Nitrophorin-2, isolated from the salivary gland of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus, is a nitric oxide (NO) binding protein. We investigated the effects of recombinant nitrophorin-2 NO complex on vascular smooth muscle. The course of relaxation was relative to released NO from recombinant nitrophorin-2 NO complex. Our data suggested nitrophorin-2 was tightly adhesive to the membranes to transport NO into the cell during the insect sting.
