GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) play a critical role in signal transduction by coupling receptors to effectors. The intracellular consequences of G-protein activation include second messenger generation, protein phosphorylation, ion channel activation, gene induction, cell growth, and differentiation. Go belongs to the pertussis toxin sensitive G-proteins. It consists of two subtypes of a-subunits (ao1 and a2) derived from alternative splicing of a single gene. ao1 differs from ao2 within the C-terminal third of the deduced amino acid sequence. Some of the literature suggests that Transducin is the generic name for the heterotrimeric G protein or possibly Gt. Transducin is composed of several subunits. G proteins are further categorized into different classes, including Go and Gi, based on their aa sequence. Goa is a subunit of Go. Goa could be one subgroup of Transducin. However, there is some literature stating that Go, Gi, and Transducin are all separate groups of G proteins.
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