Gene inactivation of the β1 subunit of NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase in mice

NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclases are the most important receptors for the signalling molecule NO. Activation of guanylyl cyclase by NO leads to the formation of the intracellular messenger cGMP. The enzyme is a heterodimer which consists of two subunits, α and β. Three different subunits exist in vivo: Two α subunits (α1 and α2) and one β subunit (β1). Functional enzymes are formed by heterodimerization. The two known guanylyl cyclase isoforms are composed of one of either α subunit and the β1 subunit (i.e. α1β1 and α2β1).