Nitric Oxide: Synthesis and Action

Kenneth K Wu, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0000634

Nitric oxide is an important mediator of diverse physiological functions such as vascular relaxation, neurotransmission and host defence. It is synthesized endogenously by the action of nitric oxide synthases and formed from organic nitrates and nitrites. Through its action on guanylyl cyclase it increases cellular levels of cyclic GMP, which accounts for most NO activities. Excessive NO production causes tissue damages through its direct actions on intracellular constituents and its formation of peroxynitrite with superoxide.

Keywords: nitric oxide; nitric oxide synthase; guanylyl cyclase; peroxynitrite; neurotoxicity

Figure 1. Domain structures of three isoforms of NOS. The first and last amino acid residues are numbered. Conserved binding sites for cofactors and substrates are marked. The Ù denotes absence of this insert in iNOS.
Figure 2. Schematic views of electron transfer pathway (a) and NO biosynthetic pathway (b) of nitric oxide synthase.
Figure 3. Regulation of NO synthesis from l-arginine and a common cellular action of NO.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Intracellular and Extracellular Signalling | Cell Death and Cellular Senescence | Other Biomolecules: Structure, Function, Metabolism | Enzymes: Structure and Action Mechanism
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Article Title: Nitric Oxide: Synthesis and Action
 
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Wu, Kenneth K(Apr 2001) Nitric Oxide: Synthesis and Action. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0000634]