The β 2 subunit of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase is developmentally regulated in rat kidney

. We have recently shown that nitric oxide activates the β 2 subunit of soluble guanylyl cyclase. In the present study, we show developmental regulation of this subunit. Analysis of mRNA expression by RT-PCR and RNase protection analysis in kidneys revealed no expression of the β 2 subunit in neonatal and strong expression in adult rats. A reciprocal regulation with much lower expression levels was observed in rat lung. Further examination of kidneys from 3, 6, 16, 22, 25, 31 and 36-day-old rats showed that significant expression appears between postnatal day 16 and 22. Isolation of the rat β 2 promoter by genome walking and cloning into a reporter gene vector showed promoter activity for the sense but not the antisense construct providing an in vitro assay for further analysis of the developmental β 2 subunit regulation.