C-type natriuretic peptide and guanylyl cyclase B receptor

Guanylyl cyclases (GC) are widely distributed enzymes that signal via the production of the second messenger cGMP. The particulate guanylyt cyclases share a similar topology: an extracellular ligand binding domain and intracellular regulatory kinase-hornology and cyclase catalytic domains. The natriuretic peptide receptors GC-A and -B mediate the effects of a family of peptides. atrial. B- and C-type natriuretic peptide (ANP, BNP and CNP, respectively), with natriuretic, diuretic and vasorelaxant properties. ANP and BNR through the activation of GC-A, act as endocrine hormones to regulate blood pressure and volume. and inhibit cardiac hypertrophy. CNP on the other hand. acts in an autocrine/paracrine fashion to induce vasorelaxation and vascular remodeling, and to regulate bone growth through its Cognate receptor GC-B. GC-B, like GC-A, is phosphorylated in the basal state, and undergoes both homologous and heterologous desensitization. reflected by dephosphorylation of specific sites in the kinase-homology domain. This review will examine the structure and function of GC-B, and summarize the physiological processes in which this receptor is thought to participate. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.