title: cGMP as second messenger during Dictyostelium chemotaxis.
abstract: The chemoattractant cAMP induces directed cell locomotion in Dictyostelium cells. Several second messenger pathways are activated upon binding of cAMP to G-protein-coupled receptors, including adenylyl cyclase, guanylyl cyclase, phospholipase C, and the opening of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. These second messenger responses are unaltered in many chemotactic mutants, except for the cGMP response. Activation of guanylyl cyclase depends on G-proteins and is regulated by a cGMP-binding protein in a complex manner. This cGMP-binding protein also mediates intracellular functions of cGMP to activate a PKC-related kinase that phosphorylates myosin II heavy chain, thereby allowing myosin filaments to rearrange during cell movement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Haastert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000502:physiology*; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP