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)

Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule of vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and neurons. Here, we demonstrate that the activity of NO synthase increases transiently but dramatically in chick embryonic myoblasts that are competent for fusion. This activity requires Ca2+, calmodulin, and NADPH. In addition, the increase in NO synthase activity coincides with an increase in cellular cGMP level. Furthermore, NO generated by treatment with sodium nitroprusside induces precocious myoblast fusion, while treatment with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, or methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, delays fusion. These results provide the first evidence for a strong association of NO with myoblast fusion.
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PMID:Nitric oxide as a messenger molecule for myoblast fusion. 751 68

Although nitric oxide (NO) appears to be one of the oxidation products of L-arginine catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS; EC 1.14.13.39), past studies on the measurement of NO in cell-free enzymatic assays have not been based on the direct detection of the free NO molecule. Instead, assays have relied on indirect measurements of the stable NO oxidation products nitrite and nitrate and on indirect actions of NO such as guanylate cyclase activation and oxyhemoglobin oxidation. Utilizing a specific chemiluminescence assay, we report here that the gaseous product of L-arginine oxidation, catalyzed by both inducible macrophage and constitutive neuronal NOS, is indistinguishable from authentic NO on the basis of their physicochemical properties. NO gas formation by NOS was dependent on L-arginine, NADPH, and oxygen and inhibited by NG-methyl-L-arginine and cyanide anion. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) caused a marked, concentration-dependent increase in the production of free NO by mechanisms that were unrelated to the dismutation of superoxide anion or activation of NOS. These observations indicate that free NO is formed as a result of NOS-catalyzed L-arginine oxidation and that SOD enhances the generation of NO without directly affecting NO itself. SOD appears to elicit a novel biological action, perhaps accelerating the conversion of an intermediate in the L-arginine-NO pathway such as nitroxyl (HNO) to NO.
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PMID:Formation of free nitric oxide from l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase: direct enhancement of generation by superoxide dismutase. 752 87

A nitric oxide synthase was partially purified from soluble extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by this enzyme activity required NADPH and was blocked by EGTA. The reaction was activated by Ca2+, calmodulin, tetrahydrobiopterin, and FAD, and inhibited by N omega-methyl-L-arginine. L-Glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate stimulated in vivo conversion of L-arginine to citrulline by epimastigote cells. These stimulations could be blocked by EGTA, MK-801, and ketamine and enhanced by glycine. A sodium nitroprusside-activated guanylyl cyclase activity was detected in cell-free, soluble preparations of T. cruzi epimastigotes. L-Glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and sodium nitroprusside increased epimastigote cyclic GMP levels. MK-801 bound specifically to T. cruzi epimastigote cells. This binding was competed by ketamine and enhanced by glycine or L-serine. Evidence thus indicates that in T. cruzi epimastigotes, L-glutamate controls cyclic GMP levels through a pathway mediated by nitric oxide.
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PMID:The nitric oxide transduction pathway in Trypanosoma cruzi. 754 49

In the present study we demonstrated that human erythrocytes possess a NO synthase (NOS) that can be activated by oxidative stress and Ca2+ accumulation to produce nitric oxide (NO), and that this activation could be involved in the pathogenesis of toxic anaemia in breast cancer patients. By causing oxidative stress in human erythrocytes with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (100 microM), or by increasing the intracellular calcium concentration using various doses (up to 100 microM) of the calcium ionophore A23187, a gradual increase in both NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) release that was inhibited by N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (1mM) was observed. Time-dependent experiments using hemolysates showed a linear rise of NO production which was elevated by 60% in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (100 U). NOS isolated from hemolysates was constitutively expressed and was dependent on NADPH, Ca2+/calmodulin, tetrahydrobiopterin and flavins. In reconstitution experiments, when purified NOS, isolated from erythrocytes, was added to purified soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), isolated from endothelial cells, in the presence of the appropriate cofactors and substrates, a linear increase in cGMP production at various concentrations (up to 50 microM) of H2O2 was observed. Furthermore, it was shown that erythrocytes from breast cancer patients were subjected to higher oxidative stress by ONOO- (100 microM), with a consequential increase of membrane rigidity, than erythrocytes from healthy individuals. Such mechanic changes may result in shortening of the lifespan of erythrocytes, a feature of toxic anemia in cancer patients.
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PMID:Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production by human erythrocytes: a causative factor of toxic anemia in breast cancer patients. 754 67

