Cloned and expressed macrophage nitric oxide synthase contrasts with the brain enzyme.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a messenger molecule of macrophages, endothelial cells in blood vessels, and neurons. A neuronal form of NO synthase (NOS) has been previously cloned. We now report the molecular cloning of macrophage NOS. The macrophage enzyme displays 50% sequence identity to the neuronal enzyme. Like neuronal NOS, macrophage NOS has recognition sites for FAD, FMN, and NADPH and also has a consensus calmodulin binding site. Macrophage NOS mRNA is strikingly inducible; it is absent in quiescent macrophages or spleen but is prominent 2-6 hr after endotoxin treatment.
Lowenstein
C J
CJ
Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Glatt
C S
CS
Bredt
D S
DS
Snyder
S H
SH
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013154:Spleen / Q000201:enzymology; D014162:Transfection
D007527:Isoenzymes; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases