Question

The gas nitric oxide has been identified as a signaling molecule. Which of the following mechanisms of action would you expect from a gaseous molecule?

a) It binds to a G-protein-linked receptor.
b) It binds to a receptor tyrosine kinase.
c) It binds to a gated ion channel.
d) It binds to an intracellular receptor.

Answer 1

d) It binds to intracellular receptor.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nitric oxide is a compound produced by many cells of the body. It relaxes vascular smooth muscle by binding to the heme moiety of cytosolic guanylate cyclase(intracellular receptor) ,activating guanylate cyclase and increasing intracellular levels of cyclic-guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate, which then leads to vasodilation.