RGD Reference Report - Loss of signaling through the G protein, Gz, results in abnormal platelet activation and altered responses to psychoactive drugs. - Rat Genome Database

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Loss of signaling through the G protein, Gz, results in abnormal platelet activation and altered responses to psychoactive drugs.

Authors: Yang, J  Wu, J  Kowalska, MA  Dalvi, A  Prevost, N  O'Brien, PJ  Manning, D  Poncz, M  Lucki, I  Blendy, JA  Brass, LF 
Citation: Yang J, etal., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000 Aug 29;97(18):9984-9.
RGD ID: 1302584
Pubmed: PMID:10954748   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC27645   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1073/pnas.180194597   (Journal Full-text)

Heterotrimeric G proteins mediate the earliest step in cell responses to external events by linking cell surface receptors to intracellular signaling pathways. G(z) is a member of the G(i) family of G proteins that is prominently expressed in platelets and brain. Here, we show that deletion of the alpha subunit of G(z) in mice: (i) impairs platelet aggregation by preventing the inhibition of cAMP formation normally seen at physiologic concentrations of epinephrine, and (ii) causes the mice to be more resistant to fatal thromboembolism. Loss of G(zalpha) also results in greatly exaggerated responses to cocaine, reduces the analgesic effects of morphine, and abolishes the effects of widely used antidepressant drugs that act as catecholamine reuptake inhibitors. These changes occur despite the presence of other G(ialpha) family members in the same cells and are not accompanied by detectable compensatory changes in the level of expression of other G protein subunits. Therefore, these results provide insights into receptor selectivity among G proteins and a model for understanding platelet function and the effects of psychoactive drugs.

Objects referenced in this article
Gene GNAZ G protein subunit alpha z Homo sapiens
Gene Gnaz guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha z subunit Mus musculus
Gene Gnaz G protein subunit alpha z Rattus norvegicus

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