Absence of G(s)alpha gene mutations in childhood thyroid tumors after Chernobyl in contrast to sporadic adult thyroid neoplasia.

Heterotrimeric G proteins participate in the signal transduction cascade. Adult thyroid tumors have been shown to harbor specific point mutations in codons 201 and 227 of the G(s)alpha subunit of the adenylate cyclase stimulator. This protein affects the GDP/GTP turnover and finally results in an enhanced activation of G(s) and thus adenylate cyclase. We attempted to find out if G(s)alpha gene mutations were present in thyroid tumors of children from Belarus after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Paraffin sections of 20 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(s)alpha gene in codon 201 or 227. In contrast to thyroid neoplasia of adults, G(s)alpha gene mutations do not play a role in the development of childhood thyroid tumors after the Chernobyl reactor accident.