Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) generates the key signaling molecule nitric oxide
in response to intralumenal hormonal and mechanical stimuli. We designed studies to
determine whether eNOS is localized to plasmalemmal microdomains implicated in signal
transduction called caveolae. Using immunoblot analysis, eNOS protein was detected in
caveolar membrane fractions isolated from endothelial cell plasma membranes by a newly
developed detergent-free method; eNOS protein was not found in noncaveolar plasma …