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Tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent formation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (nitric oxide) in aortic endothelial
K Schmidt1, E R Werner, B Mayer
1Institut für Pharmakodynamik und Toxikologie, Universität Graz, Austria.
The Biochemical Journal
|January 15, 1992
Abstract:
Inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4biopterin) biosynthesis in endothelial cells almost completely abolished the agonist-induced formation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) (NO). This inhibitory effect could be antagonized when H4biopterin biosynthesis was restored by activating a salvage pathway. These data indicate that the formation of EDRF strictly depends on the presence of intracellular H4biopterin, which, in addition to Ca2+, may represent a further physiological and/or pathophysiological regulatory of endothelial NO synthases.