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K Schultz

Publications and source records attributed to K Schultz.

141 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

The importance of calcium ions for the regulation of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphage levels.

Guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monosphosphate (cyclic GMP) levels in the ductus deferens of the rat were increased 2- to 3-fold by acetylcholine (10-1000 muM) or by 125 mM KCl, while adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels were not changed. After incubation for 30 min in the absence of Ca(++), cyclic GMP control levels were decreased by 85% and were not affected by acetylcholine or KCl. The readdition of Ca(++) (1.8 mM) for 3 min to Ca(++)-deprived tissue partially restored basal cyclic GMP levels and the effects of acetylcholine and KCl. The addition of Sr(++) (3.6 mM) or of Ba(++) (1.8 or 10 mM) also caused an increase in basal cyclic GMP in Ca(++)-deprived tissue. Cyclic AMP levels were not significantly changed under any of these conditions. The addition of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.1 mM), to ductus deferentes increased the amount of cyclic AMP about 50% and that of cyclic GMP about 2-fold. The later effect also depended on the presence of Ca(++). 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.1 mM) increased cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP levels in slices of rat submaxillary glands. Methacholine increased cyclic GMP if added in the presence of methyl isobutylxanthine. Cyclic GMP control levels and the effect of methyl isobutylxanthine were unchanged by Ca(++) omission, but the effect of methacholine was abolished.These findings indicate that calcium ions are important for the control of cyclic GMP levels in these tissues.

Acetylcholine↗

A new enzymatic assay for guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and its application to the ductus deferens of the rat.

A sensitive enzymatic procedure has been developed for the determination of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP). It is based on the conversion of cyclic GMP to GMP by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and on the transfer of (32)P from [gamma-(32)P]ATP to GMP by the action of a specific ATP:GMP phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.4.8). The [(32)P]GDP is separated from the remaining [(32)P]ATP by enzymatic degradation of ATP by myosin and by precipitation of the (32)P(i) formed. The reaction blank, which is mostly caused by the nucleotide content of the enzymes, is doubled by about 0.1 pmol of cyclic GMP. The procedure has advantages in speed and/or accuracy over other methods in current use. Cyclic nucleotide concentrations were studied in the ductus deferens of the rat; two agents were used, carbachol and norepinephrine, which cause contraction. Incubation with 0.1 mM carbachol caused a 3-fold increase in cyclic GMP content, which was maximal about 2 min after carbachol addition. Cyclic AMP concentrations were not significantly changed. Addition of 0.01 mM norepinephrine increased cyclic GMP content by about 25% within 1 min and by 40% within 3 min; cyclic AMP concentrations were only slightly increased. A 3-min incubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.1 mM) doubled the cyclic GMP content and increased cyclic AMP concentration by 50%.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Identification and localization of connexin26 within the photoreceptor-horizontal cell synaptic complex.

Connexin26 (Cx26) is a member of the family of integral membrane proteins that normally form intercellular gap junctional channels. We have used Western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and single-cell reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR) to analyze the expression and cellular localization of Cx26 in the carp retina. In the outer plexiform layer, strong clustered Cx26 immunolabeling was concentrated at and restricted to the terminal dendrites of horizontal cells. Single-cell RT-PCR confirmed the expression of Cx26 in carp retinal horizontal cells. 248-bp fragments amplified from cDNAs of four different horizontal cells were cloned and each nucleotide sequence encodes a protein fragment (AA 104-185) with highly significant homology to rat and mouse Cx26. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that only the invaginating dendrites of horizontal cells in intimate lateral association with the presynaptic ribbon complex were labeled. No labeling was found at the photoreceptor membrane and there was no septalaminar structure, indicative of gap junctions, between photoreceptors and horizontal cells. The focal location of Cx26 at the membrane of the dendritic tips of horizontal cells and the lack of gap junctional morphology suggests that Cx26 might form hemichannels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