G-PROTEIN GAMMA-7 SUBUNIT IS SELECTIVELY EXPRESSED IN MEDIUM-SIZED NEURONS AND DENDRITES OF THE RAT NEOSTRIATUM

We used subtractive hybridization to isolate clones of gamma 7, a 68 r esidue G-protein gamma subunit. Northern blotting and in situ hybridiz ation reveal that the gamma 7 subunit mRNA is expressed primarily in m edium-sized neurons of the neostriatum and nucleus accumbens and neuro ns of the olfactory tubercle, and at low levels in the dentate gyrus o f the hippocampal formation and laminae II-III, and V of the neocortex . The gamma 7 mRNA is translocated into dendrites of neurons in the ne ostriatum and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. gamma 7 is express ed at relatively very low concentrations in peripheral tissues. The se lective pattern of gamma 7 expression within the brain is highly remin iscent of those of the striatum-enriched adenylyl cyclase AC(ST), dopa mine receptors, and the alpha subunit of G(olf), suggesting that, in s triatum, gamma 7 may be a subunit of a G(olf alpha)-containing G prote in that couples dopamine receptors selectively to AC(ST). (C) 1994 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.