Tropheryma whipplei, the Whipple's disease bacillus, induces macrophage apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway

Tropheryma whipplei, the etiological agent of Whipple''s disease, is an intracellular bacterium that infects macrophages. We previously showed that infection of macrophages results in M2 polarization associated with induction of apoptosis and interleukin (IL)-16 secretion. In patients with Whipple''s disease, circulating levels of apoptotic markers and IL-16 are increased and correlate with the activity of the disease. To gain insight into the understanding of the pathophysiology of this rare disease, we examined the molecular pathways involved in T. whipplei-induced apoptosis of human macrophages. Our data showed that apoptosis induction depended on bacterial viability and inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis reduced the apoptotic program elicited by T. whipplei. Induction of apoptosis was also associated with a massive degradation of both pro- and anti-apoptotic mediators. Caspase-specific inhibition experiments revealed that initiator caspases 8 and 10 were required for apoptosis, in contrast to caspases 2 and 9, in spite of cytochrome-c release from mitochondria. Finally, the effector caspases 3 and 6 were mandatory for apoptosis induction. Collectively, these data suggest that T. whipplei induces apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway and that, beside M2 polarization of macrophages, apoptosis induction contributes to bacterial replication and represents a virulence trait of this intracellular pathogen.     

3′非翻译区靶向人工微小RNA对PRRSV在猪肺巨噬细胞中复制的抑制作用（英文）北大核心CSCD

【目的】研究重组腺病毒(rAd)传送的3′非翻译区(UTR)靶向amiR3UTR对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)在猪肺巨噬细胞(PAM)中复制的抑制作用。【方法】用表达amiR3UTR或对照amiRcon的腺病毒载体转染AAV-293细胞,获得rAd-amiR3UTR-GFP和rAd-amiRcon-GFP,用定量RT-PCR检测amiR3UTR在rAd转导细胞中的表达,用定量RT-PCR、Western blotting和病毒滴定检测amiR3UTR对PRRSV复制的抑制作用。【结果】原代PAM及其细胞系3D4/163均能被rAd-amiR3UTR-GFP转导,但前者转导效率很低;rAd-amiR3UTR-GFP转导细胞能有效表达amiR3UTR,且表达具有剂量和时间依赖性;rAd表达的amiR3UTR能显著抑制不同毒株PRRSV在PAM细胞中的复制,且抑制作用具有剂量依赖性。【结论】amiR3UTR能抑制不同毒株PRRSV在PAM中的复制,其rAd有望作为抗PRRSV新策略进行深入研究。     

Selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors derived from muscle relaxant dantrolene

Dantrolene, the only therapeutic agent for malignant hyperthermia, is known to have not only a muscle relaxant effect, but also a neuroprotective effect and Alzheimer's disease improving effect. Recently, it has been reported that dantrolene has a weak inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is a therapeutic drug target for Alzheimer's disease. Thus, we focused on developing of AChE inhibitors with benzylpiperidine/piperazine moieties that are based on the dantrolene skeleton. Several derivatives showed an inhibitory activity. Among them, ortho-nitro derivative 8c showed the most potent inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ value of 34.2 nM. Furthermore, Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis indicated that 8c is AChE-selective inhibitor, which shows only a weak inhibitory effect on butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and a non-competitive inhibition.     

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Inhibits Substrate Adherence Capacity of Rat Peritoneal Macrophages by a Mechanism That Involves cAMP

In this study, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is shown to inhibit substrate adherence capacity of rat peritoneal macrophages. The inhibitory response occurred in the 0.1-1, 000 nM range of VIP concentrations and it was a time-dependent process. At 15 min, half maximal inhibition (ICw) was obtained at 0.37 ± 0.26 nM and maximal inhibition (53.8%) at 10^?6 M VIP. The inhibitory effect of VIP was correlated with the stimulation by this peptide of cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in rat peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, agents that inhibited VIP-stimulated cAMP production, such as the VIP-antagonist [4-Cl-D-Phe₆ Leu₁₇]-VIP and somatostatin, also decreased the inhibitory effect of VIP on substrate adherence capacity of macrophages. On the contrary, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and the lipid-soluble derivative of cAMP N⁶ 2′-O-dibutyryl cAMP (Bu-cAMP) inhibited the adherence of macrophages to substrate and potentiated the inhibitory action of VIP. These results demonstrate that VIP inhibits substrate adherence capacity of rat peritoneal macrophages by a mechanism that involves cAMP, and show, for the first time, an action of VIP on the function of peritoneal macrophages.     

