Cyclic nucleotides are second messengers generated by cyclase enzymes from precursor triphosphates and hydrolysed by phosphodiesterases. The cellular actions of these cyclic nucleotides are mediated through activation of protein kinases (cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases), ion channels (cyclic nucleotide-gated, CNG, and hyperpolarization and cyclic nucleotide-gated, HCN) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs, Epac).
For details of the enzymes involved in cGMP synthesis see the Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase (RGC) family, in the Catalytic receptors section.

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* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

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