NOS3

NOS3, also known as Nitric Oxide Synthase 3, and by other names such as NOS III or NOS type III, is a protein encoded by the NOS3 gene and is a member of the nitric oxide synthase family. NOS3 is predominantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells and plays a crucial role in the regulation of vasodilation and blood flow. The mechanism of action for NOS3 involves catalyzing the oxidation of L-arginine to produce nitric oxide (NO) and L-citrulline. Nitric oxide is a key vasodilator that activates guanylate cyclase, increasing cGMP levels, which in turn induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Additionally, NO generated by NOS3 is involved in physiological processes such as platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, and angiogenesis.

NOS3 not only contributes to the protective functions of the vascular endothelium but is also closely related to the development of various diseases. For example, polymorphisms in NOS3 are associated with susceptibility to coronary artery spasm, and its functional impairment can lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, NOS3 plays an important role in tumor development and metastasis, with changes in its expression level potentially affecting tumor angiogenesis and the invasiveness of tumor cells. Therefore, NOS3 is an important target in research on cardiovascular diseases and cancer.