When stimulated by the cholinergic agonist carbachol, PC12 cells rapidly secrete a large fraction of the intracellular catecholamines by exocytotic release from the large dense-core secretory vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. To investigate whether Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II plays a role in the regulated secretion of catecholamines, we examined the effect of the specific Ca2+/calmodulin kin...

Calcium influx in response to extracellular signals can modulate gene transcription. A constitutive, calcium/calmodulin-independent mutant of type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was capable of increasing the transcription rate of specific genes independently of protein kinase C activation. This increase was mediated by transferable cis-active elements capable of binding the tran...

Activation of Ras induces a variety of cellular responses depending on the specific effector activated and the intensity and amplitude of this activation. We have previously shown that calmodulin is an essential molecule in the down-regulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/extracellularly regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in cultured fibroblasts and that this is due at least in part to an inhibitory effect o...

Abstract Background Electrolyzed water, a green chemistry invention, is novel disinfectant that has been widely used in the food field. Previous studies have found slightly acidic electrolyzed water not only bactericidal effect but also promotes accumulation of active substances many types sprouts. We developed new type CaCl 2 –HCl (CHEW), which can effectively enhance formation glucosinolates ...

The urotensin II receptor, bound by the ligand urotensin II, generates second messengers, ie, inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol, which stimulate the subsequent release of calcium (Ca(2+)) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Ca(2+) influx leads to the activation of Ca(2+)-dependent kinases (CaMK) via calmodulin binding, resulting in cellular proliferation. We hypothesize that urotensin II si...

Calmodulin concentration and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity were simultaneously determined on ram spermatozoa collected by cannulation of successive segments of the epididymal tubule. Epididymal transit was characterized on one hand by an overall decrease in the calmodulin level and on the other by a dramatic rise in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. In contrast to the calmodu...