guanylates

Guanylates are a class of organic compounds that are esters of guanylic acid, also known as guanosine monophosphate (GMP). Guanylic acid is one of the four nucleotide building blocks of RNA, along with adenylic acid (AMP), cytidylic acid (CMP), and uridylic acid (UMP). In biological systems, guanylates play crucial roles in various cellular processes. Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is a particularly important guanylate, serving as a direct energy source for many metabolic reactions, similar to ATP. GTP is also involved in signal transduction pathways and is essential for protein synthesis. Another significant guanylate is cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP acts as a second messenger in intracellular signaling, mediating responses to various hormones and neurotransmitters. It is involved in processes such as smooth muscle relaxation and vision. In the context of chemistry, guanylates refer more broadly to compounds where a guanyl group (C(=NH)NH2) is attached to another molecule, typically through an oxygen or nitrogen atom. These compounds can be synthesized in laboratories and may have applications in medicinal chemistry or as research reagents. The term can also refer to salts or esters of guanylic acid.