Local Anaesthetics Including Benzyl Alcohol Activate the Adenylate Cyclase in Trypanosoma brucei by a Calcium‐Dependent Mechanism

Abstract

The adenylate cyclase of Trypanosoma brucei is activated by local anaesthetics. Activation of adenylate cyclase by the local anaesthetic, benzyl alcohol, requires Ca2+. The kinetics of the presteady state reveal that the activation step occurs prior to and is separate from the catalytic step. The activation step in the presence of Ca2+ can be stimulated some 200‐fold and is highly co‐operative with respect to benzyl alcohol concentration. The mechanism by which local anaesthetics activate may be by exposing the Ca2+‐binding site of the catalytic step. Ca2+ receptor which is oriented towards the hydrophobic regions of the plasma membrane in the basal state. Copyright © 1982, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved