Mechanism of G Protein Beta5/ R7-RGS Protein/ R7BP Complex Signal Transduction

本研究的目的是了解人类进化保守的GNB5/R7-RGS/R7BP复合体的信号功能、生物学和生理学。为此，我们首先试图识别和表征Gbeta5复合物及其组分在模型系统中的功能，如培养的神经元和/或神经内分泌细胞和细胞系、初级啮齿动物脑神经元和转基因小鼠。Gnb5和其他Gnb5/R7-RGS/R7BP复合物组分功能丧失对小鼠的影响，以及Gnb5复合物在体感觉中的作用，目前正在通过发育、行为、免疫组织化学和神经解剖学分析进行研究。正在对从公开数据库收集的人类基因组数据进行更多的生物信息学研究，以更好地了解人类种系GNB5突变的影响。

The purpose of the current work is to understand the signaling function, biology, and physiology of the evolutionarily-conserved GNB5/R7-RGS/R7BP complex in humans. To this end we are first trying to identify and characterize the functions of the Gbeta5 complex and its components in model systems such as cultured neuronal and/or neuroendocrine cells and cell lines, primary rodent brain neurons, and genetically-modified mice. The effect of the loss-of-function of Gnb5 and other Gnb5/R7-RGS/R7BP complex components in mice as well as the role of the Gnb5 complex in somatosensation are currently being examined using developmental, behavioral, immunohistochemical, and neuroanatomical analyses. Additional bioinformatic studies of human genomic data, gathered from publicly-available databases, are being performed to better understand the implications of germline GNB5 mutation in humans.