Human cDNA clones for four species of G alpha s signal transduction protein

lambda gt11 cDNA libraries derived from human brain were screened with oligonucleotide probes for recombinants that code for alpha subunits of G signal transduction proteins. Eleven alpha s clones were detected with both probes and characterized. Four types of alpha s cDNA were cloned that differ in nucleotide sequence in the region that corresponds to amino acid residues 71-88. The clones differ in the codon for alpha s amino acid residue 71 (glutamic acid or aspartic acid), the presence or absence of codons for the next 15 amino acid residues, and the presence or absence of an adjacent serine residue. S1 nuclease protection experiments revealed at least two forms of alpha s mRNA. A mechanism for generating four species of alpha s mRNA by alternative splicing of precursor RNA is proposed.