Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC)

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is a cytosolic enzyme that serves as the primary receptor for nitric oxide (NO) in mammalian cells. It is a key mediator of NO signaling, particularly in vascular smooth muscle, where it plays a central role in vasodilation and blood flow regulation. sGC catalyzes the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an important second messenger involved in various physiological processes. It is a heterodimeric hemoprotein composed of one β1 subunit and either an α1 or α2 subunit. Dysregulation or dysfunction within the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway has been linked to cardiovascular diseases.

Other names

Guanyl cyclaseGuanylyl cyclase

sGC catalyzes the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), an important second messenger involved in various physiological processes. Binding of NO to the heme moiety increases catalytic activity, rapidly converting GTP into cGMP. cGMP then activates protein kinase G, which phosphorylates downstream targets leading to vasodilation and inhibition of platelet aggregation.