title: Post-translational regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in vascular endothelium.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a short-lived gaseous signaling molecule. In blood vessels, it is synthesized in a dynamic fashion by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and influences vascular function via two distinct mechanisms, the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent signaling and the S-nitrosylation of proteins with reactive thiols (S-nitrosylation). The regulation of eNOS activity and NO bioavailability is critical to maintain blood vessel function. The activity of eNOS and ability to generate NO is regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels. Post-translational modifications acutely impact eNOS activity and dysregulation of these mechanisms compromise eNOS activity and foster the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review will intergrate past and current literature on the post-translational modifications of eNOS in both health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Stanford University/VA Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Center, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fulton
keywords: eNOS; nitric oxide; post-translational; vascular diseases; vessel