G蛋白亚单位基因家族研究进展

Gene Families of G Protein Subunits

G蛋白由α、β、γ三个亚单位组成异源三聚体。目前已发现 16个α、6个β和 12个γ基因。G蛋白亚单位基因家族相当保守并且原始 ,几乎所有G蛋白基因外显子 内含子连接均遵从GT AG规则 ,并且各亚单位基因编码区内含子结构和位置显示出很高的保守性。多数G蛋白基因具有持家基因的特点。G蛋白基因在基因组中的分布存在着丛集的倾向 ,有

G proteins are heterotrimers composed of α, β, and γ subunits. So far 16α, 6β, and 12γ subunit genes have been described in mammals. G protein subunit gene families are comparatively conservative and primitive, with all of which exon intron junctions conform to the GT AG rule except for one alternative splice site at 5' end of exon 4 in Gnas which uses GT TG junction. In the coding regions, exon intron structures and intron positions among each of the subunit gene families are comparatively conserved. Most of the G protein genes have some characteristics of housekeeping genes. Analysis of distribution of G protein subunit genes in mammalian genomes reveals a tendency of clustering, with five pairs of the α subunit genes arranging as tandem duos.