Cyclic-GMP

There are numerous second messenger systems such as those utilizing cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, calcium and calmodulin, phosphoinosiddes, and diacylglerol with accompanying modulatory mechanisms. Each receptor is coupled to these in a variety of ways in different cell types. Therefore, it can be seen that it is impractical to attempt to quantitatively define each stimulus-response mechanism for each receptor system. Fortunately, this is not an... 

CREB stands for cyclic-AMP response element (CRE) binding protein and is a transcription factor. When phosphorylated by cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-dependent Protein Kinases or other protein kinases it binds to gene promoters that contain a specific binding site. After binding, the respective transcription activity is modulated. 

Synthesized by soluble guanylyl cyclase and particulate guanylyl cyclase from guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Nitric oxide activates soluble guanylyl cyclase to enhance cyclic GMP production that contributes to various NO actions. Cyclic GMP is hydrolyzed by phosphodiesterases. Cyclic GMP binds to and activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphodiesterases, and Cyclic Nucleotide-regulated Cation Channels. 

Cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) are formed enzymatically from the corresponding triphosphates. As ubiquitous second messengers, they mediate many cellular functions which are initiated by first (extracellular) messengers. Their prime targets in eucaryotic cells are protein kinases ( cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase), ion channels and ensymes. 

Guanylyl cyclases (GC) are a family of enzymes (EC 4.6.1.2) that catalyse the formation of the second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP) from guanosine triphosphate (GTP). GCs are subdivided in soluble GCs and GCs that are membrane-bound and linked to a receptor. Activation occurs by nitric oxide (NO) and pqrtide hormones, respectively [1,2]. 

Heme (C34H3204N4Fe) represents an iron-porphyrin complex that has a protoporphyrin nucleus. Many important proteins contain heme as a prosthetic group. Hemoglobin is the quantitatively most important hemoprotein. Others are cytochromes (present in the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum), catalase and peroxidase (that react with hydrogen peroxide), soluble guanylyl cyclase (that converts guanosine triphosphate, GTP, to the signaling molecule 3, 5 -cyclic GMP) and NO synthases. 

Nitroglycerin has long been used for the treatment of acute attack of angina pectoris, and its stable analogs are available to prevent the anginal attack. Nitrovaso-dilators such as sodium nitropmsside liberate NO from their molecules in the tissue (thus, called NO donors) and elicit actions via cyclic GMP like those seen with endogenously synthesized NO. 

The enzyme guanylyl cyclase produces the second messenger guanosine monophosphate (3, 5 -cyclic GMP, cGMP) from guanosine triphosphate (GTP). 

Cyclic-AMP Response Element Binding Protein Cyclic GMP-dependent Protein Kinase Cyclic GMP-regulated Phosphodiesterases Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (Cyclic GMP cGMP)... 

MLCK itself is phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP activated protein kinase, (protein kinase A) and cyclic-GMP activated protein kinase, (protein kinase G). Protein kinase A will phosphorylate MLCK at two sites and protein kinase G at one in some cases and two in others. These differences seem to be important in how the individual smooth muscle cells are regulated. 

Cyclic GMP is made from GTP by the enzyme gua-nylyl cyclase, which exists in soluble and membrane-bound forms. Each of these isozymes has unique physiologic properties. The atriopeptins, a family of peptides produced in cardiac atrial tissues, cause natriuresis, diuresis, vasodilation, and inhibition of aldosterone secretion. These peptides (eg, atrial natriuretic factor) bind to and activate the membrane-bound form of guanylyl cyclase. This results in an increase of cGMP by as much as 50-fold in some cases, and this is thought to mediate the effects mentioned above. Other evidence links cGMP to vasodilation. A series of compounds, including nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, nitric oxide, sodium nitrite, and sodium azide, all cause smooth muscle re-... 

Kamata, K., Miyata, N. and Kasuya, Y. (1989). Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation and changes in levels of cyclic GMP in aorta from streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 97, 614-618. 

Chou SM, Wang HS, Taniguchi A. Role of SOD-1 and nitric oxide/cyclic GMP cascade on neurofilament aggregation in ALS/MND. J Neurol Sci 1996 139 suppl 16-26. 

Fedele, E., Varnier, G., Ansaldo, M.A., Raiteri, M. Nicotine administration stimulates the in vivo N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor/nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway in rat hippocampus through glutamate release. Br. J. Pharmacol. 125 1042, 1998. 

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