HIKE, a candidate protein binding site for PH domains, is a major regulatory region of Gbeta proteins

Abstract

HIKE is a highly conserved sequence motif that selectively occurs in proteins candidate to bind PH domains, e.g., the beta subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins, kinases, ankyrin and kinesin. Thus, the HIKE region has been predicted to be a protein docking site for PH domains. This work evidentiates recent experimental evidence that unambiguously defines the functional role of HIKE in Gbeta as a multiple effector docking site and as a major regulatory region of G protein's function. Indeed, the Gbeta HIKE interacts with the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase, Galpha, Ggamma, adenylyl cyclase 2, phospholipase C beta2, inward rectifier K channels, calcium channel alpha1B, calmodulin, phosducin, ste20. Quite interestingly, HIKE is located in the Gbeta region that faces the cell membrane. Thus, HIKE also interacts with the cell membrane and may dynamically regulate membrane vs effector binding of the Galphabetagamma trimer. These findings fulfill a major prediction of the HIKE model, i.e., that HIKE is a regulatory region for protein-protein interactions. A role of HIKE as a proteic binding site for PH domains is supported by the profound influence of HIKE mutations on the largely PH-mediated binding of beta-ARK to Gbeta.