The G protein family of signal transducers includes five heterotrimers, which are most clearly distinguished by their different a chains. The family includes G, and G1, the stimulatory and inhibitory GTP-binding regulators of adenylate cyclase; G., a protein of unknown function abundant in brain; and transducin 1 and transducin 2, proteins involved in retinal phototransduction. Using a bovine at, cDNA as a hybridization probe, we have isolated mouse cDNAs that encode a chains of two G proteins. One encodes a polypeptide of 377 amino acids (Mr 43,856), identified as a. because it specifically fails to hybridize with any transcript in an a,-deficient S49 mouse lymphoma mutant, cyc-; the other encodes a polypeptide of 355 amino acids (Mr 40,482), presumed to be aj. These a chains and those of the retinal transducins exhibit impressive sequence homology; Of the four, ati and at2 are most alike (81% identical amino acid residues), whereas the presumptive aj is more similar than a. to at, (63% vs. 38% identical residues). Sequence homologies with p2lrM and elongation factor Tu identify regions of the a chains that form the site for GTP binding and hydrolysis. Further comparison of the a-chain sequences suggests additional regions that may contribute to interactions with ,By subunits and the receptor and effector components of different signal transduction systems. 6) and ion channels (7-9). All of the G proteins are heterotrimers, with virtually identical A chains, similar y chains, and distinctive a chains. The a chains, with Mrs ranging from 39,000 to 45,000, bind and hydrolyze GTP and serve as substrates for ADP-ribosylation by the exotoxins of Vibrio cholerae (in G, and transducin 1) and Bordetella pertussis (in Gi, Go, and transducin 1). In the GTP-bound form, the a chains of G, (a,) and transducin 1 (at,) activate their respective effector enzymes, adenylate cyclase and cGMP phosphodiesterase (for review, see refs. 1, 4).Using a cDNA encoding bovine at, (10) as a hybridization probe, we have isolated and sequenced murine cDNAs that encode a, and a second a chain, presumed to be aj. Homologies and differences among the deduced amino acid sequences of the G protein and transducin a chains point to specific regions that may interact with guanine nucleotides, receptors, effector enzymes, and the G protein /3y complex.MATERIALS AND METHODS Detection of cDNA Inserts. David Goeddel (Genentech) provided a XgtlO cDNA library prepared by using RNA from the murine macrophage cell line PU-5 (11). We screened this library for plaques that hybridized (12) to the bovine at, cDNA (10) at low stringency [in 35% formamide, 0.75 M NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate, S x concentrated Denhardt's solution (0.02% bovine serum albumin/0.02% Ficoll/0.02% polyvinylpyrrolidone), 0.5% NaDodSO4, 0.5 mg of denatured salmon sperm DNA per ml, and 5 x 105 cpm of probe per ml for 48 hr at 42°C] (13). Filters were washed three times for 5 min at 25°C in 0.3 M NaCl/30 mM sodium citrate/0.1% NaDodSO4 and twice for 30 min at 50°C in 0.15 M NaCl/...

Women with incurable LC experienced substantial iterative psychological distress throughout the illness, regardless of length of illness at time of interview. They applied multiple forms of coping. The findings enrich the limited existing literature on this understudied population and provide direction for the future development of interventions to improve their psychological well-being.

The functional status model was shown to consist of functional performance, functional capacity and other concepts, including disease severity, dyspnoea, age, exercise tolerance, fatigue, depression, anxiety and health perception. These results can be used to develop a suitable functional status model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and could act as a reference for formulating future strategies and intervention procedures for further development of functional status.

The results support the existing and different types of subtrajectories of the FC's burden. Health care professionals should provide care based on those differences. Further research to test interventions which integrate those important factors related to FC's burden, particularly FC's self-efficacy, is strongly suggested.

This study investigates the subjective experiences of terminal cancer patients who expedite their corneal donation decisions. The percentage of cancer patients who donate their corneas postmortem is low in Taiwan. The reasons are complex and needs further exploration. A qualitative design using content analysis was used. A semistructured interview approach was adopted to interview cancer patients recruited from a cancer ward in northern Taiwan. The study findings show that the factors contributing to an aversive preference of cancer patients included the necessity to consider the emotions of family members, traditional perceptions, religious reasons, disease, and no reason at all. Most cancer patients maintain a negative stance toward corneal donation. The results obtained in the present study can be used as a reference for future in-service education and promotional efforts regarding corneal donation. Discussing cornea donation needs to become a routine end-of-life care discussion.