Nitrosation ofN-Terminally Blocked Tryptophan and Tryptophan-Containing Peptides by Peroxynitrite

Tryptophan is known to be a major target of oxidative stress and to take part in electron transfer. In proteins, its fluorescence is extinguished after treatment with oxidative agents, like peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)/ONOOH) - the product of the reaction of NO* and superoxide anion (O*(2)(-)) radicals. The main reactions of N-blocked tryptophan derivatives (melatonin or N-acetyl-L-tryptophan) exposed to peroxynitrite at physiological pH are oxidation to formylkynuramine or formylkynurenine, respectively, and nitrosation, which leads to substituted 1-nitrosoindoles. Here we show that peroxynitrite-induced nitrosation is specific to N-blocked L-tryptophan derivatives and is not obtained with free L-tryptophan. Such a nitrosation can be evaluated by using 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2), which is converted to the fluorescent triazolofluorescein by NO* donors and nitrosating agents. N-acetyl-L-tryptophan was shown to be twice as efficient as melatonin in transferring NO from peroxynitrite to DAF-2. DAF-2 responses were then used to assess the ability of a series of L-tryptophan-containing peptides to give transient N-nitrosoindoles upon treatment with peroxynitrite. Many peptides proved not to be susceptible to nitrosation under these conditions. However, the N-terminally blocked peptide of endothelin-1 (Ac-Asp-Ile-Ile-Trp) reacted in a very similar fashion to melatonin; this shows that tryptophan residue nitrosation could occur when it was exposed to peroxynitrite.

S-Allyl-L-cysteine attenuates cerebral ischemic injury by scavenging peroxynitrite and inhibiting the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase

S-Allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) has been shown to reduce ischemic injury due to its antioxidant activity. However, the antioxidant property of SAC has been controversial. The present study investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of SAC in cerebral ischemic insults. SAC decreased the size of infarction after transient or global ischemic insults. While it did not alter the N-methyl-D-aspartate excitotoxicity, SAC significantly scavenged the endogenously or exogenously produced ONOO- and reduced ONOO- cytotoxicity. In contrast, SAC has much lower scavenging activity against H2O2, O2*(-) or NO. Further, SAC inhibited the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) increased in cultured neurons exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation or in rat brain tissue after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neuroprotective effect of SAC was mimicked by the ERK inhibitor U0125. The present results indicate that SAC exert its neuroprotective effect by scavenging ONOO- and inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway activated during initial hypoxic/ischemic insults.

The carbonate radical and related oxidants derived from bicarbonate buffer

The unequivocal demonstration that the carbonate radical (CO(3) (.-)) is produced from the reaction between the ubiquitous carbon dioxide and peroxynitrite, renewed the interest in the pathogenic roles of oxidants derived from the main physiological buffer, the bicarbonate-carbon dioxide pair. Here, we review the biochemical properties of both the carbonate radical and peroxymonocarbonate (HCO(4) (-)), and discuss the evidence of their formation under physiological conditions. Overall, the review emphasizes the recognition of the biological relevance of oxidants derived from the main physiological buffer as a crucial step into the understanding and control of numerous pathological states.

An inhaled inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor reduces damage of Candida-induced acute lung injury

Excessive nitric oxide (NO) generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) aggravates acute lung injury (ALI) by producing peroxynitrite. We previously showed by immunostaining that the expression of iNOS was suppressed by inhalation of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in mice with Candida-induced ALI. This study tested the hypothesis that a novel iNOS inhibitor suppresses not only iNOS expression, but also iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) production by interrupting a positive feedback loop at the time of NO production in Candida-induced ALI. Mice were pretreated by inhalation of saline or ONO-1714, a selective iNOS inhibitor, and were given an intravenous injection of Candida albicans to induce ALI. After inhalation of 1 mM aerosolized ONO-1714, the nitrite-nitrate concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at 24 h was significantly lower than that after inhalation of saline. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels and neutrophils in BALF were decreased by inhalation of ONO-1714. Inhalation of ONO-1714 markedly suppressed nitrotyrosine production and inhibited the expression of iNOS mRNA as well as proteins in the lung. Survival was prolonged by inhalation of ONO-1714. We conclude that pretreatment with inhaled ONO-1714 suppresses the production of peroxinitrite and decreases oxidative stress associated with peroxinitrite in Candida-induced ALI.

Identification of the nitration site of insulin by peroxynitrite

Our previous investigation indicated that insulin can be nitrated by peroxynitrite in vitro. In this study, the preferential nitration site of the four tyrosine residues in insulin molecule was confirmed. Mononitrated and dinitrated insulins were purified by RP-HPLC. Following reduction of insulin disulfide bridges, Native-PAGE indicated that A-chain was preferentially nitrated. Combination of enzymatic digestion of mononitrated insulin with endoproteinase Glu-C, mass spectrometry confirmed that Tyr-A14 was the preferential nitration site when insulin was treated with peroxynitrite. Tyr-A19, maybe, was the next preferential nitration site. According to the crystal structure, Tyr-B26 between the two tyrosine residues in insulin B-chain was likely easier to be nitrated by peroxynitrite.

The activity of an extract and fraction of Agrimonia eupatoria L. against reactive species

Agrimonia eupatoria L. (agrimony) is a medicinal plant largely used in traditional medicine. Recently, phytochemical studies on an agrimony hydro-alcoholic extract and a polyphenol-enriched fraction obtained from it were carried out. The fraction was found to possess a high concentration of flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones and phenolic acids. So, the main purpose of this study was to search out, the extract and fraction antioxidant potential and scavenging activity against the reactive species formed during inflammation and to establish a relationship between such activity and the phenolic composition. Results showed that both the extract and the fraction promptly reacted with DPPH denoting a general radical scavenger activity and a potential antioxidant capacity. They also reacted with superoxide anion, peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals as well as with the oxidant species, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite, strengthening their radical scavenger and antioxidant activities. In most assays, the polyphenol-enriched fraction was more efficient, pointing to a significant contribution of the polyphenols content to those activities. Our data suggest that the significant scavenging capacity of reactive species by polyphenols from Agrimonia eupatoria L., could be a mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity.

Antioxidant constituents and a new triterpenoid glycoside fromFlos Lonicerae

As a component of our continuing investigations into herb-derived antioxidant agents, we have evaluated the antioxidant effects of Flos Lonicerae (Lonicera japonica flowers), via 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, total reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroxyl radical (*OH), and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) assays. Among the methanolic extract and the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water fractions, the EtOAc fraction of Flos Lonicerae exhibited marked scavenging/inhibitory activities, as follows: IC50 values of 4.37, 27.58 +/- 0.71, 0.47 +/- 0.05, and 12.13 +/- 0.79 microg/mL in the DPPH, total ROS, ONOO-, and *OH assays, respectively. Via a bioactivity-guided fractionation approach, a new triterpenoid glycoside, oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (12), along with eleven known compounds, including chrysoeriol (1), luteolin (2), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (3), caffeic acid (4), protocatechuic acid (5), chrysoeriol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), isorhamnetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (10), and luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), were isolated from the EtOAc fraction. The structures of isolated compounds 1-12 were elucidated via spectroscopic analyses. Compound 12 was isolated from a natural source for the first time. Compounds 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11 evidenced marked scavenging activities, with IC50 values of 2.08-11.76 microM for DPPH radicals, and 1.47-6.98 microM for ONOO-.

