For more than four decades, the cyclic nucleotides cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP) have been recognized as important signaling molecules within cells. Under normal physiological conditions, cyclic nucleotides regulate a myriad of biological processes such as cell growth and adhesion, energy homeostasis, neuronal signaling, and muscle relaxation. In addition, altered cyclic nucleotide si...

The mechanisms by which adenosine triphosphate, thrombin, and trypsin cause relaxation of vascular smooth muscle were investigated. Relaxation of the rat thoracic aorta with adenosine triphosphate, thrombin, and/or trypsin was associated with increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate in both time- and concentration-dependent manners. Thrombin and trypsin did not alter cyclic adenosine ...

....................................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED ................................................................................ xi ACKNOWLEGMENTS .................................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .........................

The cyclic nucleotides 3', 5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3', 5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers found in most animal cell types. They usually mediate an extracellular stimulus to drive a change in cell function through activation of their respective cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, PKA and PKG. The enzymatic components of the malaria...

The development of the luminescence system in Beneckea harveyi is controlled by cyclic nucleotides at the level of transcription. In the wild type, it is repressed by exogenously added guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and this repression is overcome by the addition of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate. These observations alone support a model in which these nucleotides act antagonistical...

In this work, we explored the role of cyclic nucleotides in modulating parameters of the Na/H antiport in human platelets. Sodium nitroprusside and iloprost, as well as cyclic nucleotide analogues, were used to raise cellular levels of cAMP and cGMP. Cyclic nucleotides reversed the thrombin-evoked alkaline shift in cytosolic pH set point and the activity of the Na/H antiport, concurrently with ...

Oxidized and nitrated nucleotides including 8-oxogunanine and 8-nitroguanine derivatives such as 8-nitroguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate were generated by reactive nitrogen oxides and reactive oxygen species in cultured cells and in tissues. 8-oxoguanine and 8-nitroguanine in DNA and RNA are potentially mutagenic, and the former also induces cell death. Some derivative, 8-nitroguanosine 3',...