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An Overview on Nitric Oxide and Energy Metabolism

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule with a short half-life that's known to exert its biological functions through cyclic guanosine monophosphate. In our system, nitric oxide is produced by nitric oxide synthase enzymes, which use substrates l-arginine, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and oxygen by producing citrulline, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP⁺), and NO. Nitric oxide can react with superoxide to produce peroxynitrite (ONOO?), which can cause irreversible modification and inhibition of different biological molecules, including mitochondrial membrane complexes and antioxidant defense enzymes through oxidizing reactions. This chapter focuses on the direct and indirect role of NO in terms of energy metabolism. Nitric oxide in this context governs and regulates metabolism, heat production, and body composition, which overall change the tissue distribution of oxygen, adenosine triphosphate production, blood flow, glucose utilization, and supply of other nutrients by resulting in altered tissue functions and physical activities.