Enzymes of the L-arginine to nitric oxide pathway.
L-Arginine is the biological precursor of nitric oxide (NO), which serves as an important signal and effector molecule in animals. This review summarizes some structure-function aspects of the mammalian nitric oxide synthases, which are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of L-arginine to NO and L-citrulline. These include aspects related to: 1) the chemical transformations of L-arginine during enzyme catalysis, 2) binding of L-arginine or its structural analogs to the nitric oxide synthases, and 3) how L-arginine levels may affect product formation by the nitric oxide synthases and how this can be modulated by structural analogs of L-arginine.
Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Dennis J
DJ
Stuehr
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002956:Citrulline / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase