afte Chernobyl in Contrast to Sporadic Adult Thyroid Neoplasia Gene Mutations in Childhood Thyroid Tumors

Heterotrimenc G proteins participate in the signal transduction ens cade. Adult thyroid tumors have been shown to harbor specific point mutations in codons 201 and 227 of the G@asubunit of the adenylate cyclase stimulator. This protein affects the GDP/GTP turnover and finally results in an enhanced activation of G@and thus adenylate cyclase. We attempted to find out if G@agene mutations were present in thyroid tumors of children from Belarus after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Paraffin sections of2O thyroid tumors were used for PCR amplification by oligonucleotide intron primers flanking exons 8 and 9, encompassing codon 201 and 227, respectively. By direct sequencing of the 274-bp amplification product, we did not detect any mutations of the G,a gene in codon 201 or 227. In contrast to thyroid neoplasia of adults, G@agene mutations do not play a role in the development of childhood thyroid tumors after the Chernobyl reactor accident.