Disease relevance of G-oalpha47A

• Immunolocalization studies revealed that the Go alpha and Gs alpha homologs are expressed at highest levels in neuropils and at intermediate levels in the cortex of all brain and thoracic ganglion areas [1].
• The alpha subunit of Go serves as a substrate for modification by pertussis toxin (PTX) [2].

High impact information on G-oalpha47A

• Here, we show roles for the Galpha(o) subunit (Go) in mediating the two distinct pathways transduced by Fz receptors in Drosophila: the Wnt and planar polarity pathways [3].
• The gene encoding the alpha subunit of the Drosophila Go protein is expressed early in embryogenesis in the precursor cells of the heart tube, of the visceral muscles, and of the nervous system [4].
• In particular, the heart does not form properly and interruptions in the heart epithelium are repeatedly observed, henceforth the brokenheart (bkh) name [4].
• In contrast to the wide distribution of Go alpha and Gs alpha, Gi alpha has a surprisingly restricted distribution in the CNS [1].
• Western blot analysis of membranes prepared from Drosophila heads indicates that antibodies specific for the Drosophila Go alpha and Gs alpha homologs recognize the appropriate protein species predicted by molecular cloning (Quan et al., 1989; Thambi et al., 1989) [1].

Biological context of G-oalpha47A

• The deduced amino acid sequences of the two proteins are 81% identical to that of a rat Go alpha subunit [5].
• A Drosophila melanogaster gene (dgo) encoding a G protein alpha subunit has been isolated by screening genomic and adult head cDNA libraries using bovine transducin alpha subunit cDNA as probe [5].
• This observation, in addition to Northern analysis, suggests that alternate splicing may generate a variety of Go alpha-like proteins in Drosophila [2].
• One class, which we call DG alpha 0, hybridized to position 47A on the second chromosome of Drosophila [6].
• This tissue distribution of plc-21 transcripts is identical to the distribution of transcripts from a Drosophila Go alpha-subunit gene that we reported previously [7].

Anatomical context of G-oalpha47A

• The heterotrimeric protein Go is required for the formation of heart epithelium in Drosophila [4].
• Additionally, Gs alpha appears to be associated with the cell membranes of neuronal cell bodies, while Go alpha has a more diffuse distribution, suggesting its presence in the cytoplasm as well as cell membranes [1].
• Immunological and molecular characterization of Go alpha-like proteins in the Drosophila central nervous system [2].
• DG alpha 0 message and protein were also detected in the antennae, oocytes, and ovarian nurse cells [6].
• As expected from the absence of Go alpha in photoreceptors, pertussis toxin does not affect the photoreceptor component of the Drosophila visual response [8].

Physical interactions of G-oalpha47A

• Thus, Go is likely part of a trimeric G protein complex that directly transduces Fz signals from the membrane to downstream components [3].

Other interactions of G-oalpha47A

• This set includes Galpha15, Galpha16, Galphaq, and chimeric Galphaq proteins with the last few amino acids of either Galphai2 (Galphaqi), Galphao (Galphaqo), or Galphaz (Galphaqz) [9].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of G-oalpha47A

• In situ hybridization of specific probes to tissue sections indicates that the mRNAs coding for Go alpha-like proteins in Drosophila are expressed primarily in neuronal cell bodies and, at lower levels, in the eyes [2].

References