Nitric Oxide: An Attractive Signalling Molecule.

Nitric oxide: an antiparasitic molecule of invertebrates.

Since Furchgott, Ignarro and Murad won the Nobel prize in 1998 for their work on the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule, many reports have shown the seemingly limitless range of body functions controlled by this compound. In vertebrates, the role of NO as a defense against infection caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoan and metazoan parasites has been known for several years...

Nitric oxide signalling in insects.

The gas, nitric oxide (NO), was first described as a second messenger molecule at least a decade ago; since then, research into mechanisms of intracellular generation of NO and of the functional role of the NO signalling pathway has generated thousands of research papers, many reviews and a Nobel Prize. This reflects the fundamental importance of NO and its signalling processes in biology and m...

Nitric oxide signalling: insect brains and photocytes.

The success of insects arises partly from extraordinary biochemical and physiological specializations. For example, most species lack glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and respiratory-gas transport proteins and thus allow oxygen to diffuse directly into cells. To counter the increased potential for oxidative damage, insect tissues rely on the indirect protection of the thioredoxin r...

Nitric oxide signalling and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the heart under stress

Nitric oxide (NO) is an imperative regulator of the cardiovascular system and is a critical mechanism in preventing the pathogenesis and progression of the diseased heart. The scenario of bioavailable NO in the myocardium is complex: 1) NO is derived from both endogenous NO synthases (endothelial, neuronal, and/or inducible NOSs [eNOS, nNOS, and/or iNOS]) and exogenous sources (entero-salivary ...

An Inducible Nitric Oxide