Activation of B-Raf and regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by the Go alpha chain

Many receptors coupled to the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o proteins stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The role of the α chains of these G proteins in MAPK activation is poorly understood. We investigated the ability of Gαo to regulate MAPK activity by transient expression of the activated mutant Gαo-Q205L in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Gαo-Q205L was not sufficient to activate MAPK but greatly enhanced the response to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This effect was not associated with changes in the state of tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Gαo-Q205L also potentiated MAPK stimulation by activated Ras. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, EGF receptors activate B-Raf but not Raf-1 or A-Raf. We found that expression of activated Gαo stimulated B-Raf activity independently of the activation of the EGF receptor or Ras. Inactivation of protein kinase C and inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase abolished both B-Raf activation and EGF receptor-dependent MAPK stimulation by Gαo. Moreover, Gαo-Q205L failed to affect MAPK activation by fibroblast growth factor receptors, which stimulate Raf-1 and A-Raf but not B-Raf activity. These results suggest that Gαo can regulate the MAPK pathway by activating B-Raf through a mechanism that requires a concomitant signal from tyrosine kinase receptors or Ras to efficiently stimulate MAPK activity. Further experiments showed that receptor-mediated activation of Gαo caused a B-Raf response similar to that observed after expression of the mutant subunit. The finding that Gαo induces Ras-independent and protein kinase C-and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent activation of B-Raf and conditionally stimulates MAPK activity provides direct evidence for intracellular signals connecting this G protein subunit to the MAPK pathway.