Kinetic studies of the reaction of heme-thiolate enzyme chloroperoxidase with peroxynitrite

The kinetics of the reaction of chloroperoxidase with peroxynitrite was studied under neutral and acidic pH by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Chloroperoxidase catalyzed peroxynitrite decay with the rate constant, k(c,) increasing with decreasing pH. The values of k(c) obtained at pH 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 were equal to: (1.96+/-0.03)x10(6), (1.63+/-0.04)x10(6) and (0.71+/-0.01)x10(6)M(-1)s(-1), respectively. Chloroperoxidase was converted to compound II by peroxynitrite with pH-dependent rate constants: (12.3+/-0.4)x10(6) and (3.8+/-0.3)x10(6)M(-1)s(-1) at pH 5.1 and 7.1, respectively. After most of peroxynitrite had disappeared, the conversion of compound II into the ferric form of chloroperoxidase was observed. The recovery of the native enzyme was completed within 1s and 5s at pH 5.1 and 7.1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanisms of the catalytic decomposition of peroxynitrite by chloroperoxidase are discussed.

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene in peroxynitrite/Fe(III) porphyrin system

The peroxynitrite/porphyrin biomimetic system was established to investigate the effects of peroxynitrite on benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) metabolism. Three model systems consisting of different iron porphyrins were compared, and the results showed that the peroxynitrite/T(p-Cl)PPFeCl system was the highest catalytic efficiency in the metabolism of B[a]P. We analyzed the B[a]P metabolites produced from this system by RP-HPLC method and firstly identified the formation of nitrobenzo[a]pyrenes which are the special metabolites of B[a]P induced by peroxynitrite.

Reductive nitrosylation and peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of heme-hemopexin

Hemopexin (HPX), which serves as a scavenger and transporter of toxic plasma heme, has been postulated to play a key role in the homeostasis of NO. In fact, HPX-heme(II) reversibly binds NO and facilitates NO scavenging by O(2). HPX-heme is formed by two four-bladed beta-propeller domains. The heme is bound between the two beta-propeller domains, residues His213 and His266 coordinate the heme iron atom. HPX-heme displays structural features of heme-proteins endowed with (pseudo-)enzymatic activities. In this study, the kinetics of rabbit HPX-heme(III) reductive nitrosylation and peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of HPX-heme(II)-NO are reported. In the presence of excess NO, HPX-heme(III) is converted to HPX-heme(II)-NO by reductive nitrosylation. The second-order rate constant for HPX-heme(III) reductive nitrosylation is (1.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(1) m(-1).s(-1), at pH 7.0 and 10.0 degrees C. NO binding to HPX-heme(III) is rate limiting. In the absence and presence of CO2 (1.2 x 10(-3) m), excess peroxynitrite reacts with HPX-heme(II)-NO (2.6 x 10(-6) m) leading to HPX-heme(III) and NO, via the transient HPX-heme(III)-NO species. Values of the second-order rate constant for HPX-heme(III)-NO formation are (8.6 +/- 0.8) x 10(4) and (1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(6) m(-1).s(-1) in the absence and presence of CO2, respectively, at pH 7.0 and 10.0 degrees C. The CO2-independent value of the first-order rate constant for HPX-heme(III)-NO denitrosylation is (4.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(-1) s(-1), at pH 7.0 and 10.0 degrees C. HPX-heme(III)-NO denitrosylation is rate limiting. HPX-heme(II)-NO appears to act as an efficient scavenger of peroxynitrite and of strong oxidants and nitrating species following the reaction of peroxynitrite with CO2 (e.g. ONOOC(O)O-, CO3-, and NO2).

Reversible inhibition of mammalian glutamine synthetase by tyrosine nitration

The effect of tyrosine nitration on mammalian GS activity and stability was studied in vitro. Peroxynitrite at a concentration of 5 micro mol/l produced tyrosine nitration and inactivation of GS, whereas 50 micro mol/l peroxynitrite additionally increased S-nitrosylation and carbonylation and degradation of GS by the 20S proteasome. (-)Epicatechin completely prevented both, tyrosine nitration and inactivation of GS by peroxynitrite (5 micro mol/l). Further, a putative "denitrase" activity restored the activity of peroxynitrite (5 micro mol/l)-treated GS. The data point to a potential regulation of GS activity by a reversible tyrosine nitration. High levels of oxidative stress may irreversibly damage and predispose the enzyme to proteasomal degradation.

