Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Pathway

The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway is a critical intracellular signaling cascade in both animal and plant systems. cGMP itself is a cyclic nucleotide derived from guanosine triphosphate (GTP), acting as a second messenger that transduces signals from various extracellular stimuli to elicit diverse physiological responses. It regulates key processes such as smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilation, neurotransmission, gene expression, cell growth, apoptosis, and neural regeneration. Key components include guanylyl cyclases (sGC and pGC), nitric oxide synthase, phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and protein kinase G (PKG).

Other names

cGMP PathwayGuanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate pathway

PDE5 inhibition increases cGMP levels leading to vasodilation and smooth muscle relaxation.