title: RNA splicing in regulation of nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylyl cyclase.
abstract: Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is a key protein in the nitric oxide (NO)/-cGMP signaling pathway. sGC activity is involved in a number of important physiological processes including smooth muscle relaxation, neurotransmission and platelet aggregation and adhesion. Regulation of sGC expression and activity emerges as a crucial factor in control of sGC function in normal and pathological conditions. Recently accumulated evidence strongly indicates that the regulation of sGC expression is a complex process modulated on several levels including transcription, post-transcriptional regulation, translation and protein stability. Presently our understanding of mechanisms governing regulation of sGC expression remains very limited and awaits systematic investigation. Among other ways, the expression of sGC subunits is modulated at the levels of mRNA abundance and transcript diversity. In this review we summarize available information on different mechanisms (including transcriptional activation, mRNA stability and alternative splicing) involved in the modulation of mRNA levels of sGC subunits in response to various environmental clues. We also summarize and cross-reference the information on human sGC splice forms available in the literature and in genomic databases. This review highlights the fact that the study of the biological role and regulation of sGC splicing will bring new insights to our understanding of NO/cGMP biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. Iraida.G.Sharina@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Iraida G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Sharina
authors.forename: Gilbert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cote
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Marie-Francoise
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Doursout
authors.forename: Ferid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase