Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 97, Issue 18, Pages 9984-9989Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.180194597
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Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL45181, R01 HL045181] Funding Source: Medline
- NIDA NIH HHS [R01 DA011649, DA11649] Funding Source: Medline
- NIMH NIH HHS [MH36262] Funding Source: Medline
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Heterotrimeric G proteins mediate the earliest step in cell responses to external events by linking cell surface receptors to intracellular signaling pathways. G(z) is a member of the G(i) family of G proteins that is prominently expressed in platelets and brain. Here, we show that deletion of the a subunit of G(z) in mice: (i) impairs platelet aggregation by preventing the inhibition of cAMP formation normally seen at physiologic concentrations of epinephrine, and (ii) causes the mice to be more resistant to fatal thromboembolism. Loss of G(z alpha) also results in greatly exaggerated responses to cocaine, reduces the analgesic effects of morphine, and abolishes the effects of widely used antidepressant drugs that act as catecholamine reuptake inhibitors. These changes occur despite the presence of other G(i alpha) family members in the same cells and are not accompanied by detectable compensatory changes in the level of expression of other G protein subunits. Therefore, these results provide insights into receptor selectivity among G proteins and a model for understanding platelet function and the effects of psychoactive drugs.
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