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What are G q/11 proteins? see also: G q/11 (selected papers) G q/11 proteins are membrane-associated proteins involved in signal transduction - the way cells communicate with each other. Upon receptor activation, they may send information directly from the membrane to the cell's nucleus. Consider them an essential "relay station" for cell information, the initiators of other cascades of events. One such cascade involves the mitogen-activated-pathways-kinase (MAPK). MAPKs are regarded as "switch" kinases in the phosphorylation cascade. Gq/11 are coupled to receptors which cross the cell membrane seven times ("transmembrane receptors"). Gq/11 have been unequivocally established to be the transducing G proteins for Ca(2+)-mobilizing receptors (Exton, 1993). Gq/11 proteins are located in the membrane of a cell. In thyroid hormone-related actvities - G q/11 proteins are activated by high levels of TSH. It has been shown that on-going ("constitutive") G q/11 activation in heart muscle results in downsignalling of T3 and inhibition of T3-dependent intra-cellular activities (i.e. Wu et al, 1997). Gq/11 may be released directly from the plasma membrane to an intracellular location in response to activation by AlF4-, directly translocating immunoreactivity (i.e. Arthur et al, 1999). Fluoride directly augments already existing hormonal activation of Gq/11. Concerning cancer, it is now known that Gq/11 and ras share mediation of pathways (i.e. LaMorte et al, 1994; Seo et al, 2000). G q/11 Diseases Gq/11-regulated pathways have profound effects on chronic inflammation overall, as well as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, etc. - in short - all those conditions which represent the most significant health care problems in the developed world today. For example, in heart disease - which kills 40,000 people a year in the U.S - G q/11 over-expression leads to enlargement of the heart, in turn leading to congestive heart failure. Therefore recent pharmacological research has focused on creating so-called "decoys" for G q/11 - non-working versions of Gq to prevent the activation and reception of molecular signals that normally would produce such enlargement of the heart (Akhter et al, 1998; Adams et al, 2001). Needless to say, G q/11 are also involved in dental pulp and enamel formation and are also involved in the condition known as "dental fluorosis" (enamel hypoplasia) (Pozo et al, 2000). In Alzheimer's and Down Syndrome patients Gq/11 is elevated in the brain regions (Labudova et al, 1999). Virtually all Down Syndrome patients suffer from Alzheimer’s in their 40’s. Fluorides are most-established Gq/11 activators, surely ensuring its firm and most-important role in all of the above diseases. Both inorganic and organic fluoride compounds may activate G q/11. It is a matter of amplification of the F- signal. Diseases linked to the pathway mediated by G protein Gq/11:
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