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. 1993 Jan 15;289(Pt 2):357–361. doi: 10.1042/bj2890357

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthase activity in the human cervix carcinoma cell line ME-180.

G Werner-Felmayer 1, E R Werner 1, D Fuchs 1, A Hausen 1, B Mayer 1, G Reibnegger 1, G Weiss 1, H Wachter 1
PMCID: PMC1132175  PMID: 7678733

Abstract

We show here that the human cervix carcinoma cell line ME-180 expresses a constitutive nitric oxide (NO) synthase, as demonstrated by formation of [3H]citrulline and nitrite. The enzyme is dependent on tetrahydrobiopterin, NADPH, flavins and Ca2+/calmodulin. Enzyme activity is located in the cytosol rather than in the membrane fraction and can be inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA). An antiserum to NO synthase purified from porcine cerebellum inhibited the enzyme activity. ME-180 cells released NO, as was shown by stimulation of guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2) in RFL-6 detector cells; this release was stimulated 8-fold by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and 2-fold by increasing the intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin levels with cytokines. This is the first characterization of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase activity in human epithelial-type tumour cells.

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Selected References

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