title: B complex vitamins activate rat guanylate cyclase and increase cyclic GMP levels.
abstract: Since B complex vitamins and the intracellular messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) have similar effects of promoting growth, DNA and protein synthesis, the present investigation was designed to determine if the B complex vitamins' mechanism of action might involve cyclic GMP. All of the B complex vitamins increased rat cyclic GMP tissue levels. The cause of these increased cyclic GMP levels was activation of the enzyme guanylate cyclase [E.C.4.6.1.2.] which was increased significantly (P less than 0.001) in a variety of tissues at the l nmol l-1 concentration of these vitamins. The maximal activation of this enzyme required the presence of manganese ion. The present investigation suggests that the guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP system may play a role in the mechanism of action of B complex vitamins at the cellular level.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Vesely
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008345:Manganese; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP