Fig. 1

Dual regulation of sGC maturation by hsp90 in mammalian cells. When hsp90 binds to apo-sGCβ it drives heme insertion while also preventing a premature interaction with sGCα to form a heme-free, non-functional sGCα/β heterodimer. Once heme insertion is complete, the hsp90 dissociates from sGCβ, and this allows sGCβ to partner with sGCα to form a mature and NO-responsive sGCα/β heterodimer