Mitochondrial targeting of radioprotectants using peptidyl conjugates

Ionizing radiation activates a mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase, leading to inhibition of the respiratory chain, generation of excess superoxide, peroxynitrite production and nitrosative damage. We have measured the radioprotective effects of a nitric oxide synthase antagonist (AMT) versus a free radical scavenger (4-amino-TEMPO) using electrochemical detection of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. To enhance their efficacy, we have conjugated these compounds to peptides and peptide isosteres--derived from the antibiotic gramicidin S--that target the mitochondria. The targeting ability of these peptidyl conjugates was measured using quantitative mass spectrometry.

In vitro peroxynitrite scavenging activity of 6-hydroxykynurenic acid and other flavonoids fromGingko biloba yellow leaves

As part of our research on phytochemicals that exert protective effects against diseases related to reactive nitrogen species, we have evaluated the scavenging activity of the yellow leaves of Ginkgo biloba on ONOO-. The methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction obtained from yellow leaves of G. biloba evidenced a marked scavenging activity on authentic ONOO-. Repeated column chromatography of the active ethyl acetate soluble fraction on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18, resulted in the purification of 15 known compounds, including sciadopitysin (1), ginkgolide B (2), bilobalide (3), isoginkgetin (4), kaempferol (5), luteolin (6), protocatechuic acid (7), bilobetin (8), amentoflavone (9), beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside (10), kaempferol 3-O-rhamnopyranoside (11), kaempferol 3-O-glucopyranoside (12), kaempferol 3-O-[6"'-O-p-coumaroyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1 --> 2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside] (13), kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (14), and 6-hydroxykynurenic acid (15). Among the compounds isolated, flavonoids (5, 6 and 11-14), protocatechuic acid (7), and 6-hydroxykynurenic acid (15) all exhibited marked scavenging activities on authentic ONOO-. The IC50 values of 5-7, 11-14 and 15 were as follows: 2.86 +/- 0.70, 2.30 +/- 0.04, 2.85 +/- 0.10, 5.60 +/- 0.47, 4.16 +/- 1.65, 2.47 +/- 0.15, 3.02 +/- 0.48, and 6.24 +/- 0.27 microM, respectively. DL-Penicillamine (IC50 = 4.98 +/- 0.27 microM) was utilized as a positive control. However, the other compounds (1-4, 8-10) exerted no effects against ONOO-.

The reaction of flavonoid metabolites with peroxynitrite

There is much interest in the bioactivity of in vivo flavonoid metabolites. We report for the first time the hierarchy of reactivity of flavonoid metabolites with peroxynitrite and characterise novel reaction products. O-Methylation of the B-ring catechol containing flavonoids epicatechin and quercetin, and O-glucuronidation of all flavonoids reduced their reactivity with peroxynitrite. The reaction of the flavanones hesperetin and naringenin and their glucuronides resulted in the formation of multiple mono-nitrated and nitrosated products. In contrast, the catechol-containing flavonoids epicatechin and quercetin yielded oxidation products which when trapped with glutathione led to the production of glutathionyl-conjugates. However, the O-methylated metabolites of epicatechin yielded both mono- and di-nitrated products and nitrosated metabolites. The 3'-O-methyl metabolite of quercetin also yielded a nitrosated species, although its counterpart 4'-O-methyl quercetin yielded only oxidation products. Such products may represent novel metabolic products in vivo and may also express cellular activity.

Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai)

The fruit of Euterpe oleraceae, commonly known as acai, has been demonstrated to exhibit significantly high antioxidant capacity in vitro, especially for superoxide and peroxyl scavenging, and, therefore, may have possible health benefits. In this study, the antioxidant capacities of freeze-dried acai fruit pulp/skin powder (OptiAcai) were evaluated by different assays with various free radical sources. It was found to have exceptional activity against superoxide in the superoxide scavenging (SOD) assay, the highest of any food reported to date against the peroxyl radical as measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay with fluorescein as the fluorescent probe (ORACFL), and mild activity against both the peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radical by the peroxynitrite averting capacity (NORAC) and hydroxyl radical averting capacity (HORAC) assays, respectively. The SOD of acai was 1614 units/g, an extremely high scavenging capacity for O2*-, by far the highest of any fruit or vegetable tested to date. Total phenolics were also tested as comparison. In the total antioxidant (TAO) assay, antioxidants in acai were differentiated into "slow-acting" and "fast-acting" components. An assay measuring inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in freshly purified human neutrophils showed that antioxidants in acai are able to enter human cells in a fully functional form and to perform an oxygen quenching function at very low doses. Furthermore, other bioactivities related to anti-inflammation and immune functions were also investigated. Acai was found to be a potential cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitor. It also showed a weak effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide but no effect on either lymphocyte proliferation and phagocytic capacity.

Red blood cells in the metabolism of nitric oxide-derived peroxynitrite

In this review we have analyzed the reactions of nitric oxide (.NO) with superoxide radical (O(2).-) at the vascular compartment which results in limitation of the bioavailability of .NO and the formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a strong oxidant species. The intravascular formation of peroxynitrite can result in oxidative modifications of plasma and vessel wall proteins including the formation of protein-3-nitrotyrosine. The role of red blood cells (RBC) and oxyhemoglobin in the metabolism of intravascular peroxynitrite will be discussed. While RBC constitute an important 'sink' of both .NO and peroxynitrite, redox reactions of these species with oxyhemoglobin may in part contribute to erythrocyte aging. The intravascular formation, reactions and detoxification of peroxynitrite are revealed as important factors controlling vascular dysfunction and degeneration in a variety of pathophysiologically-relevant conditions.

Antioxidant screening of medicinal herbal teas

Herbal tea consumption is deeply and widely rooted amongst South-American populations. In view of the involvement of oxygen- and nitrogen-reactive species in the ethiogenesis of several diseases, the antioxidant properties of some of the herbal teas most commonly consumed in the southern regions was assessed in vitro. Around one-third of the 13 examined herbs, displayed a substantially higher ability to scavenge ABTS(+.) radicals (TEAC assay), and to quench the pro-oxidant species, hypochlorite (HClO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). Amongst the tested herbs, teas prepared from Haplopappus baylahuen, Rosa moschata and Peumus boldus showed the highest TEAC and HClO-quenching activities. These herbs were around 5- to 7-fold more potent than the least active herbs. Based on the TEAC assay, 150 mL of tea prepared from H. baylahuen, R. moschata and P. boldus would be equivalent to around 200 mg of Trolox). Teas from H. baylahuen and P. boldus were also found to be particularly potent in quenching HClO. In the ONOO(-) assay, H. baylahuen and Buddleia globosa showed the highest activities. The results obtained suggest that the regular consumption of teas prepared from some of these herbs may be useful potentially to provide the organism with molecules capable of protecting the gastrointestinal tract against certain pathologically relevant oxidant species.

Mechanistic studies of peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration in membranes using the hydrophobic probe N-t-BOC-L-tyrosine tert-butyl ester

Most of the mechanistic studies of tyrosine nitration have been performed in aqueous solution. However, many protein tyrosine residues shown to be nitrated in vitro and in vivo are associated to nonpolar compartments. In this work, we have used the stable hydrophobic tyrosine analogue N-t-BOC-L-tyrosine tert-butyl ester (BTBE) incorporated into phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes to study physicochemical and biochemical factors that control peroxynitrite-dependent tyrosine nitration in phospholipid bilayers. Peroxynitrite leads to maximum 3-nitro-BTBE yields (3%) at pH 7.4. In addition, small amounts of 3,3'-di-BTBE were formed at pH 7.4 (0.02%) which increased over alkaline pH; at pH 6, a hydroxylated derivative of BTBE was identified by HPLC-MS analysis. BTBE nitration yields were similar in dilauroyl- and dimyristoyl-PC and were also significant in the polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing egg PC. *OH and *NO2 scavengers inhibited BTBE nitration. In contrast to tyrosine in the aqueous phase, the presence of CO2 decreased BTBE nitration, indicating that CO3*- cannot permeate to the compartment where BTBE is located. On the other hand, micromolar concentrations of hemin and Mn-tccp strongly enhanced BTBE nitration. Electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of the BTBE phenoxyl radical and kinetic modeling of the pH profiles of BTBE nitration and dimerization were in full agreement with a free radical mechanism of oxidation initiated by ONOOH homolysis in the immediacy of or even inside the bilayer and with a diffusion coefficient of BTBE phenoxyl radical 100 times less than for the aqueous phase tyrosyl radical. BTBE was successfully applied as a hydrophobic probe to study nitration mechanisms and will serve to study factors controlling protein and lipid nitration in biomembranes and lipoproteins.

NO•Release from MbFe(II)NO and HbFe(II)NO after Oxidation by Peroxynitrite

In this work, we showed that the reaction of peroxynitrite with MbFe(II)NO, in analogy to the corresponding reaction with HbFe(II)NO (Herold, S. Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 3783-3785), proceeds in two steps via the formation of MbFe(III)NO, from which NO* dissociates to produce iron(III)myoglobin (Mb = myoglobin; Hb = hemoglobin). The second-order rate constants for the first steps are on the order of 10(4) and 10(3) M(-1) s(-1), for the reaction of peroxynitrite with MbFe(II)NO and HbFe(II)NO, respectively. For both proteins, we found that the values of the second-order rate constants increase with decreasing pH, an observation that suggests that HOONO is the species responsible for oxidation of the iron center. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the pH-dependence arises from different conformations taken up by the proteins at different pH values. In the presence of 1.2 mM CO2, the values of the second-order rate constants are larger, on the order of 10(5) and 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), for the reaction of peroxynitrite with MbFe(II)NO and HbFe(II)NO, respectively. The pH-dependence of the values for the reaction with MbFe(II)NO suggests that ONOOCO2- or the radicals produced from its decay (CO3*-/NO2*) are responsible for the oxidation of MbFe(II)NO to MbFe(III)NO. In the presence of large amounts of nitrite (in the tens and hundreds of millimoles range), we observed a slight acceleration of the rate of oxidation of HbFe(II)NO by peroxynitrite. A catalytic rate constant of 40 +/- 2 M(-1) s(-1) was determined at pH 7.0. Preliminary studies of the reaction between nitrite and HbFe(II)NO showed that this compound also can oxidize the iron center, albeit at a significantly slower rate. At pH 7.0, we obtained an approximate second-order rate constant of 3 x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1).

Modeling Competitive Reaction Mechanisms of Peroxynitrite Oxidation of Guanine

5-Guanidino-4-nitroimidazole is a stable product from the peroxynitrite induced one-electron oxidation of guanine. Reaction mechanisms to form the 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole as well as 8-nitroguanine, through the combination of the guanine radical cation and nitrogen dioxide radical and through the combination of the deprotonated neutral guanine radical and nitrogen dioxide radical, have been investigated by the use of the B3LYP method of density functional theory. Our calculations suggest that the guanine radical cation mechanism is preferred over the neutral guanine radical mechanism and that a water molecule is involved in the reaction as a catalyst or as a reactant.

Kinetic Modeling of Nitric-Oxide-Associated Reaction Network

PURPOSE

Nitric oxide and superoxide are the two important free radicals in the biological system. The coexistence of both free radicals in the physiological milieu gives rise to intricate oxidative and nitrosative reactions, which have been implicated in many physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions, such as vasodilatation and inflammation. It is difficult, if not impossible, to study the complexity of the nitric oxide/superoxide system using current experimental approaches. Computational modeling thus offers an alternative way for studying the problem.

METHODS

In this present study, key reaction pathways related to the generation, reaction and scavenging of both nitric oxide and superoxide were integrated into a reaction network. The network dynamics was investigated by numerical simulations to a set of coupled differential equations and by dynamical analysis. Two specific questions pertaining to the reaction kinetics of the reactive chemical species in the nitric oxide/superoxide system were studied: (1) how does the system respond dynamically when the generation rate of nitric oxide and superoxide varies? (2) how would antioxidants such as glutathione modulate the system dynamics?

RESULTS

While changing basal GSH levels does not alter the kinetics of nitric oxide, superoxide, and peroxynitrite, the kinetic profiles of N203, GSNO and GSH are sensitive to the variation of basal GSH levels. The kinetics of the potential nitrosative species, N203, is switch like, which is dependent on the level of GSH.

CONCLUSIONS

The model predicts that concurrent high nitric oxide and superoxide generation--such as in the inflammatory conditions--may result in nonlinear system dynamics, and glutathione may serve as a dynamic switch of N203 mediated nitrosation reaction.

Synthesis of peroxynitrite using isoamyl nitrite and hydrogen peroxide in a homogeneous solvent system

A method for the synthesis of peroxynitrite is described. It involves nitrosation of H2O2 at pH> or = 12.5 by isoamyl or butyl nitrite in mixed solvents of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and water at 25+/-1 degrees C. Maximum yields of peroxynitrite are obtained after 15 min of incubation at IPA concentrations of 30-70% (v/v). The solutions of peroxynitrite are processed for removal of IPA and isoamyl alcohol by solvent extraction. Unreacted H2O2 is removed by catalytic decomposition on granular MnO(2). The post processed solutions of peroxynitrite are useful in several chemical and biochemical investigations where bolus additions are required. The method as reported is amenable for large scale synthesis as it involves sequential mixing of solvents (water and IPA) to alkali followed by the addition of H2O2 and alkyl nitrite.

Peroxynitrite: a potent oxidizing and nitrating agent

Nitric oxide (NO*) reacts with superoxide (O2-*) forming peroxynitrite (PXN) (ONOO-), a strong oxidant which reacts with several biomolecules leading to enormous implications in biological process, holds enormous implications for the understanding of free radicals. The ONOO- formation in vivo has significant implications in free radical biology. It exerts a defensive role in large number of pathophysiological reactions and also acts as signaling molecule in activation of several protooncogenes. It decomposes rapidly to an intermediate and reacts with several biomolecules. Evidence for PXN formation in vivo has been obtained immunohistochemically through detection of a characteristic reaction product with protein tyrosine residues and 3-nitrotyrosine. This "biomarker" of PXN formation has now been identified in various pathologies such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, atherosclerosis as well as in biological aging. 3-nitrotyrosine formation has been documented in various tissues, e.g. even in non-diseased embryonic heart during normal development. Therefore, there is a great opportunity in the postgenomic period to understand the interplay of these molecular interactions with biological events such as apoptosis, gene regulation etc. This review deals with biological significance of peroxynitrite, its precursors, reactions with large range of biomolecules, including aminoacids, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, antioxidants as well as cytotoxic aspects.

Resveratrol, a natural phenolic compound may reduce carbonylation proteins induced by peroxynitrite in blood platelets

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) has a very broad range of biological properties, including antiplatelet and antioxidative activity. We investigated in vitro the effect of resveratrol on carbonylation of proteins (indicators of oxidative stress) in blood platelets treated with peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), a strong biological oxidant and inflammatory mediator. We observed that carbonylation of proteins induced by ONOO(-) (0.1 mmol/l), in the presence of resveratrol (0.25-0.1 mmol/l) is reduced. Resveratrol may scavenge ONOO(-), and may be useful in the prevention of ONOO(-)-related diseases, such as inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.