title: G protein mutations in tumours of the pituitary, parathyroid and endocrine pancreas.
abstract: A subset of growth-hormone (GH) producing pituitary adenomas harbour mutations at residues Arg201 and Gln227 of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gs alpha). One such mutation has been reported in a GH-producing tumour from a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) although mutations have not been reported in other tumours associated with MEN 1. We used PCR-induced restriction site analysis to screen for these mutations in 80 tumours of the pituitary, parathyroid and endocrine pancreas. Arg201 mutations were detected in 1 non-functioning and 4 GH-producing pituitary tumours. No mutations were found in any of the endocrine tumours tested at Arg179 of the Gi2 alpha subunit, a homologous residue to Arg201 of Gs alpha. Our results indicate oncogenesis in the majority of pituitary and parathyroid tumours is independent of mutations of Gs and Gi2 alpha.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Cancer Fund Research Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Australia.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Boothroyd
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grimmond
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hayward
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000473:pathology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018761:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins