Return of the GDI: The GoLoco motif in cell division

Francis S. Willard, Randall J. Kimple, David P. Siderovski

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

166 Scopus citations

Abstract

The GoLoco motif is a 19-amino-acid sequence with guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor activity against G-alpha subunits of the adenylyl-cyclase-inhibitory subclass. The GoLoco motif is present as an independent element within multidomain signaling regulators, such as Loco, RGS12, RGS14, and Rap1GAP, as well as in tandem arrays in proteins, such as AGS3, G18, LGN, Pcp-2/L7, and Partner of Inscuteable (Pins/Rapsynoid). Here we discuss the biochemical mechanisms of GoLoco motif action on G-alpha subunits in light of the recent crystal structure of G-alpha-il bound to the RGS14 GoLoco motif. Currently, there is sparse evidence for GoLoco motif regulation of canonical G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Rather, studies of asymmetric cell division in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as mammalian mitosis, implicate GoLoco proteins, such as Pins, GPR-1/GPR-2, LGN, and RGS14, in mitotic spindle organization and force generation. We discuss potential mechanisms by which GoLoco/Gα complexes might modulate spindle dynamics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)925-952
Number of pages28
JournalAnnual Review of Biochemistry
Volume73
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004

Keywords

  • Asymmetric cell division
  • Guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors
  • Heterotrimeric G proteins
  • RGS proteins

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