title: NO-synthase: what can research on invertebrates add to what is already known?
abstract: The present study attempts to review presently known data regarding the distribution of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and the function of NO in invertebrate species. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by the enzyme NO-synthase, and activates guanylate cyclase which in turn leads to an increase in levels of cGMP in target cells. Major contributions to the knowledge of NO as a messenger molecule in invertebrates have been made by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and biochemical assays. These techniques suggest the presence of a L-arginine/NO pathway in a variety of tissues, thus implicating multiple roles for NO in invertebrates.
authors: Department of Zoology, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors: K U
authors: KU
authors: Johansson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Carlberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase