title: Nitric oxide signalling and cellular adaptations to changes in oxygenation.
abstract: Fluctuations in oxygen (O2) levels characterise the cellular microenvironment in physiological and pathological processes such as placentation and malignant progression. Cells adapt to such changes in oxygenation by modifying gene expression, thereby regulating a spectrum of functions. Recent studies indicate that an important mechanism by which cells adapt to changes in oxygenation involves modifications in endogenous nitric oxide (NO) signalling. The effect of oxygen on the NO pathway involving cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent signalling appears to play a critical role in the regulation of cellular phenotypes. This specific NO signalling pathway may also operate in conjunction with gene expression regulated by the transcription molecule hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Thus, NO is emerging as a novel regulator of oxygen-sensitive phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Botterell Hall, Room 859, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., Canada K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: Lynne-Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Postovit
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D014157:Transcription Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D010100:Oxygen