Coupling of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor to Gi protein in human reproductive tract tumors

The signaling pathway by which GnRH acts in peripheral tumors is distinct from that in the anterior pituitary. We attempted to identify the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (G protein) subtypes linked to GnRH receptor in the genital tract tumor membranes. Surgically removed ovarian carcinomas and uterine leiomyosarcomas were screened for GnRH receptor expression before plasma membrane isolation. The G alpha i was detected by immunoblotting of membrane extracts with specific antibody and pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Membrane phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity was determined as a GnRH-sensitive membrane event using synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl in a spectrophotometric assay. Pertussis toxin, but not cholera toxin, brought about ADP-ribosylation of an immunodetected G alpha i of 41 kDa in the GnRH receptor-positive tumor membrane. incubation with a GnRH analog and GTP decreased the ADP-ribosylation activity in a dose-dependent manner; a half-maximal effect occurred with 30 nmol/L buserelin (P < 0.01). The apparent inhibition by GnRH of the ADP-ribosylation demonstrated that GnRH resolved the alpha-subunit of the Gi to GTP-bound form in the membranes. The action of GnRH was neutralized by a competitive antagonist, antide. Pretreatment of the membrane with the pertussis toxin completely inhibited GnRH-sensitive phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity (P < 0.01). These data demonstrate the coupling of GnRH receptor to Gi protein subfamily. The Gi which couples GnRH receptor to the effector may define the difference of responses by peripheral tumor and the anterior pituitary.