title: dgq: a drosophila gene encoding a visual system-specific G alpha molecule.
abstract: We describe the isolation and preliminary characterization of a new G alpha gene (dgq) in Drosophila. The dgq gene is differentially spliced, yielding two putative proteins, both of which contain guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis domains and share 50% identity with transducins and other G proteins. These proteins represent a new class of G alpha subunits because they lack both high amino acid identity with other G alpha proteins and the pertussis toxin ADP ribosylation site. The dgq mRNA is detected by RNA-RNA Northern hybridization in wild-type heads but not in wild-type bodies or in the mutant eyes absent heads. Tissue in situ hybridization detects dgq expression only in the retina and ocellus of the adult head, making it a prime candidate for encoding the Drosophila transducin analog, the G protein required for phototransduction.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.
authors: Y J
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Dobbs
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Verardi
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Hyde
mesh_terms: D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005123:Eye / Q000737:chemistry; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009899:Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / Q000737:chemistry; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D000246:Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; D004247:DNA; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins