arginase-2, mitochondrial; non-hepatic arginase; kidney type arginase (ARG2)

Function

• regulation of extra-urea cycle arginine metabolism (putative)
• down-regulation of nitric oxide synthesis (putative)
• extrahepatic arginase functions to regulate L-arginine bioavailability to NO synthase
• since NO synthase is found in the penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, the clitoral corpus cavernosum & the vagina, arginase 2 plays a role in both male & female sexual arousal
• nitrogen metabolism, urea cycle
• L-ornithine & urea from L-arginine: step 1/1

L-arginine + H2O <--> L-ornithine + urea

Cofactor: Mn+2

Structure

• homohexamer
• belongs to the arginase family

Compartment

mitochondria

Expression

• expressed most strongly in kidney & prostate > brain, skeletal muscle, placenta, lung, mammary gland, macrophage, uterus, testis & gut
• apparently not expressed in liver, heart & pancreas

More general terms

• arginase

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/107830
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P78540.html
• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=384