The human leukocyte chemoattractant receptors for complement factor C5a (C5a-R) and N-formylated peptides (fMLF-R) are important members of the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Uniquely among the GPCR, these two receptors cannot be expressed in a functionally active form in the oocytes of the frog Xenopus laevis, but require substitution of total RNA of the myelomonocytic U-937 or HL-60 cell lines, respectively. Recently, it was reported that the C5a-R may couple to the alpha subunit of G-16. We have tested this G-protein for its ability to complement the signal transduction cascade of the C5a-R and fMLF-R in Xenopus oocytes. Injection of cRNA for the C5a-R in combination with G alpha-16 led to expression of a functional C5a-R as measured by ligand-induced whole cell current. In contrast to a previous report, the fMLF-R exhibited some residual functional activity when transiently expressed in Xenopus oocytes the extent of which could, however, substantially be increased by coexpression of G alpha-16. Thus, G alpha-16 complements the signal transduction cascade of both receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes and is most likely the complementing factor present in the U-937 and HL-60 cell lines.