title: Nitric oxide as a messenger molecule for myoblast fusion.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule of vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and neurons. Here, we demonstrate that the activity of NO synthase increases transiently but dramatically in chick embryonic myoblasts that are competent for fusion. This activity requires Ca2+, calmodulin, and NADPH. In addition, the increase in NO synthase activity coincides with an increase in cellular cGMP level. Furthermore, NO generated by treatment with sodium nitroprusside induces precocious myoblast fusion, while treatment with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, or methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, delays fusion. These results provide the first evidence for a strong association of NO with myoblast fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D013997:Time Factors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D009599:Nitroprusside; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D008751:Methylene Blue