G. Proteins and Signal Transduction

Guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) are a ubiquitous family of proteins involved in the transmission of hormone, neurotransmitter and growth factor encoded information across the plasma membrane (and potentially other membrane-limited compartments) of cells.

The remarkable conservation of sequence of the individual G-proteins throughout evolution, from insects and slime moulds to mammals, has indicated the potential for the use of the sophisticated genetics available on such systems to define the specific roles of each G-protein.

Further, the generation of probes for the various G-proteins, and their corresponding mNRAs, has led to demonstrations of mutations or alterations in either the function or expression of a number of G-proteins in a range of clinical disorders, as well as an understanding of the details of how G-proteins interact with both receptor and effector systems.