Tissue distribution of the human soluble guanylate cyclases.

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is an important component of the NO signaling pathway. Human sGC isoforms alpha(1), alpha(2), and beta(1) show differential mRNA tissue distributions. alpha(1) and beta(1) are expressed in most tissues; however, the alpha(2) isoform shows a more restricted expression pattern with high levels in brain, placenta, spleen, and uterus only. Both alpha subunits exist as multiple transcripts whereas beta(1) exists as a single message. This study reports for the first time the tissue distribution of human sGC message and demonstrates that sGC isoforms are nonuniformly expressed which may be useful if the enzyme is to be exploited as a therapeutic target. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.