Tissue distribution of the human soluble guanylate cyclases.

Abstract Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is an important component of the NO signaling pathway. Human sGC isoforms α 1 , α 2 , and β 1 show differential mRNA tissue distributions. α 1 and β 1 are expressed in most tissues; however, the α 2 isoform shows a more restricted expression pattern with high levels in brain, placenta, spleen, and uterus only. Both α subunits exist as multiple transcripts whereas β 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.