Discovery of new VEGFR-2 inhibitors based on bis([1, 2, 4]triazolo)[4,3-a:3',4'-c]quinoxaline derivatives as anticancer agents and apoptosis inducers

Herein, a new wave of bis([1, 2, 4]triazolo)[4,3-a:3'',4''-c]quinoxaline derivatives have been successfully designed and synthesised. The synthesised derivatives were biologically investigated for their cytotoxic activities against HepG2 and MCF-7. Also, the tested compounds were further examined in vitro for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity. The most promising derivative 23j was further investigated for its apoptotic behaviour in HepG2 cell lines using flow cytometric and western-plot analyses. Additional in-silico studies were performed to predict how the synthesised compounds can bind to VEGFR-2 and to determine the drug-likeness profiling of these derivatives. The results revealed that compounds 23a, 23i, 23j, 23l, and 23n displayed the highest antiproliferative activities against the two cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 6.4 to 19.4 µM. Furthermore, compounds 23a, 23d, 23h, 23i, 23j, 23l, 23 m, and 23n showed the highest VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.7 to 11.8 nM, comparing to sorafenib (IC₅₀ = 3.12 nM). Moreover, compound 23j arrested the HepG2 cell growth at the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis by 40.12% compared to the control cells (7.07%). As well, such compound showed a significant increase in the level of caspase-3 (1.36-fold), caspase-9 (2.80-fold), and BAX (1.65-fold), and exhibited a significant decrease in Bcl-2 level (2.63-fold).     

Effects of cholinergic agents on the vasopressin-mediated water transport in the isolated toad bladder

The aim of this work was to study the effect of some pharmacological cholinergic agents on the events that follow the interaction of arginine vasopressin with toad bladder membrane receptors related to synthesis of 3′5′_cAMP. The water flow through the membrane was measured gravimetrically in sac preparations of the membrane. In the absence of arginine vasopressin (AVP), carbachol induced a significant increase in the water flow (37%) related to the basal (Ringer's solution). On the other hand, when carbachol and AVP were associated, a significant decrease of AVP hydrosmotic activity occurred (23%). The inhibitory effect of carbachol on the AVP action was almost completely abolished by the cholinergic antagonists atropine, pirenzepine, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) and the calcium antagonist lanthanum. Similarly, when carbachol and 3′5′ cyclic adenosine monophosphate (3′5′_cAMP) were associated, a decrease of nucleotide hydrosmotic activity was observed (12.80%). This effect was partially restored by the addition of pirenzepine or 4-DAMP in the bath solution. These results suggest a role for muscarinic receptors of sub-type M₁ and M₃, which are involved in the intracellular calcium release. The increase of calcium concentration in the intracellular medium acts as a negative modulator in the hydrosmotic action of antidiuretic hormone.     

On the mode of action of 5-diazouracil on bacterial cell division

Cell division by strains ofEscherichia coli andSalmonella typhimurium is inhibited by 5-diazouracil (5-DU). Division recovers in the presence of the inhibitor after a period which is temperature-dependent. Recovery is probably due to breakdown of 5-DU and the rate of this breakdown is apparently increased at alkaline pH. Growth with 5-DU caused only a slight reduction in the rate of murein synthesis and no alteration in the properties or composition of membranes ofS. typhimurium. The agent caused chaining inStreptococcus fecalis and inhibition of the penicillin-induced lysis ofS. typhimurium. These effects may have been due to direct inhibition of lysin activity but an indirect effect seems more likely. The most marked effect of 5-DU onS. typhimurium was to cause a transient inhibition of DNA synthesis. Since 5-DU did not stop uncoupled cell division (i.e. division occurring independently of DNA replication) and sincelon^? strains were more sensitive to 5-DU thanlon⁺ strains, it was concluded that 5-DU acts on cell division via an inhibitory effect on DNA replication.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of chalcone Mannich base derivatives as multifunctional agents for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

