NO message from muscle.

The synthesis of the free radical gas nitric oxide (NO) is catalyzed by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS). NOS converts arginine and molecular oxygen to NO and citrulline in a reaction that requires NADPH, FAD, FMN, and tetrahydrobiopterin as cofactors. Three types of NOS have been identified by molecular cloning. The activity of the constitutively expressed neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) is Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent, whereas that the inducible NOS (iNOS) is Ca(2+)-insensitive. The predominant NOS isoform in skeletal muscle is nNOS. It is present at the sarcolemma of both extra- and intrafusal muscle fibers. An accentuated accumulation of nNOS is found in the endplate area. This strict sarcolemmal localization of nNOS is due its association with the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, which is mediated by the syntrophins. The activity of nNOS in skeletal muscle is regulated by developmental, myogenic, and neurogenic influences. NO exerts several distinct effects on various aspects of skeletal muscle function, such as excitation-contraction coupling, mitochondrial energy production, glucose metabolism, and autoregulation of blood flow. Inside the striated muscle fibers, NO interacts directly with several classes of proteins, such as soluble guanylate cyclase, ryanodine receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, as well as radical oxygen species. In addition, NO produced and released by contracting muscle fibers diffuses to nearby arterioles where it acts to inhibit reflex sympathetic vasoconstriction. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.