Abstract
In response to environmental stress cells often generate pH signals that serve to protect vital cellular components and reprogram gene expression for survival. A major barrier to our understanding of this process has been the identification of signaling proteins that detect changes in intracellular pH. To identify candidate pH sensors we developed a computer algorithm that searches proteins for networks of proton-binding sidechains. This analysis indicates that Gα subunits, the principal transducers of G protein-coupled receptor signals, are pH sensors. Our structure-based calculations and biophysical investigations reveal that Gα subunits contain networks of pH-sensing sidechains buried between their Ras and helical domains. We show further that proton binding induces changes in conformation that promote Gα phosphorylation and suppress receptor-initiated signaling. Together, our computational, biophysical and cellular analyses reveal a new and unexpected function for G proteins as mediators of stress-response signaling.