A series of chalcone Mannich base derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as multifunctional agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease based on the multi-target directed ligands design strategy. In vitro assays demonstrated that most of the derivatives exerted potent selective inhibitory potency on AChE with good multifunctional properties. Among them, representative compound 7c exhibited moderate inhibitory potency for EeAChE (IC₅₀ = 0.44 μM) and MAO-B inhibition (IC₅₀ = 1.21 μM), good inhibitory effect on self-induced Aβ₁₋₄₂ aggregation (55.0%, at 25 μM), biometal chelating property, moderate antioxidant activity with a value 1.93-fold of Trolox. Moreover, both kinetic analysis of AChE inhibition and molecular modeling study revealed that 7c showed a mixed-type inhibition, binding simultaneously to CAS and PAS of AChE. In addition, 7c also displayed high BBB permeability. These properties indicated 7c may be a promising multifunctional agent for the treatment of AD.     

Effects of dopamine on prolactin secretion and cyclic AMP accumulation in the rat anterior pituitary gland

The effects of dopamine on pituitary prolactin secretion and pituitary cyclic AMP accumulation were studied by using anterior pituitary glands from adult female rats, incubated in vitro. During 2h incubations, significant inhibition of prolactin secretion was achieved at concentrations between 1 and 10nm-dopamine. However, 0.1–1μm-dopamine was required before a significant decrease in pituitary cyclic AMP content was observed. In the presence of 1μm-dopamine, pituitary cyclic AMP content decreased rapidly to reach about 75% of the control value within 20min and there was no further decrease for at least 2h. Incubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline (8mm) or isobutylmethylxanthine (2mm) increased pituitary cyclic AMP concentrations 3- and 6-fold respectively. Dopamine (1μm) had no effect on the cyclic AMP accumulation measured in the presence of theophylline, but inhibited the isobutylmethylxanthine-induced increase by 50%. The dopamine inhibition of prolactin secretion was not affected by either inhibitor. Two derivatives of cyclic AMP (dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 8-bromo cyclic AMP) were unable to block the dopamine (1μm) inhibition of prolactin secretion, although 8-bromo cyclic AMP (2mm) significantly stimulated prolactin secretion and both compounds increased somatotropin (growth hormone) release. Cholera toxin (3μg/ml for 4h) increased pituitary cyclic AMP concentrations 4–5-fold, but had no effect on prolactin secretion. The inhibition of prolactin secretion by dopamine was unaffected by cholera toxin, despite the fact that dopamine had no effect on the raised pituitary cyclic AMP concentration caused by this factor. Dopamine had no significant effect on either basal or stimulated somatotropin secretion under any of the conditions tested. We conclude that the inhibitory effects of dopamine on prolactin secretion are probably not mediated by lowering of cyclic AMP concentration, although modulation of the concentration of this nucleotide in some other circumstances may alter the secretion of the hormone.     

Some regulatory properties of glycogen phosphorylase from Streptococcus salivarius

Purified (200-fold) glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) of Streptococcus salivarius was activated by AMP and NaF when assayed both in the direction of synthesis and in the direction of phosphorolysis. Activation by NaF + AMP was greater than the sum of their individual effects. In the direction of synthesis, the K_m for AMP was 0.25 mm and was decreased to 0.125 mm in the presence of NaF. The K_m for NaF was 0.49 m and was decreased to 0.40 m in the presence of AMP. Glycogen phosphorolysis was similarly affected by AMP and NaF, except that above a concentration of 2 mm AMP was inhibitory. The effects of AMP and NaF were reversible since preincubation with these compounds, followed by dialysis, restored activity almost to the control values although some inhibition of enzyme activity was noted with the samples preincubated with NaF. The presence of both NaF and AMP had no effect on the K_m values for glucose-1-P and glycogen in the direction of synthesis, but increased the V of the enzyme.When assayed in the absence of AMP and NaF in the direction of synthesis, the enzyme was slightly inhibited by glucose and glucose-6-P, and activated by P-enolpyruvate and ADP-glucose. In the presence of AMP and NaF, the enzyme was inhibited by glucose, glucose-6-P and ADP-glucose, but was activated by P-enolpyruvate. Fructose-1,6-P₂ had no effect on the enzyme. The enzyme was further activated in the absence of AMP and NaF by adenosine, ATP, GMP, cyclic AMP and ADP, and was slightly inhibited by GTP and GDP. In the presence of AMP and NaF, however, these compounds, with the exception of adenosine, either did not show any effect or were slightly inhibitory. Adenosine was slightly stimulatory with NaF + AMP, but not with AMP alone. In the direction of phosphorolysis, the enzyme was inhibited by glucose and ADP-glucose, and activated by P-enolpyruvate, fructose-1,6-P₂ and ATP, both in the presence and absence of AMP + NaF.     

