사람의 Nitric Oxide 유전자에 대한 연구

초록

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by the action of at least three distinct isoforms of NO synthase (NOS): brain form (bNOS or NOS I), inducible form (iNOS or NOS II), and endothelial form (eNOS or NOS III). Cellular signaling with nitric oxide involves the highly regulated synthesis of NO by NOS, diffusion of NO into the adjacent cell, and activation of the soluble isoform of guanylate cyclase (sGC) leading to the synthesis of the second messenger cGMP. The NO produced by the bNOS has been ascribed a neurotransmitter function in both the central nervous system (CNS) peripheral nervous system (PNS). The NO produced by eNOS in the vascular endothelium diffuses into adjacent smooth muscle and produced relaxation. The NO produced by iNOS in macrophages and neutrophils of immune system is known to kill invading microorgansms, pathogens and tumor cells.