1. The mechanism of human sunburn is poorly understood but its characteristic features include the development of erythema. In this study we attempted to determine whether human keratinocytes possess a nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS), if this enzyme could be activated to release NO following exposure to ultraviolet B (u.v.B) and to define whether this photo-induced response could be involved in the pathogenesis of sunburn erythema. 2. Treatment of human keratinocytes with various doses of u.v.B (290-320 nm) radiation (up to 100 mJ cm-2) resulted in a dose-dependent release of NO and cyclic GMP production that was reduced by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). 3. u.v.B irradiation of keratinocyte cytosol at varying doses (up to 50 mJ cm-2), resulted in a gradual rise in NO production, with a concomitant increase in soluble guanylate cyclase activity (sGC). 4. NOS isolated from the keratinocyte cytosol was constitutively expressed and was dependent on NADPH, Ca2+/calmodulin, tetrahydrobiopterin and flavins. 5. In reconstitution experiments, when purified NOS was added to purified sGC, both isolated from keratinocyte cytosol, a four fold increase in cyclic GMP was observed. The GMP was increased by NO synthesized following u.v.B radiation (up to 20 mJ cm-2) of NOS. 6. In in vivo experiments, guinea-pigs were subjected to u.v.B light. A Protection Factor (PF) of 8.71 +/- 2.85 was calculated when an emulsified cream formulation containing L-NMMA (2%) was applied to their skin. 7. The present results indicate that u.v.B radiation acts as a potent stimulator of NOS in keratinocytes. NO is lipophilic and may diffuse out of the keratinocytes, activating sGC in endothelial cells and neighbouring smooth muscle cells. This may be a major part of the integrated response of the skin leading to vasodilatation and erythema.
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PMID:Release by ultraviolet B (u.v.B) radiation of nitric oxide (NO) from human keratinocytes: a potential role for nitric oxide in erythema production. 762 Jul 17

The synaptosomes from canine ileal deep muscular plexus possess a nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive soluble guanylate cyclase, as demonstrated by approximately 3- to 4-fold elevation of synaptosomal cyclic GMP levels in the presence of either 1 mM sodium nitroprusside or L-arginine (20-1,000 microM) plus 1 mM NADPH. The activating effect of L-arginine on synaptosomal soluble guanylate cyclase was related to its enzymatic conversion to citrulline by NO synthase. The synaptosomal NO synthase was found to exhibit both calcium-independent and calcium/calmodulin-dependent components accounting for approximately 2- to 2.5-fold and 7- to 8-fold increases in the basal activity, respectively. The absolute magnitude of these activities was several-fold greater compared to the activities observed in the isolated cells of circular smooth muscle. The synaptosomal Ca-independent and Ca/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase activities were inhibited by methylene blue and L-NG-arginine methyl ester. The NO synthase activity was also attenuated in the presence of cyclic AMP (10 microM). Such an inhibition was related primarily to the suppression of Ca-independent activity. The ability of enteric nerves to generate NO from L-arginine strongly suggests the involvement of this process in the biochemical mechanisms underlying the neurogenic control of intestinal motility.
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PMID:Nitric oxide synthase in the autonomic nervous system of canine ileum. 767 46

We show here that the human cervix carcinoma cell line ME-180 expresses a constitutive nitric oxide (NO) synthase, as demonstrated by formation of [3H]citrulline and nitrite. The enzyme is dependent on tetrahydrobiopterin, NADPH, flavins and Ca2+/calmodulin. Enzyme activity is located in the cytosol rather than in the membrane fraction and can be inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA). An antiserum to NO synthase purified from porcine cerebellum inhibited the enzyme activity. ME-180 cells released NO, as was shown by stimulation of guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2) in RFL-6 detector cells; this release was stimulated 8-fold by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and 2-fold by increasing the intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin levels with cytokines. This is the first characterization of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase activity in human epithelial-type tumour cells.
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PMID:Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthase activity in the human cervix carcinoma cell line ME-180. 767 33

Methylene blue appears to inhibit nitric oxide-stimulated soluble guanylyl cyclase and has been widely used for inhibition of cGMP-mediated processes. We report here that endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated blood vessels and NO synthase-dependent cGMP formation in cultured endothelial cells were both markedly more sensitive to inhibition by methylene blue than effects induced by direct activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. These discrepancies were also observed when superoxide dismutase (SOD) was present to protect NO from inactivation by superoxide anion. Subsequent experiments showed that formation of L-citrulline by purified NO synthase was completely inhibited by 30 microM methylene blue (IC50 = 5.3 and 9.2 microM in the absence and presence of SOD, respectively), whereas guanylyl cyclase stimulated by S-nitrosoglutathione was far less sensitive to the drug (50% inhibition at approximately 60 microM, and maximal inhibition of 72% at 1 mM methylene blue). Experimental evidence indicated that oxidation of NADPH, tetrahydrobiopterin or reduced flavins does not account for the inhibitory effects of methylene blue. Our data suggest that methylene blue acts as a direct inhibitor of NO synthase and is a much less specific and potent inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase than hitherto assumed.
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PMID:Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by methylene blue. 767 77

The objective of this study was to determine the role of superoxide ion in the formation of nitric oxide by brain NO synthase. NO synthase activity was detected by activation of guanylate cyclase in broken cell preparations. NO synthase activity was dependent on NADPH and was inhibited by EGTA, hemoglobin, Nw-methyl-L-arginine and nitroblue tetrazolium. While the addition of exogenous superoxide dismutase significantly enhanced NO synthase activity, bovine liver catalase completely abolished NO formation. None of these NO synthase modulators, however, altered NO-dependent stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity. These observations indicate that catalytic conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide by cytosolic, isoform of brain NO synthase requires superoxide ion, hydrogen peroxide and possibly hydroxyl radical.
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PMID:Nitric oxide synthase: involvement of oxygen radicals in conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide. 768 3

1. Using rat cerebellum supernatant, the effects of radio frequency (RF) burst-type electromagnetic (EM) field radiation on the production of cyclic GMP were examined under various conditions. The radiation was generated by a generator coil, and set at a 10 MHz radiation frequency, a 50% burst time, a 10 kHz burst rate and a 5 V peak-to-peak generator voltage. 2. When the cerebellum supernatant was incubated with both exogenous L-arginine (nitric oxide (NO) donor) and NADPH, and irradiated by an RF burst-type EM field, the production of cyclic GMP was increased significantly from a level of 21-22 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1 to 25-26 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1. By contrast, such an effect was not found when the cerebellum supernatant was irradiated by an RF volley-type EM field. 3. When neither L-arginine nor NADPH were added to the cerebellum supernatant, the production of cyclic GMP was lowered to a level of 6 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1 and the radiation effect was not found. When the cerebellum supernatant was chelated with EDTA, the production of cyclic GMP was lowered to a level of 7 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1 and the radiation effect was not found. 4. Incubation with Methylene Blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, lowered the production of cyclic GMP to a level of 10-12 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1, and the radiation effect did not occur. On incubation with a NO synthase inhibitor, either NG-methyl-L-arginine or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, the production of cyclic GMP was lowered to a level of 10-12 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1 or 5-9 nmol min-1 (g tissue)-1 respectively, and the radiation effect was not observed. 5. Using electrochemical NO probes, the production of NO in the cerebellum supernatant was detected. The concentration of NO increased gradually after the onset of the EM field radiation. The radiation effect persisted, and reached a maximum after the cessation of the radiation. 6. In an in vivo study, the arterioles of the frog web were dilated by the radiation, and this radiation effect was almost completely abolished by the addition of a NO synthase inhibitor. This indicates that radiation activates NO synthase and ultimately induces vasodilatation.
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PMID:Increase in nitric oxide and cyclic GMP of rat cerebellum by radio frequency burst-type electromagnetic field radiation. 768 8


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