G Protein Alpha Activating Activity Polypeptide O (GNaO1)

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) form a large family of signal-transducing molecules. They are found as heterotrimers made up of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. Members of the G protein family have been characterized most extensively on the basis of the alpha subunit, which binds guanine nucleotide, is capable of hydrolyzing GTP, and interacts with specific receptor and effector molecules. In addition to the inhibitory G proteins, Gi, and the stimulatory G proteins, Gs, a Go protein has been described; 'o' means 'other.' The Go heterotrimer is abundant in brain and has been found also in the cardiac atria.The UTRs were shown to exhibit a high degree of interspecies conservation and may play a role in regulation of Go-alpha expression during differentiation or in specific tissues.