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)

The present study investigates the mechanism of endothelium-dependent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Melittin, a polypeptide found in honeybee venom and a known activator of phospholipase A2, induced transient, endothelium-dependent relaxations of rat thoracic aortae contracted with norepinephrine. Higher concentrations of melittin induced relaxations followed by contractions. Prior incubation of melittin with trypsin abolished the changes in relaxation and contraction due to melittin. Melittin (10 micrograms/ml)-induced relaxations were associated with transiently elevated levels of cyclic GMP with a peak increase of 30-fold, which occurred 30 seconds after melittin exposure. Melittin (10 micrograms/ml) elevated cyclic AMP levels less than twofold and this effect was variable. A lower concentration of melittin (1 microgram/ml) elevated cyclic GMP levels approximately twofold, while exposure to 1 microgram/ml melittin in the presence of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, M&B 22948 (1 mM), increased cyclic GMP levels fivefold. Removal of the endothelium prevented the increased levels of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP due to melittin. Exposure to the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue, prevented the increased levels of cyclic GMP. Methylene blue, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and the phospholipase A2 inhibitor, parabromophenacyl bromide, inhibited melittin-induced relaxations, while the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, was without effect. Arachidonic acid increased cyclic AMP levels but had no effect on cyclic GMP levels in the presence or absence of indomethacin. Relaxations to melittin, and to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine, trypsin, histamine, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and/or the associated increased cyclic GMP levels, were reduced following exposure to melittin. Prior exposure to polyarginine (10 micrograms/ml), which induced endothelium-dependent relaxations that were prevented by methylene blue, also inhibited relaxations to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators. In contrast, relaxations to sodium nitroprusside were potentiated in tissues previously exposed to melittin. Removal of the endothelium by rubbing the intimal surface also potentiated relaxations to sodium nitroprusside. Scanning electron micrographs of the intimal surface demonstrated that melittin and polyarginine greatly damaged the endothelial cells. The present results suggest that polycation containing peptides induce endothelium-dependent relaxation through elevation of cyclic GMP levels within the smooth muscle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Effects of melittin on endothelium-dependent relaxation and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta. 253 55

These studies were performed in vitro to investigate the nature of the second messenger for lower esophageal sphincter (LES) smooth muscle relaxation in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). It was seen that VIP, permeant derivatives of the cyclic nucleotide 8-bromo cyclic GMP (BrcGMP) and 8-bromo cyclic AMP (8-BrcAMP), the guanylate cyclase stimulant sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the adenylate cyclase stimulant forskolin, M&B 22,948 (cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor) and SK&F 94,120 (cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor) caused dose-dependent and tetrocotoxin resistant fall in LES tension. Guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (MB) (3 x 10(-5) M), caused significant antagonism of fall in LES tension by SNP without modifying the inhibitory response of forskolin. The possible adenylate cyclase inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (1 x 10(-4) M), on the other hand, caused significant antagonism of fall in LES tension by forskolin without any effect on that caused by SNP. The inhibitory responses of 8-BrcGMP and 8-BrcAMP were not modified by MB or NEM. NEM (1 x 10(-4) M) and MB (3 x 10(-5) M) caused significant inhibition of the fall in LES tension with EFS. NEM also caused inhibition of fall in LES tension by VIP. Furthermore, SK&F 94,120 and not M&B 22,948 caused significant potentiation of fall in LES tension by EFS. From these results we conclude that: 1) cAMP and cGMP may act as second messengers for LES relaxation with EFS and VIP, and 2) VIP may act primarily via cAMP system and remains a strong possibility for one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters in the LES.
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PMID:Influence of stimulators and inhibitors of cyclic nucleotides on lower esophageal sphincter. 253 11

The effects of 2-nitratopropyl 3-nitratopropyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (CD-349) and sodium nitroprusside (NP) on cyclic GMP (cGMP) metabolism in bovine intrapulmonary artery (BPA) and vein (BPV) were examined. CD-349 inhibited cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in BPA and BPV. In the latter, about 40% of the cGMP PDE activity was Ca2+ dependent. The inhibition of cGMP PDE activity by CD-349 also depended on Ca2+. The inhibitory effect of CD-349 was more potent than that of nicardipine or nifedipine. The conversion of cGMP from GTP in the homogenates of BPA and BPV was stimulated by NP in a concentration-dependent manner. The NP-induced cGMP formation was stimulated further by CD-349. This effect of CD-349 depended on Ca2+ in the BPV but not in the BPA. The NP-induced elevation of cGMP levels in the tissue preparations of BPA and BPV was also potentiated by CD-349. These results suggest that CD-349 inhibited Ca2+-dependent cGMP PDE activity and that the levels of cGMP were elevated in vascular smooth muscle, particularly when guanylate cyclase was activated.
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PMID:Alteration of cyclic GMP metabolism by CD-349, a novel calcium antagonist, and by sodium nitroprusside in bovine intrapulmonary artery and vein. 254 8

