Maturation of rat brain is accompanied by differential expression of the long and short splice variants of G(s)alpha protein: identification of cytosolic forms of G(s)alpha.

Distribution of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (G(s)alpha) was analyzed in membrane and cytosolic (supernatant 200 000 g) fractions from rat cortex, thalamus and hippocampus during the course of post-natal development. In parallel, changes in beta-adrenoceptor density and adenylyl cyclase activity were determined. Long (G(s)alphaL) and short (G(s)alphaS) variants of G(s)alpha were assessed by immunoblotting using specific polyclonal antisera reacting with both G(s)alpha isoforms. Post-natal development was associated with an increase in the total amount of brain G(s)alpha. G(s)alphaL was the dominant isoform of G(s)alpha in the membrane fractions of all studied brain regions and its amount increased markedly between post-natal day (PD) 1 and 90. The level of membrane-bound G(s)alphaS also elevated during post-natal development, but more pronounced changes were found in cytosolic G(s)alphaS. Although only a small amount of G(s)alphaS (much smaller than G(s)alphaL) was detected among soluble proteins shortly after birth, G(s)alphaS prevailed over G(s)alphaL at PD90. The G(s)alphaL/G(s)alphaS ratio decreased, respectively, from 3.2 to 1.2 and from 5.0 to 1.5 in the membrane fractions of cortex and hippocampus, but remained almost constant in thalamus between PD1 and 90. More dramatic changes were found in the cytosolic fractions of all studied brain regions: the G(s)alphaL/G(s)alphaS ratio decreased sharply in cortex (from 14.1 to 0.9), hippocampus (from 3.7 to 0.8), and also in thalamus (from 9.5 to 0.5). These results demonstrate that the membrane-cytosol balance of G(s)alpha proteins alters dramatically during the course of brain development. Both G(s)alphaL and G(s)alphaS were expressed in a region- and age-specific manner, which suggests different roles in the maturation of the brain tissue. A cyc(-) reconstitutive assay of cytosolic G(s)alpha indicated that only approximately 20% of this protein was functional, compared with membrane-bound G(s)alpha, and its ability to reconstitute adenylyl cyclase activity increased during the course of maturation. The number of beta-adrenoceptors increased sharply during early post-natal development but only slightly in adulthood, and both GTP- and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity reached peak values around PD12.

Subcellular shifts of trimeric G-proteins following activation of baker's yeast by glucose.

Addition of glucose to a resting cell suspension of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was accompanied by marked shifts of the G alpha-protein subunits from the plasma membrane to the cell interior. This process was rapid with half-times between < 10 and 20 s. The decrease of the plasma membrane pool of the Gi alpha/Go alpha- and Gq alpha/Gl 1 alpha-protein subunits correlated with an increase in acid-sensitive forms of these proteins which was recovered in the mitochondrial and/or lysosomal membrane fraction. In contrast to cells from higher organisms glucose-stimulated yeast exhibits an extremely rapid type of the redistribution (internalization). The question remains open as to the functional significance of the internalized forms of the G-proteins as these remain sequestered from the plasma membrane well after glucose has been consumed.

[The prevalence, structure and clinical problems of multiple sclerosis in the Transcarpathian area based on epidemiological study data]. / Poshyrennia, struktura i deiaki pytannia kliniky mnozhynnoho sklerozu v Zakarpatti, za danymy epidemiolohichnoho doslidzhennia.

As many as 230 patients with disseminated sclerosis were examined in the Transcarpathian region. Sick male- and female populations were found out to be almost similar. There were more sick persons in the medium-range areas of the Carpathian Mountains, with a mean age being 35 +/- 5 years. It has been established that intake of spirulina makes for lengthening of remission in those patients with disseminated sclerosis.

[The incidence of the occurrence of stroke in the Carpathian region]. / Chastota vynyknennia mozkovoho insul'tu v Karpats'komu rehioni.

Based on the investigations conducted the contributors to this article arrived at a conclusion to the effect that those residing in lowlands of the Transcarpathian region are exposed to a greater number of factors causing acute cerebral circulatory disturbances than in highlands. This might be one of the reasons for the incidence of stroke to higher in low-lying lands that it is in mountainous areas. Factors due to which acute cerebral disturbances tend to develop need to be eliminated.