Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

In vitro Measurements of Tracheal Constriction Using Mice
Published on: June 25, 2012
Chymase processes big-endothelin-2 to endothelin-2-(1-31) that induces contractile responses in the isolated monkey
1Department of Pharmacology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan. pha010@art.osaka-med.ac.jp
Abstract:
Purified monkey chymase cleaved the Tyr31-Gly32 bond of big-endothelin-1 and big-endothelin-2 to yield endothelin-1-(1-31) and endothelin-2-(1-31), respectively. In the isolated monkey trachea, endothelin-1-(1-31) and endothelin-2-(1-31), as well as big-endothelin-1 and big-endothelin-2, induced contractile responses. Chymostatin, which inhibits chymase, suppressed the contractile response induced by big-endothelin-2 to 16.6% but not the responses induced by big-endothelin-1, endothelin-1-(1-31) and endothelin-2-(1-31). These results suggest that the contractile response of big-endothelin-2 is predominantly dependent on the conversion of big-endothelin-2 to endothelin-2-(1-31) by chymase.
Related Concept Videos
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Smooth Muscle Contraction
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...

