MUTATION ANALYSIS OF GONADOTROPIN RECEPTOR AND G-PROTEIN GENES IN VARIOUS TYPES OF HUMAN OVARIAN-TUMORS

The heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) an d G protein-coupled hormone receptors including gonadotropin receptors have been suggested to play a role in ovarian tumorigenesis. However, no functional significance of gonadotropin receptors and G proteins i n this process has been demonstrated. To investigate this issue, we ex amined point mutations in these genes in various types of ovarian tumo rs by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphis m analysis and direct sequencing. Among 37 tumors (20 epitherial, 8 se x cord-stromal, and 9 germ cell tumors) and 5 carcinoma cell lines exa mined, no mutational sequence of G protein-interaction domains of lute inizing hormone receptor and follicle stimulating hormone receptor, or ''hot spots'' of the alpha subunit of adenylyl cyclase-stimulating C protein and -inhibitory C protein was observed. Although this analysis was performed on only a limited number of tumors and cell lines, and on limited gene loci, the results suggest that mutational activation i n gonadotropin receptors and C proteins is not crucial for ovarian tum origenesis.