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Pituitary adenomas: screening for G alpha q mutations
N M Oyesiku1, C O Evans, M R Brown
1Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. noyesik@emory.edu
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|December 17, 1997
Summary
Activating mutations in the G alpha q gene are not common in pituitary tumors, including those secreting FSH and LH. Further research is needed to understand pituitary tumorigenesis mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Activating mutations in Gs alpha-subunits are found in 40% of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas.
- G protein alpha q (G alpha q) is involved in pituitary signal transduction and its mutations can lead to constitutive activation of phospholipase C and transforming activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of activating mutations in the G alpha q gene in pituitary tumorigenesis.
- To screen pituitary tumor samples, particularly FSH and LH adenomas, for G alpha q mutations.
Main Methods:
- Screened 37 pituitary adenoma samples for G alpha q mutations.
- Synthesized complementary DNA (cDNA) using RT-PCR with G alpha q specific primers.
- Screened G alpha q cDNA fragments for mutations using single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing.
Main Results:
- No activating mutations were detected in the screened regions of the G alpha q cDNA in human pituitary adenomas.
- This suggests that mutations in these specific G alpha q regions are rare in pituitary tumorigenesis.
Conclusions:
- Mutations in the investigated regions of G alpha q cDNA occur infrequently in human pituitary adenomas.
- Alternative molecular mechanisms likely contribute to pituitary tumorigenesis and warrant further investigation.