title: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is myristylated.
abstract: The enzyme responsible for the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and/or nitric oxide in the endothelium has been described as a particulate enzyme, whereas other isoforms of nitric oxide synthase are soluble enzymes. Here we are reporting that endothelial cells metabolically incorporate myristate (C14), but not palmitate (C16), into nitric oxide synthase. We are postulating that the endothelial-derived nitric oxide synthase is a particulate enzyme because of the fatty acid acylation of the protein which 'anchors' the enzyme into the membrane either directly or via another membrane-bound protein.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Group, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL 60064.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klinghofer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Förstermann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murad
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases