Arginine-based inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase: therapeutic potential and challenges.

ABSTRACT: In the past three decades, nitric oxide has been well established as an important bioactive molecule implicated in regulation of cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. Therefore, it is not surprising that much effort has been made to find specific inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases (NOS), the enzymes responsible for production of nitric oxide. Among the many NOS inhibitors developed to date, inhibitors based on derivatives and analogues of arginine are of special interest, as this category includes a relatively high number of compounds with good potential for experimental as well as clinical application. Though this group of inhibitors covers early nonspecific compounds, modern drug design strategies such as biochemical screening and computer-aided drug design have provided NOS-iso

SUBMITTER: Vitecek J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3441039 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature