References:
- Martin E, Berka V, Tsai AL and Murad F. Soluble guanylyl cyclase: The nitric oxide receptor. Methods in Enzymology. 396, 478-492, 2005.
- Krumenacker J, Katsuki S, Kots A, and Murad F. Differential expression of genes involved in cGMP-dependent nitric oxide signaling in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and ES cell-derived cardiomyocyte precursors. Nitric Oxide 14, 1-11, 2006.
- Murad, F. Discovery of some of the biological effects of nitric oxide and its role in cell signaling. Biosci Rep 1999 Jun;19(3):133-54.
Murad, F.: Signal transduction using nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. JAMA, 276, 1189-1192, 1996.
Ferid Murad, M.D., Ph.D.
Director at Institute of Molecular Medicine, Professor
UTHSC, IMM, (713) 500 - 2415
Ferid.Murad@uth.tmc.edu
1998 Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology
Nitric Oxide and cGMP signaling
My research focuses on the formation, metabolism and function of nitric oxide and cyclic GMP as they participate in various cellular signaling processes. Nitric oxide is formed from L-arginine by one of several isoforms of nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide is also formed from a number of prodrugs or nitrovasodilators such as nitroglycerin and nitroprusside. There are few biological processes that are not regulated by nitric oxide. The formation of nitric oxide and/or cyclic GMP by many hormones, toxins, cytokines, growth factors and drugs can explain their mechanisms of action.
The laboratory has characterized and purified all of the nitric oxide synthases. Nitric oxide mediates some of its biological effects by increasing the synthesis of cyclic GMP by soluble guanylyl cyclase. We have also found that the particulate isoforms of guanylyl cyclase can be activated by some bacterial enterotoxins or atriopeptins. We have also characterized, purified and cloned several of the isoforms of guanylyl cyclase. Some of our current research is focusing on the formation of peroxynitrite from nitric oxide and the nitration of various cellular proteins. We believe that protein nitration can represent another important cell signaling system to regulate a number of important biological processes and explain some of the numerous effects of nitric oxide.
In recent years, we have also established mouse and human embryonic stem cell lines as model signaling systems for nitric oxide and cyclic GMP. We have used the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP system to define signaling pathways and to identify molecular targets for drug discovery and development for various medical disorders.
My laboratory utilizes intact cell cultures, tissues and cell-free preparations to characterize, purify and reconstitute these regulatory pathways using pharmacological, biochemical and molecular biological approaches. We are viewed as one of the leading laboratories in the areas of nitric oxide and cyclic GMP research.
