The DEP domain [1] is responsible for mediating intracellular protein targeting and regulation of protein stability in the cell [2-3]. The DEP domain is present in a number of signaling molecules, including Regulator of G protein Signaling (RGS) proteins, and has been implicated in membrane targeting [4-5]. New findings in yeast, however, demonstrate a major role for a DEP domain in mediating the interaction of an RGS protein to the C-terminal tail of a GPCR, thus placing RGS in close proximity with its substrate G protein alpha subunit [6-7].

1: Pleckstrin's repeat performance: a novel domain in G-protein signaling? Ponting CP, Bork P Trends Biochem Sci 1996;21:245-246. PMID:8755244

2: The DEP domain determines subcellular targeting of the GTPase activating protein RGS9 in vivo. Martemyanov KA, Lishko PV, Calero N, Keresztes G, Sokolov M, Strissel KJ, Leskov IB, Hopp JA, Kolesnikov AV, Chen CK, Lem J, Heller S, Burns ME, Arshavsky VY; J Neurosci 2003;23:10175-10181. PMID:14614075

3: Absence of the RGS9.Gbeta5 GTPase-activating complex in photoreceptors of the R9AP knockout mouse. Keresztes G, Martemyanov KA, Krispel CM, Mutai H, Yoo PJ, Maison SF, Burns ME, Arshavsky VY, Heller S; J Biol Chem 2004;279:1581-1584. PMID:14625292

4: Characterization of function of three domains in dishevelled-1: DEP domain is responsible for membrane translocation of dishevelled-1. Pan WJ, Pang SZ, Huang T, Guo HY, Wu D, Li L; Cell Res. 2004;14:324-330. PMID:15353129

5: D2 dopamine receptors colocalize regulator of G-protein signaling 9-2 (RGS9-2) via the RGS9 DEP domain, and RGS9 knock-out mice develop dyskinesias associated with dopamine pathways. Kovoor A, Seyffarth P, Ebert J, Barghshoon S, Chen CK, Schwarz S, Axelrod JD, Cheyette BN, Simon MI, Lester HA, Schwarz J; J Neurosci. 2005;25:2157-2165. PMID:15728856

6: DEP-domain-mediated regulation of GPCR signaling responses. Ballon DR, Flanary PL, Gladue DP, Konopka JB, Dohlman HG, Thorner J; Cell. 2006;126:1079-1093. PMID:16990133

7: DEP domains: More than just membrane anchors. Chen S, Hamm HE; Dev Cell. 2006;11:436-438. PMID:17011483