Gα(s) is palmitoylated at the N-terminal glycine

Covalent lipid attachments are essential co- and post-translational modifications for signalling proteins. Gα(s), the α-subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein that activates adenylyl cyclase, is known to be palmitoylated at the third N-terminal amino acid, a cysteine. Palmitoylation is involved in anchoring Gα(s) to the membrane by increasing its intrinsic hydrophobicity. We identified by mass spectrometry a second, functionally even more important, covalent modification. It consists of another palmitoyl residue attached to the preceding glycine (Gly(2)). Palmitoylation at this position has profound consequences for levels of signal transduction. It sensitizes the cell up to 200-fold for adenylyl cyclase-stimulating agents. The inhibitory inputs mediated by Gα(i) are downregulated to <10%. Thereby, Gly(2)-palmitoylation of Gα(s) relieves cellular stimulation at the level of adenylyl cyclase whereas it renders the inhibitory modulation via Gα(i) more difficult.