title: [Molecular pharmacology of intracellular Ca2+ messenger system in cardiovascular function: development and application of selective inhibitors].
abstract: The importance of Ca2+ for the transmission of information inside living cells is well-recognized. The mobilized Ca2+ binds to the intracellular Ca2+ binding proteins to transmit the Ca2+ signal. Calmodulin is the most important Ca2+ binding protein to exert pleiotropic effects on various cellular functions by activating multiple enzymes. To determine the physiological significance of the Ca2+ messenger system, specific inhibitors are quite essential. We have been originally developing novel and selective inhibitors, and analyzing the several processes involved in information flow in the Ca(2+)-dependent regulatory system of cell functions. The aim of this review is to introduce our research strategy for the production of selective inhibitors towards calmodulin-dependent enzymes and to discuss recent progress in the understanding of the multiple calmodulin-dependent pathways that mediate the action of exogenous physiological stimuli. We summarize much of the pharmacological evidence that has led to our current knowledge of calmodulin-regulated cell functions, with emphasis on aspects that may be relevant to drug design. These H-series inhibitors are one of the most powerful tools as molecular probes for pharmacological approaches, and will shed light on the physiological significance and molecular mechanisms of the calmodulin-dependent pathways in various cell functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hidaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D002118:Calcium