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S Ebashi

Publications and source records attributed to S Ebashi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Regulatory mechanism in smooth muscle: actin-linked regulation.

Our view about the Ca regulation of smooth muscle contraction can be summarized as follows: the regulatory system is actin-linked and consists of tropomyosin and leiotonin; the latter is a complex of two proteins, leiotonin A, the regulatory moiety, and leiotonin C, the Ca-binding moiety. Leiotonin resembles troponin in some respects, but is clearly different in that it has no affinity for tropomyosin and is effective at a leiotonin/actin molar ratio of less than 1:50. The methods of preparing leiotonin were critically reviewed and a suggestion was provided for the development of a new procedure. References were also made to our idea that the myosin light chain phosphorylation may not play an essential role in smooth muscle contraction. With reference to a new type of actin-linked factor from Physarum polycephalum through which Ca2+ represses the actin-myosin-ATP interaction, the diversity of the modes of action of Ca2+ was discussed.

Actins↗

The Croonian lecture, 1979: Regulation of muscle contraction.

In this lecture I review briefly the history of the recognition of calcium ion as the sole regulatory factor of muscle contraction at the molecular level and how this led to the discovery of the troponin-tropomyosin system, which is the regulatory system of striated muscles of almost all deuterostomias and some protostomias. This is followed by a brief comment on the myosin-linked regulation, which plays a dominating role in many protostomian muscles. The regulatory mechanism in vertebrate smooth muscle is then discussed; the view is advanced that the leiotonin-tropomyosin system may be the only regulatory device for this muscle. Ca-binding components of troponin and smooth muscles of vertebrates are compared with modulator protein, an omnipresent Ca-binding protein of very conservative nature throughout evolution. Finally, the modes of action of Ca ion in different kinds of cell motility are discussed from an evolutionary point of view.

Actins↗

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data of chicken gizzard G-actin . DNase I complex and Physarum G-actin . DNase I complex.

Smooth muscle G-actin from chicken gizzard and Physarum plasmodium G-actin both interact with DNase I and form 1 : 1 complexes. These complexes were crystallized by using polyethylene glycol 6000 as a precipitant. Both crystals belong to the same orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). The cell dimensions of chicken gizzard G-actin.DNase I complex are a=42.00 +/- 0.07 A, b=225.3 +/- 0.4 A, and c=77.4 +/- 0.1 A, while those of Physarum G-actin.DNase I complex are a=42 A, b=221 A, and c=77 A.

Actins↗

Ca2+ regulation in vascular smooth muscle.

Regulation of aorta smooth muscle contraction by Ca ion requires the collaboration of the 80,000 dalton factor and tropomyosin. A method for preparing pure actin from aorta smooth muscle is described.

Actins↗

Ca-releasing action of beta, gamma-methylene adenosine triphosphate on fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum.

beta,gamma-Methylene adenosine triphosphate (AMPOPCP) has two effects on fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum (FSR), i.e., inhibition of the rate of Ca uptake and the induction of Ca release from FSR filled with Ca. The Ca release brought about by AMPOPCP has many features in common with the mechanism of Ca-induced Ca release: i) it is inhibited by 10 mM procaine; ii) the amount of Ca release increases with increase in the extent of saturation of FSR with Ca; iii) increase of the Ca concentration in the extent of saturation of FSR with Ca; iii) increase of the Ca concentration in the medium facilitates the release of Ca. However, no facilitation of Ca release upon decrease of Mg concentration in the medium is observable. AMPOPCP and caffeine potentiate each other remarkably in their Ca-releasing action, irrespective of the kind of substrate. From the mode of action of AMPOPCP on the rate of Ca uptake, the amount of phosphorylated intermediate (EP), and the effect on Sr release, it is suggested that the state of the FSR-ATP complex is crucial for Ca-induced Ca release.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