Lymphocyte and macrophage adenyl cyclase activity in animals with enhanced cell-mediated resistance to infection and tumors.

As cyclic AMP has been associated with the inhibition of lymphocyte cytotoxicity, studies were performed to investigate adenyl cyclase activity in lymphocytes and macrophages of Toxoplasma-infected mice in which the efferent limb of the cell-mediated immune response had previously been found to be activated. In peritoneal or splenic lymphocytes from $\text{Balb}\text{c}$ mice chronically infected with Toxoplasma in which growth of an isogeneic bladder tumor was found to be inhibited, adenyl cyclase activity was significantly less than in lymphocytes from uninfected control mice. Stimulation by prostaglandin E₁ or NaF in vitro led to higher levels of adenyl cyclase activity in lymphocytes from unifected animals than in cells from Toxoplasma-infected animals. Similar observations were made with peritoneal macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected and uninfected mice. Lower levels of adenyl cyclase activity were also found in lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice than in lymphocytes from nontumor-bearing controls. These data suggest that production of cyclic AMP by lymphocytes is inhibited with activation of certain cell-mediated immune functions.     

Synthesis of new pyridothienopyrimidinone derivatives as Pim-1 inhibitors

Four series of pyridothienopyrimidin-4-one derivatives were designed and prepared to improve the pim-1 inhibitory activity of the previously reported thieno[2,3-b]pyridines. Significant improvement in the pim-1 inhibition and cytotoxic activity was achieved using structure rigidification strategy via ring closure. Six compounds (6c, 7a, 7c, 7d, 8b and 9) showed highly potent pim-1 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ of 4.62, 1.18, 1.38, 1.97, 8.83 and 4.18?μM, respectively. Four other compounds (6b, 6d, 7b and 8a) showed moderate pim-1 inhibition. The most active compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity on three cell lines [MCF7, HCT116 and PC3]. Compounds 7a [the 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro derivative] and 7d [the 2-(2-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)-2,3-dihydro derivative] displayed the most potent cytotoxic effect on the three cell lines tested consistent with their highest estimated pim-1 IC₅₀ values.     

Nucleoside triphosphate metabolism in the muscle tissue of Ascaris lumbricoides (Nematoda)

Barrett J. 1973. Nucleoside triphosphate metabolism in muscle tissue of Ascaris lumbricoides (Nematoda). International Journal for Parasitology3: 393–400. Nucleosidediphosphate kinase and adenylate kinase were found to be extremely active in Ascaris muscle. Apart from adenylate kinase, no other nucleosidemonophosphate kinases could be detected. There was no measurable AMP deaminase activity or arginine or creatine phosphokinase activity in Ascaris muscle. Analysis of perchlorate extracts of freeze clamped Ascaris muscle revealed no arginine or creatine phosphate and negligible amounts of acid labile phosphate. Adenosine tri-, di- and monophosphates were the major nucleotides, constituting 93 per cent of the total, with only small amounts of inosine and guanosine di- and triphosphates being detected. The significance of these results in the energy metabolism of Ascaris muscle is discussed.     

