Signalling molecule reprograms metabolism

Nitric oxide regulates a variety of physiological processes, including dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation), communication between neurons and the killing of disease-causing agents by the immune system. [...]work is also needed to identify how modification of pyruvate kinase M2 by nitric oxide protects cells - through inhibition of the enzyme's metabolic activity, or by inhibiting its other functions15 (such as protein kinase activity and transcriptional co-activation)? [...]Zhou et al. show that nitric oxide inhibits glycolysis in the setting of renal ischaemia, but it has previously been shown that it increases glycolysis in other settings16.