CHARACTERIZATION OF HETEROTRIMERIC G-PROTEINS IN ADULT ACANTHOCHEILONEMA-VITEAE

Heterotrimeric G-proteins have been found in eukaryotic cells, from ye ast to humans, but have received little attention, to date, with respe ct to parasitic organisms. We now present the first report of the char acterization of heterotrimeric G-proteins expressed in a filarial nema tode, Acanthocheilonema viteae. Using a combination of (3) affinity la belling with [alpha-P-32]GTP; (ii) ADP-ribosylation with cholera toxin and pertussis toxin; (iii) Western blotting with a panel of anti-G-pr otein antibodies; and (iv) reverse transcriptase-PCR with degenerate G -protein oligonucleotide primers followed by hybridization analysis us ing oligonucleotides specific for individual G-protein subunits, we de monstrate that adult A. viteae expresses homologues of the beta 1- and /or beta 2-like subunits and alpha-subunits of the G(s), G(i), G(q) an d G(12) subfamilies found in mammals. The role which these G-proteins may play in the biology of the organism is discussed.