbeta, and Ggamma subunits. The WD-repeat beta-propeller protein Gbeta and the alpha-helical, isoprenylated polypeptide Ggamma are considered obligate dimerization partners; moreover, conventional Gbetagamma heterodimers are considered essential to the functional coupling of Galpha subunits to receptors. However, our recent discovery of a Gbeta5 binding site (the Ggamma-like or "GGL" domain) within several regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins revealed the potential for functional GPCR/Galpha coupling in the absence of a conventional Ggamma subunit. In addition, we posit that the interaction between Gbeta5 isoforms and the GGL domains of RGS proteins represents a general mode of binding between beta-propeller proteins and their partners, extending beyond the realm of G-protein-linked signal transduction.