ABSENCE OF MUTATIONS IN THE G(S)ALPHA AND G(I)2-ALPHA GENES IN SPORADIC PARATHYROID ADENOMAS AND INSULINOMAS

1. Activating mutations of the alpha-subunits of the G(s) and G(i)2 pr oteins give rise to the oncogenes gsp and gip2, respectively, which ar e found in a variety of endocrine tumours. 2. In this study the polyme rase chain reaction and direct sequencing have been used to screen a s mall sample of parathyroid adenomas and insulinomas for these mutation s. 3. No mutations were identified in nine insulinomas and 13 parathyr oid adenomas screened for gsp, and 11 parathyroid adenomas and four in sulinomas screened for gip2 In addition, two gastrinomas from patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 were found to be negative fo r both oncogenes. 4. This is the first report of screening for gip2 in parathyroid adenomas and gsp/gip2 in insulinomas, and it extends the range of tumours examined for these oncogenes.