Control of Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigote Motility through the Nitric Oxide Pathway |
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Authors: | CLAUDIO PEREIRA CRISTINA PAVETO JOAQUIN ESPINOSA GUILLERMO ALONSO MIRTHA M FLAWÁ HECTOR N TORRES |
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Institution: | Institute de Investigaciones en Ingenieria GenPtica y Biologia Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientljkas y TPcnicas and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Obligado 2490, I428 Buenos Aires, Argenrina |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT. Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote motility can be enhanced by addition of L-arginine, to the culture. This effect is blocked by N-methyl-L-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase. N-methyl-D-aspartate and L-glutamate, two agonists of the NMDALglutamate receptor, also enhanced motility. This stimulation is blocked by MK-801 a noncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor. In addition, sodium nitroprusside, a guanylyl cyclase stimulator and 8-Br-cyclic GMP, an analog of cyclic GMP, also stimulated epimastigote motility. It is suggested that an increase of intracellular cyclic GMP levels mediated by nitric oxide may be responsible for the increase in epimastigote motility. |
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Keywords: | Cyclic GMP guanylyl cyclase nitric oxide synthase NMDAn-glutamate receptors |
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