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The multiple and enigmatic roles of guanylyl cyclase C in intestinal homeostasis
Author(s) -
Arshad Najla,
Visweswariah Sandhya S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.028
Subject(s) - guanylate cyclase 2c , homeostasis , secretion , receptor , heat stable enterotoxin , intracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , hormone , immune system , signal transduction , enterotoxin , cyclase , chemistry , gene , endocrinology , biochemistry , immunology , escherichia coli
Guanylyl cyclase C (GC‐C) is predominantly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and serves as the receptor for the gastrointestinal hormones guanylin and uroguanylin, and the heat‐stable enterotoxin, the causative agent for Travellers' Diarrhea. Activation of GC‐C results in an increase in intracellular levels of cGMP, which can regulate fluid and ion secretion, colon cell proliferation, and the gut immune system. This review highlights recent findings arising from studies in the GC‐C knock‐out mouse, along with enigmatic results obtained from the first descriptions of human disease caused by mutations in the GC‐C gene. We provide some insight into these new findings and comment on areas of future study, which may enhance our knowledge of this evolutionarily conserved receptor and signaling system.