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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264 constitutively synthesizes tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), the cofactor required for the hydroxylation of the aromatic amino acids and for the production of nitric oxide. Stimulation of the cells with interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide induced the production of nitric oxide and increased BH4 levels further. When the cells were stimulated in the presence of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP), an inhibitor of BH4 biosynthesis, biopterin levels decreased by 90% within 6 hr, whereas nitrite production was essentially unaffected. Pretreatment of the cells for 12 hr with DAHP decreased intracellular BH4 concentrations by > 95% yet inhibited the cytokine-stimulated production of nitric oxide by only 50%. However, pretreatment with DAHP plus N-acetylserotonin, an inhibitor of sepiapterin reductase, the terminal enzyme of the BH4 biosynthetic pathway, decreased biopterin levels by > 99% and inhibited nitric oxide synthesis by 90%. This inhibition could be reversed by loading the cells with dihydrobiopterin, a precursor of BH4 via the dihydrofolate reductase salvage pathway. In addition, these studies revealed that N-acetylserotonin has a direct inhibitory effect on nitric oxide synthesis, acting in a BH4-independent manner. The results presented here support previous suggestions, based on experiments with isolated enzymes, that BH4 is absolutely required for cytokine-stimulated nitric oxide production in macrophages and they suggest that only a small fraction of the total intracellular BH4 pool in macrophages is utilized in the production of fully active nitric oxide synthase.
Mol Pharmacol 1993 Jan
PMID:Tetrahydrobiopterin is required for cytokine-induced nitric oxide production in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264). 767 92

We previously reported that angiotensin II (Ang II) increases cGMP content through a new Ang II receptor subtype that is distinct from both the AT1 and AT2 subtypes in differentiated Neuro-2A cells. In this study, the mechanism of the Ang II-stimulated cGMP increase was investigated in comparison with bradykinin- and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-stimulated cGMP increases in differentiated Neuro-2A cells. Ang II increased cGMP in differentiated Neuro-2A cells rapidly, with a maximal effect in 30 sec and a return to basal levels in 60 sec. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or pretreatment with a membrane-permeable Ca2+ chelator [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester] attenuated Ang II-stimulated cGMP accumulation. Both the time course and Ca2+ dependency of the effect of Ang II were similar to those of the effect of bradykinin, which activates soluble guanylyl cyclase, but distinct from those of the effect of ANF, which activates particulate guanylyl cyclase. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, attenuated the effects of Ang II and bradykinin but not that of ANF. LaCl3, a nonspecific Ca2+ blocker, prevented Ang II-stimulated cGMP accumulation. L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, nifedipine and diltiazem, or an N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin, failed to inhibit the effect of Ang II. Ang II had no effect on formation of 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate or cAMP content, whereas bradykinin stimulated 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate formation in differentiated Neuro-2A cells. Further, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine attenuated Ang II- and bradykinin-stimulated elevation of cGMP content but not that stimulated by ANF. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 also stimulated cGMP formation and the effect was inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. These results indicate that the newly found Ang II receptor mediates cGMP formation through activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and that the activation is mediated by nitric oxide, which is increased by Ca2+ influx via an ion channel distinct from the L-type and N-type Ca2+ channels.
Mol Pharmacol 1993 Apr
PMID:New signaling mechanism of angiotensin II in neuroblastoma neuro-2A cells: activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase via nitric oxide synthesis. 768 50