Antioxidant,anti-tyrosinase and anti-melanogenic effects of (E)-2,3-diphenylacrylic acid derivatives

During our continued search for strong skin whitening agents over the past ten years, we have investigated the efficacies of many tyrosinase inhibitors containing a common (E)-β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl scaffold, which we found to be essential for the effective inhibition of mushroom and mammalian tyrosinases. In this study, we explored the tyrosinase inhibitory effects of 2,3-diphenylacrylic acid (2,3-DPA) derivatives, which also possess the (E)-β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl motif. We synthesized fourteen (E)-2,3-DPA derivatives 1a–1n and one (Z)-2,3-DPA-derivative 1l′ using a Perkin reaction with phenylacetic acid and appropriate substituted benzaldehydes. In our mushroom tyrosinase assay, 1c showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity (76.43 ± 3.53%, IC₅₀ = 20.04 ± 1.91 µM) with than the other 2,3-DPA derivatives or kojic acid (21.56 ± 2.93%, IC₅₀ = 30.64 ± 1.27 μM). Our mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory results were supported by our docking study, which showed compound 1c (−7.2 kcal/mole) exhibited stronger binding affinity for mushroom tyrosinase than kojic acid (−5.7 kcal/mole). In B16F10 melanoma cells (a murine cell-line), 1c showed no cytotoxic effect up to a concentration of 25 μM and exhibited greater tyrosinase inhibitory activity (68.83%) than kojic acid (49.39%). In these cells, arbutin (a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor used as the positive control) only inhibited tyrosinase by 42.67% even at a concentration of 400 μM. Furthermore, at 25 µM, 1c reduced melanin contents in B16F10 melanoma cells by 24.3% more than kojic acid (62.77% vs. 38.52%). These results indicate 1c is a promising candidate treatment for pigmentation-related diseases and potential skin whitening agents.     

Colchicine-binding protein and the secretion of thyroid hormone

The role of microtubules in the thyrotropin- or adenosine 3'',5'' cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-stimulated accumulation of cytoplasmic colloid droplets and secretion of iodine from the mouse thyroid gland has been investigated by means of different classes of agents that affect the stability of microtubules. The onset of inhibition of secretion by colchicine, the uptake of colchicine-³H by thyroid lobes, and the binding of colchicine-³H to thyroidal soluble protein are shown to have similar time courses Colloid droplet accumulation is also inhibited and does not readily resume upon removal of colchicine from the medium. This appears to be due to the slow washout of the drug (t _½ ∼ hr). Thyroids contain a soluble colchicine-binding protein that resembles microtubule proteins of other tissues with respect to apparent K_m for colchicine, pH optimum, and stability characteristics Colchicine analogues inhibit iodine secretion and colchicine binding in a parallel manner and as a function of their antimitotic potencies. Microtubule-stabilizing agents such as hexylene glycol and D₂O also inhibit secretion. Thus, inhibition of thyroid secretion by antimitotic agents appears to be mediated by an effect on microtubules. The inhibitory locus of colchicine inhibition occurs after the generation of cyclic AMP, since stimulation of secretion by this nucleotide is blocked by colchicine, whereas thyroid-stimulating hormone—induced accumulation of cyclic AMP is not affected. Thus, the functioning microtubule appears to play a role in the induction of colloid endocytosis.     

Suppression of lymphokine production: I. Macrophage-mediated inhibition of MIF production

Macrophages have been found to suppress the in vitro production by stimulated T lymphocytes of a lymphokine, migration inhibitory factor. When macrophages isolated from primary MSV-induced tumors were added to antigen-stimulated MSV-immune spleen cells, a complete suppression of MIF production was observed. This suppression was nonspecific, since MIF production by antigen-stimulated alloimmune spleen cells and by PHA-stimulated normal spleen cells was also inhibited. Suppressor macrophages could also be induced by inoculation with Corynebacterium parvum, whereas light mineral oil-induced peritoneal macrophages had no detectable effect on MIF production. The failure to detect MIF in the supernatants of stimulated cultures containing activated macrophages appeared to be due to inhibition of lymphokine production rather than to absorption or inactivation of MIF or to interference with the assay for detection of MIF. Macrophages were able to suppress MIF production only when added during the first 4–5 hr of culture and they had no effect when added later. These data show that activated macrophages can nonspecifically suppress lymphokine production and that this appears to be due to inhibition of an early step in lymphocyte stimulation.     

