Nox regulation of smooth muscle contraction

Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Jul 1;43(1):31-8. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.03.006. Epub 2007 Mar 12.

Abstract

The catalytic subunit gp91phox (Nox2) of the NADPH oxidase of mammalian phagocytes is activated by microbes and immune mediators to produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which participate in microbial killing. Homologs of gp91phox, the Nox and Duox enzymes, were recently described in a range of organisms, including plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates such as Drosophila melanogaster. While their enzymology and cell biology are being extensively studied in many laboratories, little is known about in vivo functions of Noxes. Here, we establish and use an inducible system for RNAi to discover functions of dNox, an ortholog of human Nox5 in Drosophila. We report here that depletion of dNox in musculature causes retention of mature eggs within ovaries, leading to female sterility. In dNox-depleted ovaries and ovaries treated with a Nox inhibitor, muscular contractions induced by the neuropeptide proctolin are markedly inhibited. This functional defect results from a requirement for dNox-for the proctolin-induced calcium flux in Drosophila ovaries. Thus, these studies demonstrate a novel biological role for Nox-generated ROS in mediating agonist-induced calcium flux and smooth muscle contraction.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Female
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Infertility, Female / enzymology*
  • Infertility, Female / genetics
  • Muscle Contraction* / genetics
  • Muscle, Smooth / enzymology
  • Muscle, Smooth / physiology*
  • NADPH Oxidases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NADPH Oxidases / genetics
  • NADPH Oxidases / physiology*
  • Neuropeptides / pharmacology
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Ovary / drug effects
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Ovulation* / genetics
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Neuropeptides
  • Oligopeptides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • proctolin
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Nox protein, Drosophila
  • Calcium