Nitric oxide (NO) is a recently discovered messenger for the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase in a wide variety of cell types. Although enzymes involved in NO synthesis have been discovered, the regulation of their action is not clear. The possibility of NO regulating the activity of a crude NO synthase (EC 1.14.23) preparation from bovine cerebellum was investigated. Authentic NO (50-400 microM) produced a marked attenuation of NO synthase activity, as measured by the stoichiometric conversion of L-[3H]arginine to L-[3H]citrulline. This inhibition was mimicked by the nitrovasodilators S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, sodium nitroprusside, and glyceryl trinitrate. NO was most potent in inhibiting the enzyme activity, followed by S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, sodium nitroprusside, and glyceryl trinitrate. The effects of NO and the nitrovasodilators were concentration dependent and reversible. Oxyhemoglobin (50 microM), a scavenger of NO, partially prevented the inhibition of NO synthase activity by NO. Inorganic nitrite (5 mM), the oxidation product of NO, did not produce any effect on the enzyme activity. The Km for L-arginine was not significantly changed by NO (200 microM) (from 6.4 +/- 0.8 microM to 10.6 +/- 1.6 microM), whereas the Vmax of the enzyme was markedly decreased (from 80 +/- 4 to 45 +/- 4 pmol/min/mg of protein). This study suggests that NO production may be regulated by a direct effect of NO on the activity of NO synthase.
Mol Pharmacol 1993 Jul
PMID:Regulation of nitric oxide synthase by nitric oxide. 768 67

N omega-Substituted analogues of L-arginine have proven useful as specific inhibitors of nitric oxide formation in various biological systems. In the present study we describe the characteristics of amino acid transporters that mediate uptake of N omega-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA) and N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) into cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. The transport of L-[14C]NMA showed biphasic kinetics, with Km values of 4 and 368 microM, and was inhibited by L-arginine, L-homoarginine, L-lysine, and L-ornithine but not by L-leucine or L-isoleucine. Similar transport kinetics (Km values of 6 and 609 microM) and substrate specificities were obtained for L-[3H]arginine uptake, indicating that L-arginine and L-NMA are transported by the same system. In contrast to L-arginine and L-NMA transport, uptake of L-[3H]NNA was monophasic (Km = 617 microM) and was inhibited by L-leucine and L-isoleucine but not by L-arginine, L-homoarginine, L-NMA, L-lysine, or L-ornithine. Uptake studies with L-[3H]leucine revealed that the transport of this amino acid occurred in a manner very similar to that of L-[3H]NNA transport, suggesting that the uptake of both compounds may be mediated by the same system. In additional experiments, we determined the effects of L-NMA and L-NNA on the A23187-induced accumulation of intracellular cGMP, to establish to what extent these transport systems are involved in the actions of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. L-Lysine and L-ornithine, which both inhibited L-NMA uptake, increased the IC50 of L-NMA from 7.8 microM to 57 microM but did not reduce the inhibitory effects of L-NNA. In the presence of L-leucine or L-isoleucine, however, which both inhibited L-NNA uptake, the IC50 of L-NNA was increased from 1.2 microM to 37 microM but the inhibitory actions of L-NMA remained unaffected. These data demonstrate that the endothelial transport systems for L-arginine and L-leucine mediate the biological effects of L-NMA and L-NNA, respectively.
Mol Pharmacol 1993 Sep
PMID:Characterization of endothelial cell amino acid transport systems involved in the actions of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. 769 Apr 51

Endogenously generated or exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO) redox species induce apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. Activation of the inducible NO synthase by incubation of cells with a combination of lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma produced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and morphological alterations, i.e., chromatin condensation, indicative of apoptotic cell death. These alterations, reflecting the production of NO, were prevented by an inhibitor of NO synthase, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. Moreover, NO derived from endogenous or exogenous sources caused accumulation of the tumor suppressor gene p53. Proposing a link between NO generation and DNA fragmentation, we investigated interfering biochemical signaling pathways. Therefore, we tested the ability of four NO-releasing compounds [sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO)] to cause specific DNA fragmentation. All NO donors induced DNA fragmentation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. However, substance-specific differences became obvious. After an 8-hr incubation period, GSNO proved to be the strongest apoptotic inducer, whereas SIN-1 was much less active. Apoptosis was rapid with GSNO and SNP, yielding specific DNA fragments after 4 hr and 5 hr, respectively. In contrast, SNAP and SIN-1 produced DNA fragmentation after considerable lag times of 9 hr and 14 hr, respectively. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect of protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase became apparent. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of PKC, inhibited DNA fragmentation by all four NO donors, whereas PKC inhibitors such as staurosporine and calphostin C sensitized macrophages to apoptosis induced by SNP and GSNO. Lipophilic cAMP analogues suppressed SNP-, SIN-1, and SNAP-induced DNA fragmentation. Thus, our study suggests the existence of specific down-modulatory mechanisms related to NO-induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation.
Mol Pharmacol 1995 Apr
PMID:Nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages is antagonized by protein kinase C- and protein kinase A-activating compounds. 772 36

