Guanylate cyclase (soluble guanylate cyclase, sGC) (sGC)

The target described as "Sodium nitroprusside releases nitric oxide leading to vasodilation via guanylate cyclase activation" is not itself a single molecule or receptor but rather a pharmacological pathway. The actual molecular target in this context is **soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)**, an intracellular enzyme found in vascular smooth muscle cells. **Sodium nitroprusside** acts as a prodrug that releases nitric oxide (NO) upon metabolism in the bloodstream. NO then diffuses into vascular smooth muscle cells and binds to the heme moiety of soluble guanylate cyclase. This binding activates sGC, which catalyzes the conversion of GTP to cyclic GMP (cGMP). Elevated cGMP levels activate protein kinase G, which leads to dephosphorylation of myosin light chains and sequestration of intracellular calcium—ultimately resulting in relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and vasodilation[1][3][7][8]. This mechanism underlies sodium nitroprusside’s rapid antihypertensive effects and its use as an intravenous vasodilator for acute blood pressure control. Other drugs that act through this pathway include organic nitrates like nitroglycerin. **Note:** The original query describes a drug action mechanism rather than naming a specific molecular target; therefore, it is marked as "is_incorrect: true." The canonical therapeutic target for this mechanism is soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), not sodium nitroprusside itself or its released NO[3].

Other names

Soluble guanylate cyclasesGCNO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase

Activation by nitric oxide leading to increased cGMP production and smooth muscle relaxation[3][7][8][9]