GPCRs regulate the assembly of a multienzyme complex for purine biosynthesis

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit exogenous signals to the nucleus, promoting a myriad of biological responses via multiple signaling pathways in both normal and cancer cells. However, little is known about the response in cytosolic metabolic pathways to GPCR-mediated signaling. Here, we applied fluorescent live-cell imaging and label-free dynamic mass redistribution assays to study whether purine metabolism is associated with GPCR signaling. By screening a library of GPCR ligands in conjunction with live-cell imaging of a metabolic multienzyme complex for de novo purine biosynthesis, the purinosome, we demonstrated that the activation of endogenous G(αi)-coupled receptors correlates with purinosome assembly/disassembly in native HeLa cells. Given the implications of GPCRs in mitogenic signaling as well as the purinosome in controlling metabolic flux via de novo purine biosynthesis, we hypothesize that regulation of purinosome assembly/disassembly may represent one of downstream events of mitogenic GPCR signaling in human cancer cells.