G-protein Subunits Expressed in Catfish Olfactory Receptor Neurons

Abstract
Olfactory signal transduction in a number of species has been shown to be mediated by heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins). The expression of different G-proteins in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) olfactory epithelium was investigated using antibodies to both the α and β subunits of G-proteins. Based on Western blotting and immunohistochemical data, the following G-protein subunits were identified in the olfactory epithelium: Gs/Golf, Gi1, Gi2, Gq and Gβ. Immunohistochemical results indicated that all of these G-proteins, encompassing three G-protein subfamilies, were expressed in the dendrites and cilia of olfactory receptor neurons. These findings suggest that different G-protein subunits may mediate multiple signal transduction pathways in the catfish olfactory system, i.e. Golf/Gs, may mediate odorant activation of adenylyl cyclase while Gi and Gβ may mediate odorant activation of phospholipase C.

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