Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
 31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We determined changes in mRNA expression in specific enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of morphine in human white blood cells via microarray. Leukocyte exposure to morphine down-regulated catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and CYP2D6 by approximately 50% compared with control values. The treatment did not alter DOPA decarboxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase expression, demonstrating the specificity of morphine actions. The verification of the microarray data was accomplished via real-time Taqman reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) focused on CYP2D6 and COMT expression in different blood samples treated with morphine. The analysis showed similar changes in the expression of CYP2D6 and COMT mRNA. The expression was reduced by 47 +/- 7% for CYP2D6, substantiating the microarray finding of a 54% reduction. Furthermore, exposure of white blood cells to 10(-6) M S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, reduced the expression of CYP2D6 and COMT. Prior naloxone (10(-6) M) or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10(-4) M) addition abrogated morphine's down-regulating activity, demonstrating morphine was initiating its actions via stimulating constitutive NO synthase derived NO release via the mu3 opiate receptor splice variant. In the past we demonstrated that UDP-glucurosyltransferase is involved in metabolizing morphine to morphine 6-glucuronide in adrenal chromaffin cells. In the present study its expression was not found in controls and morphine-treated cells, suggesting that morphine 6-glucuronide may not be synthesized in white blood cells. Taken together, it appears that morphine has the ability to modulate its own synthesis via autocrine and paracrine signaling.
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PMID:Endogenous morphine signaling via nitric oxide regulates the expression of CYP2D6 and COMT: autocrine/paracrine feedback inhibition. 1757 83

Although adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is known to be an afferent transmitter in the peripheral taste system, serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) have also been proposed as candidate neurotransmitters and have been detected immunocytochemically in mammalian taste cells. To understand the significance of biogenic amines in taste, we evaluated the ability of taste cells to synthesize, transport, and package 5-HT and NE. We show by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence microscopy that the enzymes for 5-HT synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) are expressed in taste cells. In contrast, enzymes necessary for NE synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) are absent. Both TH and DBH are expressed in nerve fibers that penetrate taste buds. Taste buds also robustly express plasma membrane transporters for 5-HT and NE. Within the taste bud NET, a specific NE transporter, is expressed in some presynaptic (type III) and some glial-like (type I) cells but not in receptor (type II) cells. By using enzyme immunoassay, we show uptake of NE, probably through NET in taste epithelium. Proteins involved in inactivating and packaging NE, including catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT1,2) and chromogranin A (ChrgA), are also expressed in taste buds. Within the taste bud, ChrgA is found only in presynaptic cells and may account for dense-cored vesicles previously seen in some taste cells. In summary, we postulate that aminergic presynaptic taste cells synthesize only 5-HT, whereas NE (perhaps secreted by sympathetic fibers) may be concentrated and repackaged for secretion.
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PMID:Biogenic amine synthesis and uptake in rodent taste buds. 1787 73