Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
 8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Little is known of the action of nitric oxide (NO) at the synaptic level on identified interneurones in local circuits that process mechanosensory signals. Here, we examine the action of NO in the terminal abdominal ganglion of the crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus, where it has modulatory effects on the synaptic inputs of 17 identified ascending interneurones mediated by electrical stimulation of a sensory nerve. To analyse the role of NO in the processing of sensory signals, we bath-applied the NO donor SNAP, the NO scavenger PTIO, the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor l-NAME, the NOS substrate l-arginine, a cyclic GMP (cGMP) analogue, 8-Br-cGMP, and the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor ODQ. The effects of these chemicals on the synaptic inputs of the interneurones could be divided into two distinct classes. The NO donor SNAP enhanced the inputs to one class of interneurone (class 1) and depressed those to another (class 2). Neither the inactive isomer NAP nor degassed SNAP had any effect on the inputs to these same classes of interneurone. The NO scavenger PTIO caused the opposite effects to those of the NO donor SNAP, indicating that endogenous NO may have an action in local circuits. Preventing the synthesis of NO using l-NAME had the opposite effect to that of SNAP on each response class of interneurone. Increasing the synthesis of endogenous NO by applying l-arginine led to effects on both response classes of interneurone similar to those of SNAP. Taken together, these results suggested that NO was the active component in mediating the changes in amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Finally, the effects of 8-Br-cGMP were similar to those of the NO donor, indicating the possible involvement of a NO-sensitive guanylate cyclase. This was confirmed by preventing the synthesis of cGMP by sGC using ODQ, which caused the opposite effects to those of 8-Br-cGMP on the two response classes of interneurone. The results indicate that a NO--cGMP signal transduction pathway, in which NO regulates transmitter release from mechanosensory afferents onto intersegmental ascending interneurones, is probably present in the local circuits of the crayfish.
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PMID:Opposing actions of nitric oxide on synaptic inputs of identified interneurones in the central nervous system of the crayfish. 1124 41

Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is essential for angiogenesis. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) inhibits the production of VEGF, but whether this important vascular peptide also inter- rupts VEGF signaling to angiogenesis is unknown. In cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, VEGF significantly stimulated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activity and phosphorylation, which was inhibited 60% by coincubation with ANP or a natriuretic peptide clearance receptor specific ligand (NPRC), C-type NAP-(4-23) [C-ANP-(4-23)]. VEGF also stimulated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 activities/phosphorylation that were prevented by the two natriuretic peptides (NP). A specific NP guanylate cyclase (GC) receptor antagonist, HS-142-1, blocked the actions of ANP [but not those of C-ANP-(4-23)], supporting the involvement of both GC and NPRC receptors. VEGF and expression of constituitively active JNK each stimulated the synthesis of cyclin D1 and increased the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase-4, which was inhibited 55% by ANP. VEGF induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration, which was significantly blocked by NP or by expressing a dominant negative JNK-1. VEGF stimulated human microvascular endothelial cells to form capillary tubes, which was significantly inhibited by expressing dominant negative JNK-1 and by NP. Therefore, VEGF induction of critical steps in angiogenesis is enhanced through JNK activation. The actions are significantly prevented by NP, which act through both the NPRC and GC receptors to block growth factor signaling. Thus, NP are candidate antiangiogenesis factors that inhibit both the synthesis and function of VEGF.
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PMID:Natriuretic peptides suppress vascular endothelial cell growth factor signaling to angiogenesis. 1125 Sep 39