Expression and Purification of Mini G Proteins from Escherichia coli

Abstract

Heterotrimeric G proteins modulate intracellular signalling by transducing information from cell surface G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to cytoplasmic effector proteins. Structural and functional characterisation of GPCR–G protein complexes is important to fully decipher the mechanism of signal transduction. However, native G proteins are unstable and conformationally dynamic when coupled to a receptor. We therefore developed an engineered minimal G protein, mini-Gs, which formed a stable complex with GPCRs, and facilitated the crystallisation and structure determination of the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) in its active conformation. Mini G proteins are potentially useful tools in a variety of applications, including characterising GPCR pharmacology, binding affinity and kinetic experiments, agonist drug discovery, and structure determination of GPCR–G protein complexes. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the expression and purification of mini-Gs.