Question:

Nitric oxide acts by increasing which of the following?

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NO activates guanylate cyclase, raising the cyclic nucleotide derived from GTP.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • BRCA 1
  • BRCA 2
  • Interleukin
  • cGMP
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule released by vascular endothelium. It diffuses readily into adjacent smooth muscle cells.
Step 2: Inside the smooth muscle cell, NO activates the enzyme soluble guanylate cyclase, which converts GTP to cyclic guanosine monophosphate \((cGMP)\). Thus NO works by raising intracellular cGMP.
Step 3: The rise in cGMP activates protein kinase G, lowers intracellular calcium, and produces smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation - the basis of NO-mediated effects.
Step 4: BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 are tumour-suppressor genes involved in DNA repair and have nothing to do with NO signalling. Interleukins are cytokines of the immune system. Hence the correct answer is cGMP.
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