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Inhibitory G protein alpha subunit (Gi alpha) expression and localization during human trophoblast differentiation
E Daiter1, A Makrigiannakis, G Coukos
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Research in Women's Health and Reproduction, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Objective:
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) participates in the regulation of processes associated with trophoblast syncytialization. As guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) modulate adenylate cyclase activity, the present study investigated the expression and regulation of the alpha subunit of inhibitory G protein (Gi alpha) during human trophoblast differentiation in vitro.
Study Design:
Protein levels and the immunolocalization of the protein at a subcellular-level were assessed.
Results:
Expression of Gi alpha protein decreased during syncytialization. Moreover, Gi alpha transmigrated from a predominantly cell membrane-associated to a predominantly perinuclear location during the process.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that Gi alpha is regulated and may be implicated in cAMP-dependent events during the terminal differentiation of human trophoblasts.