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Published May 1992 | public
Journal Article

Evolution of the mammalian G protein α subunit multigene family

Abstract

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) transduce extracellular signals received by transmembrane receptors to effector proteins. The multigene family of G protein α subunits, which interact with receptors and effectors, exhibit a high level of sequence diversity. In mammals, 15 Gα subunit genes can be grouped by sequence and functional similarities into four classes. We have determined the murine chromosomal locations of all 15 Gα subunit genes using an interspecific backcross derived from crosses of C57BI/6J and Mus spretus mice. These data, in combination with mapping studies in humans, have provided insight into the events responsible for generating the genetic diversity found in the mammalian α subunit genes and a framework for elucidating the role of the Gα subunits in disease.

Additional Information

© 1992 Nature Publishing Group. Received 18 February; Accepted 9 March 1992. We thank B. Cho, D. Swing and A. Fertitta for technical assistance, S. Mauerer for PCR identification of a Gq class psuedogene on human chromosome 2, H. Jiang for isolating genomic mouse Gna-11 lamda clones, R. Perlmutter, J. Hurley and M. Strathmann for cDNA clones, Y. Tachiiri of the Hamamatsu Corporation for help with computer enhanced image analysis, J. Chen for critical comments on the manuscript. This research was supported in part, by a NIH postdoctoral fellowship (T.M.W), Public Health Service Grant (M.I.S), and by the National Cancer Institute (D.J.G, N.A.J, and N.G.C.). Work at LLNL was performed under the auspices of US DOE. J.R.K. is supported in part by grants from the Public Health Service and the American Health Assistance Foundation, the Alzheimer Association and the National Foundation.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 23, 2023