title: The Golgi association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is necessary for the efficient synthesis of nitric oxide.
abstract: The particulate enzyme, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), produces nitric oxide to maintain normal vasodilator tone in blood vessels. In this study, we demonstrate that eNOS is a Golgi-associated protein in cultured endothelial cells and intact blood vessels. Using a heterologous expression system in HEK 293 cells, we show that wild-type myristoylated and palmitoylated eNOS, but not mutant, non-acylated eNOS targets to the Golgi. More importantly, HEK 293 cells expressing wild-type eNOS release substantially more NO than cells expressing the mutant, non-acylated enzyme. Thus, eNOS is a novel Golgi-associated protein, and Golgi compartmentalization is necessary for the enzyme to respond to intracellular signals and produce NO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Cardeña
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keh
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiru
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Braverman
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases