Mutations on the Switch III region and the alpha3 helix of Galpha 16 differentially affect receptor coupling and regulation of downstream effectors

Gα16 can activate phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) directly like Gαq. It also couples to tetratricopeptide repeat 1 (TPR1) which is linked to Ras activation. It is unknown whether PLCβ and TPR1 interact with the same regions on Gα16. Previous studies on Gαq have defined two minimal clusters of amino acids that are essential for the coupling to PLCβ. Cognate residues in Gα16 might also be essential for interacting with PLCβ, and possibly contribute to TPR1 interaction and other signaling events.