Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) induces hyper-sensitivity to muscarinic agonists in airway smooth muscle in vitro. The precise mechanism of this is unknown, but might involve altered calcium homeostasis. In order to elucidate the effects of PLA2, on bovine tracheal smooth muscle contraction, isometric tension and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were simultaneously measured in fura 2-loade...

The molecular mechanism of action of presynaptically neurotoxic secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) has not been fully elucidated. We have recently proposed a model to explain one of the hallmarks of their action - the reduction in endocytosis leading to synaptic vesicle depletion in nerve terminals. Our results speak strongly in favor of a mechanism in which both specific protein-protein inter...

Reversible calcium-dependent association with a particulate fraction from human placenta was used as the first step in the purification of substrates for the epidermal growth factor-stimulated protein kinase. A protein with apparent Mr of 35,000 was purified to homogeneity, and the sequence was determined for approximately one-fourth of the protein. These residues could be aligned exactly with ...

Analysis of the subcellular distribution of lipid-metabolizing enzymes was carried out in bone marrow-derived macrophages with special respect to a comparison of the subcellular localisation of phospholipase A1 and A2 and to acyl-CoA:1-1-acylglycero-3-phosphorylcholine-0-acetyltransferase. After cell disruption differential centrifugation was followed by additional sucrose gradient purification...