[26] Isoforms of nitric-oxide synthase: Purification and regulation

Publisher Summary Nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the five-electron oxidation of L-arginine to the nitric oxide radical (.NO) and L-citrulline. Molecular oxygen is the cosubstrate of the enzyme. NO synthase activity has been found in a large variety of cells and tissues. The enzyme exists in several isoforms, three of which have been purified, characterized, and cloned. The activities of all three isoforms are found distributed between the soluble and particulate fractions of cells. Isoform I (from brain) and isoform II (from cytokine-induced macrophages) are mostly soluble proteins. Isoform III from endothelial cells is myristoylated and found predominantly in the particulate fractio…