A study of the alpha-subunits of brain GTP-binding proteins from patients suffering schizophrenic, or Alzheimer's disease

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Concentrations of the alpha subunits of GTP-binding protein, Go (Goalpha) and of Gi2 (Gi2alpha) in 6 areas of control and schizophrenic post-mortem brains were investigated using the highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay method. There was a significant decrease in Goalpha in the hippocampus of the right hemisphere in schizophrenic patients compared to controls; SAS analysis demonstrated a significant diagnosis x side interaction. In other areas of the brain, analysis by grouping under diagnosis, side, age, gender and postmortem delay showed no significant deviations in Goalpha between controls and schizophrenics. The concentrations of Gi2alpha did not differ significantly in any area. These findings contrasted with the results yielded by ADP-ribosylation, which showed decreased pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylated amounts in the hippocampus and putamen of the contralateral (left) hemisphere. The discrepancy might be explained by the existence of differing conformations of Go or Gi1 in the hippocampi of the right and left sides in schizophrenics.