Endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) has numerous physiological roles. It is generated by three enzymes: eNOS, nNOS and iNOS. NO produced in endothelia by eNOS regulates blood vessel dilation by targeting vascular smooth muscle cells; NO produced in neurons by nNOS regulates synaptic signalling and plasticity in the brain; and NO produced in large quantities by iNOS in cells of the innate immune system can kill fungal and bacterial pathogens and inhibits viral replication. Over the past three issues, Cell Science at a Glance has featured a series of contributions covering the various roles of NO. In the last of these, Charles Lowenstein and Elizaveta Padalko tackle NO generated by iNOS (see + poster).
