Regulator of G protein signaling proteins differentially modulate signaling of mu and delta opioid receptors

Effects of regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins on mu and delta opioid receptors were investigated in HEK293 cells. Co-expression of RGS1, RGS2, RGS4, RGS9, RGS10 or RGS19 (Galpha-interacting protein (GAIP)) significantly reduced [Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N-methyl-Phe-Gly-ol]-Enkephalin (DAMGO)-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (AC) mediated by mu opioid receptor, but only RGS9 decreased the effects of [Tyr-D-Pen-Gly-p-Chloro-Phe-D-Pen]-Enkephalin (DPDPE) mediated by delta opioid receptor. When C-tails of the receptors were exchanged (mu/deltaC and delta/muC chimeras), RGS proteins decreased delta/muC-mediated AC inhibition, but none had significant effects on that via mu/deltaC receptor. Thus, the C-terminal domains of the receptors are critical for the differential effects of RGS proteins, which may be due to differences in receptor-G protein-RGS protein interactions in signaling complexes.