Phagocytosis of mast cell granules results in decreased macrophage superoxide production

The mechanism by which phagocytosed mast cell granules (MCGs) inhibit macrophage superoxide production has not been defined. In this study, rat peritoneal macrophages were co-incubated with either isolated intact MCGs or MCG-sonicate, and their respiratory burst capacity and morphology were studied. Co-incubation of macrophages with either intact MCGs or MCG-sonicate resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of superoxide- mediated cytochrome c reduction. This inhibitory effect was evident within 5 min of incubation and with MCG-sonicate was completely reversed when macrophages were washed prior to activation with PMA. In the case of intact MCGs, the inhibitory effect was only partially reversed by washing after a prolonged co-incubation time. Electron microscopic analyses revealed that MCGs were rapidly phagocytosed by macrophages and were subsequently disintegrated within the phagolysosomes. Assay of MCGs for superoxide dismutase (SOD) revealed the presence of significant activity of this enzyme. A comparison of normal macrophages and those containing phagocytosed MCGs did not reveal a significant difference in total SOD activity. It is speculated that, although there was no significant increase in total SOD activity in macrophages containing phagocytosed MCGs, the phagocytosed MCGs might cause a transient increase in SOD activity within the phagolysosomes. This transient rise in SOD results in scavenging of the newly generated superoxide. Alternatively, MCG inhibition of NADPH oxidase would explain the reported observations.     

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Inhibits Substrate Adherence Capacity of Rat Peritoneal Macrophages by a Mechanism That Involves cAMP

In this study, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is shown to inhibit substrate adherence capacity of rat peritoneal macrophages. The inhibitory response occurred in the 0.1-1, 000 nM range of VIP concentrations and it was a time-dependent process. At 15 min, half maximal inhibition (ICw) was obtained at 0.37 ± 0.26 nM and maximal inhibition (53.8%) at 10^-6 M VIP. The inhibitory effect of VIP was correlated with the stimulation by this peptide of cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in rat peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, agents that inhibited VIP-stimulated cAMP production, such as the VIP-antagonist [4-Cl-D-Phe₆ Leu₁₇]-VIP and somatostatin, also decreased the inhibitory effect of VIP on substrate adherence capacity of macrophages. On the contrary, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and the lipid-soluble derivative of cAMP N⁶ 2'-O-dibutyryl cAMP (Bu-cAMP) inhibited the adherence of macrophages to substrate and potentiated the inhibitory action of VIP. These results demonstrate that VIP inhibits substrate adherence capacity of rat peritoneal macrophages by a mechanism that involves cAMP, and show, for the first time, an action of VIP on the function of peritoneal macrophages.     

Effects of α2-adrenergic action on cyclic AMP levels in canine thyroid slices

The elevation of cyclic AMP levels induced by TSH in canine thyroid slices was markedly inhibited by norepinephrine. Yohimbine (100 μM), an α₂-adrenergic blocker, completely abolished the inhibitory effect of norepinephrine. The inhibition by yohimbine was dose-related. Phentolamine, a mixed α-adrenergic blocker, showed similar effects, while prazosin, an α₁-adrenergic blocker exhibited no such effects.These results indicate that there exist α₂-adrenergic receptors in canine thyroid glands, which may be involved in thyroid gland functions.     

Adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate in Euglena gracilis

$\text{Euglena gracilis}$ contains in high concentration the enzymes for the synthesis and degradation of cyclic AMP. The synthetic enzyme, adenyl cyclase is mainly associated with a particulate fraction which sediments at 7,000–30,000xg whereas the degradative enzyme, 3′5′ nucleotide phosphodiesterase, is soluble (does not sediment at 78,000xg). The adenyl cyclase activity is stimulated somewhat by prostaglandins and by catecholamines, agents which markedly stimulate cyclase in appropriate mammalian tissues. There is no detectable activity of guanyl cyclase, the enzyme which synthesizes cyclic GMP. $\text{Euglena}$ also contains a cyclic AMP stimulated protein kinase which is associated with a particulate fraction sedimenting at 30,000xg.