G protein Gi2α in the cochlea: cloning and selective occurrence in receptor cells

Abstract A cDNA library was made from the mouse cochlea and screened with a G protein-cDNA like molecule obtained from cochlear tissue by polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide sequence of a clone, named cochlear G i2 α, had 99.2% identity to mouse macrophage G i2 α. Using an antibody which is selective for G i2 α, expression of the cochlear G i2 α was localized in outer and inner hair cells of the organ of Corti. Possible functional roles of this G protein in hair cells are discussed.