Mapping of the genes encoding human inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS2 and NOS3) to the pericentric region of chromosome 17 and to chromosome 7, respectively.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecular messenger regulating the functions of a wide variety of cells and tissues. NO is synthesized from L-arginine by a variety of isoforms of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). We have used Southern blotting analysis on DNAs obtained from a panel of human-rodent hybrid cell lines to map the gene encoding the inducible NOS (NOS2) to chromosome 17cen-17q11 and the gene encoding the endothelial form of NOS (NOS3) to chromosome 7. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using a NOS2 probe gave several signals in the 17p11-q11 pericentromeric region.