We have examined the interaction of zaprinast with mediators of guanylate cyclase on the relaxation of aortic smooth muscle. Zaprinast, a selective inhibitor of the low Km-cyclic GMP (cGMP) phosphodiesterase [low Km cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE)], was equally effective in relaxing phenylephrine-contracted aortas from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) with an intact endothelium [EC50 = 7.6 (3.5-16.6) microM vs. 9.3 (4.1-21.3) microM, respectively]. In contrast, the vasorelaxant activity of zaprinast in intact and denuded phenylephrine-contracted guinea pig aortas, as well as denuded (SHR and WKY) aortas was minimal. Sodium nitroprusside and atriopeptin II were significantly (P less than .05) more potent as vasorelaxants in denuded SHR aortas when compared with denuded aortas from WKY. Pretreatment with zaprinast potentiated the vasorelaxant potency of sodium nitroprusside in both SHR and WKY aortas whereas atriopeptin II responses were potentiated only in WKY aortas. In studies with the low Km cGMP PDE, isolated via DEAE column chromatography, the apparent Km for cGMP and potency of zaprinast were approximately 2-fold greater (P less than .05) in WKY when compared with the same PDE isozyme isolated from SHR aortic preparations. However, the Vmax (picomoles per milligram per minute) for cGMP hydrolysis was greater in SHR than in WKY. In conclusion, these data show that, although there are no apparent differences in the influence of spontaneously released endothelium-derived relaxing factor from SHR and WKY aortas, reactivity differences to other agents known to stimulate guanylate cyclase activity exist between SHR and WKY denuded aortas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Phosphodiesterase isozyme inhibition and the potentiation by zaprinast of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and guanylate cyclase stimulating agents in vascular smooth muscle. 256 75

The concentration-effect curve for the relaxant effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in rat aortic rings consisted of two phases with IC50 values of 0.1 microM for Phase I and 14 microM for Phase II. Incubation of tissues with oxyhaemoglobin or the induction of tolerance to GTN abolished responses occurring in Phase I but were without effect on Phase II relaxant responses. Both phases of the relaxant curve appeared to involve cyclic GMP since responses were (i) potentiated by the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast (M & B 22948) and (ii) inhibited by methylene blue and LY83583, agents which inhibit soluble guanylate cyclase. The latter agents inhibited Phase I responses in a non-surmountable manner while Phase II responses were shifted to the right without effect on the maximal response. Neither phase of relaxation involved stimulation of the Na+/K+ ATPase pump since treatment of tissues with ouabain or K+-free solutions did not alter the GTN biphasic curve. Phase I relaxant responses to GTN resembled those to the endothelium-dependent relaxant acetylcholine, since oxyhaemoglobin and methylene blue were non-surmountable antagonists; however there was no cross tolerance to acetylcholine in GTN tolerant tissues. Phase II relaxant responses resembled those obtained with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) since neither oxyhaemoglobin nor the induction of tolerance to GTN altered the response to SNP. These results indicate that there are two distinct mechanisms of relaxation for GTN in rat aortic rings; however both mechanisms appear to involve cyclic GMP as the second messenger.
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PMID:Biphasic relaxant curves to glyceryl trinitrate in rat aortic rings. Evidence for two mechanisms of action. 256 26

Three isoforms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) have been recently isolated from aortic tissue and two of them specifically hydrolyzed adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), respectively (Lugnier et al., Biochem. Pharmac. 35, 1743, 1986). The role of these forms in controlling cyclic nucleotide levels and smooth muscle tone was investigated by the use of PDE inhibitors. The effects of selective inhibitors of the two forms specifically hydrolyzing cAMP or cGMP (cAMP-PDE and cGMP-PDE, respectively) were compared to those of non-selective inhibitors of the three aortic PDE forms, including the calmodulin-sensitive one (CaM-PDE). Relaxation responses and accumulation of tissue cAMP and cGMP induced by these drugs were studied in precontracted rat isolated aorta, and compared to the effects of isoprenaline and forskolin (stimulants of adenylate cyclase) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and sodium azide (stimulants of guanylate cyclase). The eight PDE inhibitors tested all relaxed aorta with potencies that correlated with their potencies as inhibitors of cAMP-PDE, but not of cGMP-PDE. At a concentration producing half-maximal relaxation, all PDE inhibitors induced a moderate but significant accumulation of cAMP, which was comparable to the accumulation of cAMP elicited by half-maximally relaxing concentrations of adenylate cyclase stimulating agents. At this concentration, some PDE inhibitors (M&B 22,948, dipyridamole and to a lesser extent, trequinsin) also induced a significant increase in cGMP levels, of the same order of magnitude as that caused by agents stimulating guanylate cyclase. However, the cGMP-increasing effect of these inhibitors was dissociated from their relaxing effect. In particular, the relaxing concentrations of M&B 22,948 (a selective inhibitor of cGMP-PDE) were clearly higher than the cGMP-increasing concentrations of the compound. At a concentration at which they elicited 10% relaxation by themselves, the selective cAMP-PDE inhibitor, rolipram, as well as the mixed inhibitor of cAMP- and cGMP-PDE, AAL 05 (a cilostamide analogue) enhanced both the cAMP-increasing and the relaxing effect of isoprenaline. Under the same conditions, no clear enhancement of the relaxation induced by SNP was observed. Only M&B 22,948 showed a slight potentiating effect on SNP-induced relaxation, but this effect was limited to low concentrations of SNP (less than 10 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Role of cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterases in the control of cyclic nucleotide levels and smooth muscle tone in rat isolated aorta. A study with selective inhibitors. 282 8

