Induction of Gα_i2-specific antisense RNA in vivo inhibits neonatal growth

Guanosine triphosphate-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) are key elements in transmembrane signaling and have been implicated as regulators of more complex biological processes such as differentiation and development The G protein Gα_i2 is capable of mediating the inhibitory control of adenytylcydase and regulates stem cell differentiation to primitive endoderm. Here an antisense RNA to Gα_i2 was expressed in a hybrid RNA construct whose expression was both tissue-specific and induced at birth. Transgenic mice in which the antisense construct was expressed displayed a lack of normal development in targeted organs that correlated with the absence of Gα_i2 The loss of Gα_i2 expression in adipose tissue of the transgenic mice was correlated with a rise in basal levels of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and the loss of receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylylcydase. These data expand our understanding of G protein function in vivo and demonstrate the necessity for Gα_i2 in the development of liver and fat.