G Protein Methods and Protocols: Role of G Proteins in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders

This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.

The G proteins are a family of structurally homologous, plasma membrane-associated guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins. These proteins play an integral role in the tra- duction of extracellular signals through second messenger systems. As such, G proteins affect a wide variety of intra cellular biochemical reactions by regulating the concent- tion of second messengers in cells. G proteins are heterotrimeric, consisting of a, p, and y polypeptide chains, with G protein specificity largely det- mined by the a-subunit, Molecular cloning of G protein s- units has revealed 23 distinct a-subunits, encoded by 17 different genes. Based on functional measures, G proteins are generally classified into three major categories: the G, family, which is stimulatory for adenylyl cyclase; the G, f- ily, which is inhibitory for adenylyl cyclase; and the G, f- ily, which stimulates phospholipases (Birnbaumer and Birnbaumer, 1995). Alternatively, on the basis of sequence homology, G proteins can be subdivided into four cate- ries: G,, G,, G,, and G12.