Nitric oxide (NO) was compared with prostacyclin as an inhibitor of the activation of human platelets during isolation, washing and storage. The use of NO throughout the procedure prevented the activation of platelets. The morphology and behaviour of NO-washed platelets was similar to that of prostacyclin-washed platelets when stored at 4 degrees C for up to 24 h. Prolonged storage resulted in deterioration of the platelets which occurred earlier in the NO-washed than in the prostacyclin-washed platelets. The protective effect of NO was potentiated by the selective cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor M & B 22948, suggesting that it is mediated by the activation of guanylate cyclase.
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PMID:Isolation and washing of human platelets with nitric oxide. 284 84

We used an apparatus in which pieces of dark-adapted amphibian retinas (Rana pipiens, Bufo marinus) obtained under infrared illumination were exposed to precise intervals of 500-nm illuminations, and then frozen by contact of their outer segment surface with a liquid helium-cooled copper mirror. Sections of the frozen outer segment layer were obtained in a cryostat and then assayed for total extractable cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Significant losses of cGMP with respect to the dark level were evident as early as 60 ms after light onset. With dim subsecond illuminations these losses were surprisingly large, which suggests a previously underestimated magnification in the cGMP cascade, or a transient substantial inhibition of guanylate cyclase activity in combination with increased cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity. Within the subsecond period, significant losses that were proportional to light intensity (2-log-unit range) and duration (60-550 ms) were generally not evident. However, losses significantly proportional to these factors became evident with durations of 1 s or longer. When pieces of retina were first illuminated (10 or 60 ms), then held in darkness for increasing periods before freezing, we observed a continuous loss of cGMP during the early postillumination dark period, followed by a recovery of the total cGMP level. The times for recovery to the preillumination level appear to be significantly longer than times reported for the recovery of the photoreceptor membrane potential after similar light exposures.
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PMID:Light-induced losses and dark recovery rates of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in rod outer segments of intact amphibian photoreceptors. 285 Oct 28

We have demonstrated previously that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) augments urinary, plasma and kidney cGMP levels but has no significant effect upon cAMP. Using cGMP as a marker, we searched for specific target sites involved in the action of ANF in the dog kidney, and observed no change of cGMP in the proximal tubules, a 2-fold increase over basal levels in the thick loop of Henle and a 3-fold elevation in the collecting duct. The most striking action on cGMP occurred in the glomeruli with a rise of up to 50-fold being evident at 1-2 min. after the addition of ANF. The results obtained in the absence or presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor support the notion that the effects of ANF were exerted at the level of guanylate cyclase stimulation rather than cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibition. The action of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a direct stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase, differed from that of ANF. The ability of the factor to enhance cGMP levels was correlated with the distribution of particulate guanylate cyclase. This study identifies the glomeruli and the distal part of the nephron as specific targets of ANF and implicates particulate guanylate cyclase as the enzyme targetted for the expression of its action.
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PMID:The increase of cGMP by atrial natriuretic factor correlates with the distribution of particulate guanylate cyclase. 285 57

Adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities in the thyroid gland were significantly reduced after hypophysectomy, followed by a gradual restoration of the enzyme activities to the levels seen in sham-operated rats whereas a slight and persistent reduction was evident in guanylate cyclase and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities in the same tissue. These changes in enzyme activities were restored by TSH administration but not by ACTH. The recovery of activity produced by TSH administration was inhibited by cycloheximide. Hypophysectomy, or TSH and cycloheximide administration, did not produce any significant changes in the concentrations of calmodulin, suggesting that the alteration of these enzyme activities is not induced by a decrease in the concentration of calmodulin. Since forskolin activation of adenylate cyclase did not restore the reduced activity in the hypophysectomized rat thyroid to the level found in the sham-operated control rat thyroid, we conclude that there is a reduction of the amount of enzyme after hypophysectomy rather than a change of the active site on adenylate cyclase. The spontaneous restoration of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities after hypophysectomy implies that cyclic AMP-metabolizing enzymes are responsive to an autoregulatory mechanism in thyroid follicular cells.
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PMID:Effect of hypophysectomy on cyclic 3',5'-nucleotidemetabolizing enzymes in the rat thyroid gland. 286 Jan 96


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