Guanylate cyclase 2C, also known as guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), intestinal guanylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase-C receptor, or the heat-stable enterotoxin receptor (hSTAR) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the GUCY2C gene.[5][6]
Guanylyl cyclase is an enzyme found in the luminal aspect of intestinal epithelium and dopamine neurons in the brain.[7] The receptor has an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a single transmembrane region, a region with sequence similar to that of protein kinases, and a C-terminal guanylate cyclase domain. Tyrosine kinase activity mediates the GC-C signaling pathway within the cell.
Functions
GC-C is a key receptor for heat-stable enterotoxins that are responsible for acute secretory diarrhea.[8] Heat-stable enterotoxins are produced by pathogens such as Escherichia coli. Knockout mice deficient in the GC-C gene do not show secretory diarrhea on infection with E. coli, though they do with cholera toxin. This demonstrates the specificity of the GC-C receptor.
In medicine
Guanylate cyclase 2C is the target of linaclotide and plecanatide, oligopeptide agonists used for the treatment of chronic constipation.