The functional effects of G protein-linked glutamate receptor activation have been studied in mouse mesencephalic neurons in vitro. We have been able to identify two receptor classes, one linked to phosphoinositide hydrolysis and another that inhibits adenylate cyclase. The agonist (1S,3R)-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD) affected the two responses with similar potency (EC50 = 2 and 7 microM, respectively). In contrast, (2S,3S,4S)-alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine selectively decreased adenylate cyclase activity (EC50 = 150 nM), without interfering with the phosphoinositide pathway. Activation of ion channel-linked glutamate receptors in mesencephalic neurons leads to cGMP formation. In this study, we demonstrate that cell pretreatment with ACPD or (2S,3S,4S)-alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine prevented, in a dose-dependent fashion, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cGMP formation but not the kainate-stimulated response. The pharmacological profile suggests that receptors that are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase are responsible for this effect. Coexposure of neurons to ACPD and Ba2+, a K+ channel blocker, counteracted the ACPD-induced blockade of NMDA receptors, suggesting that activation of K+ conductances could be involved in the post-transduction events triggered by metabotropic receptors in the mesencephalon. Neuronal treatment with NMDA for 10 min caused a reduction in mitochondrial activity. Direct inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with the inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine or removal of extracellular nitric oxide with reduced hemoglobin did not prevent this metabolic impairment, thus excluding a role for nitric oxide in this test for excitotoxicity. On the contrary, the mitochondrial function was maintained when neurons exposed to NMDA were preincubated with metabotropic receptor agonists. To summarize, our results suggest that metabotropic receptors that are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase exert modulatory control specifically on NMDA receptor activity. This event could also contribute to the reduction of neurotoxic effects due to NMDA receptor hyperactivity.
Mol Pharmacol 1995 May
PMID:Metabotropic glutamate receptors negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase inhibit N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and prevent neurotoxicity in mesencephalic neurons in vitro. 774 73

It has been postulated that nitric oxide (NO) can react with superoxide anion (.O2-) to generate hydroxyl (.OH) radical. If this is correct, inhibition of NO synthesis could attenuate .OH radical mediated ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore we studied the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a competitive inhibitor of the NO synthase enzyme on ischemia/reperfusion injury injury in isolated perfused rat hearts. Three groups of rats (n = 12-15) were studied. Group I: Untreated ischemia/reperfusion control (37.5 min of global ischemia followed by 20 min reperfusion); Group II: ischemia/reperfusion with 25 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine; and Group III: ischemia/reperfusion in the presence of L-NNA and 2 mM L-arginine, the substrate for NO synthase. Coronary flow (in ml/min) and ventricular developed pressure, +dP/dt and -dP/dt were measured 5 min prior to ischemia and at the end of reperfusion. Baseline preischemic developed pressure was significantly lower in L-NNA perfused hearts than controls (76.8 +/- 5.9 v 97.6 +/- 2.9 mmHg, P < 0.05). However, the developed pressure following reperfusion was significantly greater in L-NNA perfused hearts (57.4 +/- 7.4 v 20.8 +/- 6.4 mmHg in control). This protective effect was reversed by the addition of L-arginine. Preischemic coronary flow was decreased significantly in the L-NNA group (6.4 +/- 0.5 ml/min) compared to controls (11.6 +/- 0.7 ml/min). The duration of sinus rhythm was significantly improved from 3.8 +/- 1.2 min in controls to 15.1 +/- 0.8 min in L-NNA perfused hearts. A corresponding significantly lower incidence of arrhythmias was observed (10.2 +/- 1.5 in ischemia/reperfusion group v 1.7 +/- 0.8 min with L-NNA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
J Mol Cell Cardiol 1995 Jan
PMID:Sustained inhibition of nitric oxide by NG-nitro-L-arginine improves myocardial function following ischemia/reperfusion in isolated perfused rat heart. 776 Mar 62

Retinal neurons that express the immediate early gene c-fos after light exposure were characterized by neurotransmitter content using histochemical and immunocytochemical staining. In Northern blots the amount of c-fos mRNA peaked at 30 min, but remained detectable 60 min following light stimulation. Fos proteins were seen in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers, and the staining was most intense two and three hours after beginning the light exposure. In the ganglion cell layer 30-40% of Fos-immunoreactive cells were cholinergic displaced amacrine cells and 3-5% were ganglion cells. In the inner nuclear layer 24% of Fos-immunoreactive cells were Type I and 7% Type II NADPH-diaphorase-reactive (nitric oxide synthase) amacrine cells, 11% were tyrosine hydroxylase-containing cells, and 10-15% cholinergic amacrine cells. No Fos immunoreactivity was seen in serotoninergic, somatostatin- or VIP-immunoreactive cells, bipolar, horizontal or photoreceptor cells. Nicotine, kainic acid, NMDA and SCH 38393, a dopamine D1 receptor agonist, induced Fos immunostaining in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers, but administration of the corresponding receptor blockers mecamylamine, kynuretic acid, MK-801, haloperidol and SCH 23990 did not prevent light-induced Fos expression.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res 1995 Mar
PMID:Light-induced c-fos expression in amacrine cells in the rabbit retina. 777 1

Calmodulin, the ubiquitous and multifunctional Ca(2+)-binding protein, mediates many of the regulatory effects of Ca2+, including the contractile state of smooth muscle. The principal function of calmodulin in smooth muscle is to activate crossbridge cycling and the development of force in response to a [Ca2+]i transient via the activation of myosin light-chain kinase and phosphorylation of myosin. A distinct calmodulin-dependent kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, has been implicated in modulation of smooth-muscle contraction. This kinase phosphorylates myosin light-chain kinase, resulting in an increase in the calmodulin concentration required for half-maximal activation of myosin light-chain kinase, and may account for desensitization of the contractile response to Ca2+. In addition, the thin filament-associated proteins, caldesmon and calponin, which inhibit the actin-activated MgATPase activity of smooth-muscle myosin (the cross-bridge cycling rate), appear to be regulated by calmodulin, either by the direct binding of Ca2+/calmodulin or indirectly by phosphorylation catalysed by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Another level at which calmodulin can regulate smooth-muscle contraction involves proteins which control the movement of Ca2+ across the sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and which are regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin, e.g. the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump and the ryanodine receptor/Ca2+ release channel, and other proteins which indirectly regulate [Ca2+]i via cyclic nucleotide synthesis and breakdown, e.g. NO synthase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The interplay of such regulatory mechanisms provides the flexibility and adaptability required for the normal functioning of smooth-muscle tissues.
Mol Cell Biochem 1994 Jun 15
PMID:Calmodulin and the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. 781 54

The study demonstrates a strong enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical reaction staining for NADPH-diaphorase/NO-synthase in the secretory cells of the apocrine glands in the hairy skin, and the eccrine glands in the foot pads of domesticated mammals. The results obtained are discussed in view of a regulatory action of the NO generated by these enzyme activities, implying a direct influence of NO on the contractile properties of glandular myoepithelial cells. In this way, a basic and simple mechanism to couple secretion production and secretion extrusion can be proposed.
Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 1994 Mar
PMID:Demonstration of NADPH-diaphorase (NO-synthase) in the apocrine and eccrine skin glands of domesticated mammals. 800 48


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