SOLUBLE GUANYLATE-CYCLASE - THE FORGOTTEN SIBLING

Despite widespread distribution in most mammalian cells, the role of s oluble guanylate cyclase has, until recently, been poorly defined, esp ecially when compared with its more illustrious sibling, adenylate cyl ase. In this review Adrian Hobbs outlines some of the reasons why the soluble guanylate cyclase-cGMP pathway has remained outside the signal ling spotlight for much of the past 30 years. He goes on to describe h ow new molecular biological and biochemical approaches have facilitate d a characterization of soluble guanylate cyclase and how this enzyme has acquired a profound physiological significance, and much research attention, as the intracellular 'receptor' for nitric oxide.