Evidence That the Pertussis Toxin-sensitive Trimeric GTP-binding Protein Gi2 Is Required for Agonist- and Store-activated Ca2+ Inflow in Hepatocytes (∗)

The role of a trimeric GTP-binding protein (G-protein) in the mechanism of vasopressin-dependent Ca2+ inflow in hepatocytes was investigated using both antibodies against the carboxyl termini of trimeric G-protein α subunits, and carboxyl-terminal α-subunit synthetic peptides. An anti-Gi1−2α antibody and a Gi2α peptide (Gi2α Ile345-Phe355), but not a Gi3α peptide (Gi3α Ile344-Phe354), inhibited vasopressin- and thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ inflow, had no effect on vasopressin-stimulated release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and caused partial inhibition of thapsigargin-stimulated release of Ca2+. An anti-Gqα antibody also inhibited vasopressin-stimulated Ca2+ inflow and partially inhibited vasopressin-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Immunofluorescence measurements showed that Gi2α is distributed throughout much of the interior of the hepatocyte as well as at the periphery of the cell. By contrast, Gq/11α was found principally at the cell periphery. It is concluded that the trimeric G-protein, Gi2, is required for store-activated Ca2+ inflow in hepatocytes and acts between the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (presumably adjacent to the plasma membrane) and the receptor-activated Ca2+ channel protein(s) in the plasma membrane.