Metabolically unstable proteins are involved in a multitude of regulatory networks, including those that control cell signaling, the cell cycle and in many responses to physiological stress. In the present study, we have deter-mined the stability and characterized the degradation process of some members of the Gq class of heterotrimeric G proteins. Pulse-chase experi-ments in HEK293 cells indicated a rapid turnover of endogenously expressed Gaq and overexpressed Gaq and Ga16 subunits.
