This Research Topic follows on from
Ca2+ and Ca2+-interlocked Membrane Guanylate Cyclase Modulation of Neuronal and Cardiovascular Signal TransductionMembrane guanylate cyclase signaling is critical for the vitality of lowly, single-celled organisms as well as highly complex vertebrates. In mammals, encoded by seven distinct genes, seven different forms regulate multi-limbed functions. For the most part, these enzymes are receptors that detect hormones and other extracellular chemicals, translate a signal across their plasma membrane domains, and by way of their second messenger, cyclic GMP, regulate an intracellular pathway to impact physiology. This manner of cellular signaling was originally observed in the ACTH-modulated pathway, linking the pituitary, the smallest organ in the brain, with the cells of the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex, to mediate the process of steroidogenesis. With this, a new dawn arose wherein the hormone-dependent membrane guanylate cyclase signaling system was established; cyclic GMP and Ca2+ were recognized as its co-messengers. Sequentially, other similar signaling networks were discovered. Besides steroidogenesis, they control the physiology of the cardiovasculature, the intestine, nerve, and skeletal growth and sensory systems: vision, hearing, taste, smell, pain, and temperature. There is a dark side; membrane guanylate cyclase is autonomous in some types of growing tumors; in adrenocortical carcinoma, it is linked with Cushing syndrome causing the imbalance of cortisol production. Uniquely designed, all forms are single-pass transmembrane proteins, embedded with an extracellular, transmembrane, catalytic regulatory module, and catalytic core domains.
The goal of this Research Topic is to gain a greater understanding of the structure and molecular mechanics of membrane guanylate cyclases and their physiological roles in the body.
We hope to cover a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from:
• The evolutionary origins of membrane guanylate cyclases and their isoforms,
• Molecular structure
• Regulatory mechanisms by calcium, bicarbonate, and other molecules
• Signaling pathways that include targets such as protein kinase G, cyclic-nucleotide-gated ion channels, phosphodiesterases, and their interplay with soluble guanylate cyclase
• Physiological and pathological roles of membrane guanylate cyclases in development (skeletal growth, axonal bifurcation), in sensory systems (vision, hearing, taste, pain, temperature), in cardiovascular function, in intestinal function and in cancer.
Membrane guanylate cyclases have been targeted by the pharmaceutical industry and we want to include some of the latest developments.
All types of manuscripts are welcome.