title: G-protein subunit mRNA levels in rat heart, liver, and adipose tissues: analysis by DNA-excess solution hybridization.
abstract: The steady-state levels of mRNAs for the G-proteins Gi alpha 2, Go alpha, and the G beta-subunits common to each were established in rat adipose, heart and liver. Uniformly-radiolabeled, single-stranded antisense probes were constructed from cDNAs or assembled from oligonucleotides. Direct comparison of the steady-state levels of the G-protein mRNAs was performed under identical assay conditions, and on a molar basis. In adipose, liver and heart, Gs alpha mRNA was more abundant than mRNA for Go alpha, Gi alpha, and G beta. In adipose tissue, mRNA levels were as follows: 19.4, 7.6, 7.0, and 2.3 amol mRNA per micrograms total cellular RNA for Gs alpha, G beta, Gi alpha 2, and Go alpha, respectively. In heart Gs alpha mRNA was less abundant than in adipose, but the relative trend among the G-protein subunits was the same. In liver, G beta mRNA was more abundant than either Go alpha or Gi alpha 2. Go alpha mRNA levels ranged from 1.2 to 2.3 amol/micrograms total RNA in liver and adipose, respectively. The present work demonstrates the many advantages of this strategy when applied to the study of a family of homologous, low-abundance proteins and establishes for the first time the molar levels of Gi alpha 2, Gs alpha, Go alpha, and G beta-subunit mRNAs in several mammalian tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8651.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rapiejko
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Malbon
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015342:DNA Probes; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins