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

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Abstract
1 The adenylate cyclase of Trypanosoma brucei is activated by local anaesthetics. 2 Activation of adenylate cyclase by the local anaesthetic, benzyl alcohol, requires Ca2+. 3 The kinetics of the presteady state reveal that the activation step occurs prior to and is separate from the catalytic step. 4 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. 5 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.