Expression of GTP-binding protein alpha subunits in human thymocytes

In this report, we investigate G protein alpha subunit diversity in human thymocytes, utilizing common properties shared by these genes and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sequence analysis of PCR amplified gene portions, indicate the presence of members from all four G-protein families that have been described thus far. The alpha subunit genes identified are: G alpha i1-3 and G alpha z but not G alpha o from the Gi family, G alpha s from the Gs family, G alpha 11, G alpha q, and G alpha 16 from the Gq family, and G alpha 12 and G alpha 13 from the G12 family. Also in this report we present the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the human G alpha 13 cloned from a thymocyte cDNA library. The sequence of the human G alpha 13 has not been previously reported. Comparison of this sequence with the reported murine G alpha 13 shows > 90% identity at the deduced amino acid sequence level. We conclude that thymocytes represent a useful experimental system for the study of G protein involvement in immune responses and lymphocyte development.