G Protein Beta 4 (GNb4)

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins), which integrate signals between receptors and effector proteins, are composed of an alpha, a beta, and a gamma subunit. These subunits are encoded by families of related genes. GNb4 encodes a beta subunit. Beta subunits are important regulators of alpha subunits, as well as of certain signal transduction receptors and effectors. Like other beta subunits, the deduced GNB4 protein contains 340 amino acids with 7 WD repeat motifs forming a beta-propeller structure. GNB4 shares 91% identity with GNB1 and 96% identity with mouse Gnb4. PCR analysis detected high GNB4 expression in human lung, pancreas, and placenta, moderate expression in kidney and liver, and weak expression in brain and heart.