In article <ehom1-280794100451 at image-slave.swarthmore.edu> ehom1 at cc.swarthmore.edu (Erik Forbes Y. Hom) writes:
>Does anyone know the latest ideas on how lithium interacts with G-proteins?
> Is the Li+ binding inositol phosphate idea still upheld?
>>Thanks!
>>erik
Hi Erik,
The effect of Li+ on phospholipases is believed to be a partial
explanation of of the therapeutic effects of LiCl. The G-protein binding
effect is actually quite different. Lithium fluoride is used, and it is
believed that the F- coordinates with Mg++ to mimick a phospate group.
This causes the GDP-liganded G-protein to act as a GTP-liganded G-protein
due to the binding of this Fl- Mg++ complex. I can dig up some references
if you are interested.
Michael.
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"My Kindness is not random, and nothing senseless was ever beautiful."
- J. Zabriskie
Michael J. Marino email MJMST33+ at pitt.edu
