title: Partial biochemical characterization of nitric oxide synthase in the caudal spinal cord of the teleost Oreochromis niloticus.
abstract: The present study demonstrates that a NADPH/Ca2+-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity is present in the soluble and in the particulate fractions of fish caudal spinal cord homogenates, both activities being inhibited by calmodulin inhibitors (W7 and/or TFP) and by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Moreover, Western blot analysis using either anti-NOS I or anti-NOS III antibodies shows that the soluble enzyme corresponds to the brain NOS (NOS-I) of mammals, whereas the particulate one is likely attributable to NOS I and/or NOS III (ecNOS) enzymes. To confirm the nitric oxide (NO) production by the caudal spinal cord homogenates, the NO-mediated conversion of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin was monitored spectroscopically. The present results are consistent with a constitutive, Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent, NO production by the caudal neurosecretory system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Human Biology, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. cioni@axrma.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Francia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabrizi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colasanti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venturini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007700:Kinetics; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017210:Tilapia; D014268:Trifluoperazine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014268:Trifluoperazine; D009249:NADP; C017967:W 7; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester