Changes in the Cellular cGMP Levels and Guanylate Cyclase Activities during Chick Myoblast Fusion

근원세포 융합시 Cellular cGMP 수준과 Guanylate cyclase 활성의 변화

In the previous paper (Choi et al., 1992), we found that a large but transient elevation in intracellular cGMP levels occur concomitant with the myoblast fusion. To establish the physiological significance of the elevation of cGMP levels, the change in guanylate cyclase activity dudng myoblast fusion and the correlation hetween various chemicals that may affect guanylate cyclase adivity and myoblast fusion were examined. Sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide-forming compound, induced a precocious fusion and increased guanylate cyclase activity compared to the control. Furthermore, L-NG-monomethyl arginine, specific inhibitor of L-arginine: nitric oxide synthase, inhibited the cell fusion in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting biochemical differentiation. On the basis of our present findings, we propose that the onset of myoblast fusion is somehow correlated with the rise in cellular cGMP levels that is regulated by the activation or inhibItIon of soluble guanylate cyclase, via as yet undefined mechanism but possibly through L-arginine: nitric oxide pathway.

본 연구를 통해서 근세포 융합과정에서 신호 전달물질의 가능성이 제기되고 있는 세포내 cGMP peak가 guanylate cyclase activity의 변화와 관련이 있으며, guanylate cyclase는 L-arginine: NO synthase에 의해서 촉진될 것임을 입증할 수 있는 간접적 증거를 제시한다. 즉, SNP는 근세포의 융합과 guanylate cyclase activity를 아울러 증가시키며, L-arginine: NO synthase inhibitor인 L-NG-monomethyl arginine은 biochemical differentiation에는 영향을 주지 않고 근세포 융합만을 억제한다. 이러한 결과들과 muthylene blue가 근세포의 융합만을 억제하면서도 biochemical differentiation에는 영향을 주지 않으며 guanylate cyclase activity를 억제하는 사실들을 종합해서 생각할 때, 근세포 융합에서 cGMP peak가 guanylate cyclase activity의 활성화와 관련이 있으며, L-arginine: NO synthase가 $Ca^2$+ influx와 guanylate cyclase 사이를 매개할 가능성을 암시한다.