G protein mutations in tumours of the pituitary, parathyroid and endocrine pancreas

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995 Jun 26;211(3):1063-70. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1995.1919.

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / genetics
  • Mutation*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Growth Hormone
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific
  • GTP-Binding Proteins