G-protein inhibition of phospholipase C-β1 in membranes: role of G-protein βγ subunits

Rat liver plasma membranes reconstituted with bovine brain phospholipase C β₁ (PLC-β₁) exhibit a dual regulation of PLC-β₁ activity by G-proteins. Guanosine 5´-[γ-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]; 0.1 nM) produced a 20-25% inhibition of PLC-β₁ activity within 7 min of incubation. The addition of vasopressin resulted in near-basal levels of activity in the presence of 0.1 nM GTP[S]. Clonidine had little effect on the net inhibition due to GTP[S]. A similar antagonism between carbachol and GTP[S] occurred in cerebral cortical membranes containing endogenous PLC-β₁ activity. α_o/i-GDP (a mixture of GDP-liganded G_oα and G_iα) attenuated the GTP[S]-dependent inhibition of PLC-β₁ whereas α_o/i-GTP[S] had no effect, suggesting an involvement of G-protein βγ subunits in the inhibition of PLC-β₁. Low concentrations of βγ subunits inhibited PLC-β₁ activity. Inhibition was followed by reversal to basal activity and onset of stimulation as the βγ concentration was increased. Inhibition by βγ was dependent on the presence of membranes. These results indicate that G-protein βγ subunits constitute a mechanism by which G-proteins mediate a rapid and transient inhibition of PLC-β₁.