Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on Go protein in rat brain.
Almost all of the important pathophysiological targets for ethanol in the nervous system appear to be specific membrane proteins involved in signal transduction. In this paper we have examined levels and functionality of the alpha subunit of the Go protein (Goalpha) in cerebral cortex and cerebellum from rats that have chronically ingested ethanol, by using immunoblotting and pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation experiments. Goalpha protein levels were increased in plasma membranes from the two brain areas, and this increase was shown to specifically affect Go1alpha, one of the two isoforms of the Goalpha subunit. Results obtained here lead us to suggest that increased Go1alpha in plasma membranes would counteract a modified and non-functional protein generated during chronic alcohol treatment.
Guillén
Alberto
A
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain. aguillen@bbm1.ucm.es
García-Villafranca
Javier
J
Mata
Felicísima
F
Homburger
Vincent
V
Castro
José
J
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go