Carbon monoxide signaling pathway

The "Carbon monoxide signaling pathway" is not a single molecular target but rather a cellular and physiological process involving the endogenous production and action of carbon monoxide (CO) as a gaseous signaling molecule. In mammals, CO is primarily generated by the enzymatic activity of heme oxygenases during heme catabolism. Once produced, CO can bind to ferrous heme-containing proteins such as soluble guanylate cyclase and various ion channels, leading to activation of downstream pathways including cyclic GMP production and modulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases. These actions result in diverse biological effects such as vasodilation, neurotransmission modulation, cytoprotection against oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory responses, and inhibition of apoptosis[1][2][4]. While there is significant interest in pharmacologically targeting this pathway for therapeutic benefit—using agents like carbon monoxide-releasing molecules—the "carbon monoxide signaling pathway" itself does not represent a discrete druggable target like an enzyme or receptor but rather encompasses multiple molecular targets within its network[9]. Note: The entry "Carbon monoxide signaling pathway" is not itself a canonical drug target but describes a broader biological process involving several potential targets. For structured data purposes it should be flagged as incorrect for use as an individual therapeutic target entry.

Other names

Carbon monoxide pathwayCO signalingCO signal transductionGasotransmitter pathway (CO)

Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by CO binding to heme proteins[1][5]