Characterization of potential S-nitrosylation sites in the myocardium

Peroxiredoxin-2 nitrosylation facilitates cardiomyogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells via XBP-1s/PI3K pathway

Protein nitrosylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification in almost all biological systems. However, its function on stem cell biology is so far incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrated that peroxiredoxin 2 (Prdx-2) nitrosylation was involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells induced by S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). We found that temporary GSNO exposure could promote ES cell-derived cardiomyogenesis. Using a stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based proteomics approach, coupled with biotin switch technique, a total of 104 nitrosylated proteins were identified. Specifically, one of the antioxidant enzymes, Prdx-2, was abundantly nitrosylated and temporarily reduced in antioxidant activity, causing transient endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and subsequent X-box binding protein-1s/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway activation. The present study reveals the mechanism in which GSNO favors cardiomyocyte differentiation. Prdx-2 nitrosylation could be a potent strategy to affect the pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyogenesis.

High-throughput endogenous measurement of S-nitrosylation in Alzheimer's disease using oxidized cysteine-selective cPILOT

Reversible cysteine modifications play important physiological roles such as modulating enzymatic catalysis, maintaining redox homeostasis and conducting cellular signaling. These roles can be critical in the context of disease. Oxidative modifications such as S-nitrosylation (SNO) are signatures of neurodestruction in conditions of oxidative stress however are also indicators of neuroprotection and normal signaling in cellular environments with low concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. SNO is a dynamic and low abundance modification and requires sensitive and selective analytical methods for its detection in biological tissues. Here we present an enhanced multiplexing strategy to study SNO in complex mixtures arising from tissues. This method, termed oxidized cysteine-selective cPILOT (OxcyscPILOT), allows simultaneous analysis of SNO-modified peptides in 12 samples. OxcyscPILOT has three primary steps: (1) blocking of free thiols by a cysteine-reactive reagent, (2) enrichment of peptides containing SNO on a solid phase resin, and (3) isotopic labeling and isobaric tagging of enriched peptides on the solid phase resin. This approach offers the advantage of allowing total protein abundance levels to be measured simultaneously with endogenous SNO levels and measurement of SNO levels across four biological replicates in a single analysis. Furthermore, the relative amount of SNO on a specific cysteine site can also be determined. A well-known model of Alzheimer's disease, the APP/PS-1 transgenic mouse model, was selected for demonstration of the method as several SNO-modified proteins have previously been reported in brain and synaptosomes from AD subjects. OxcyscPILOT analysis resulted in identification of 138 SNO-modified cysteines in brain homogenates that correspond to 135 proteins. Many of these SNO-modified proteins were only present in wild-type or AD mice, whereas 93 proteins had SNO signals in both WT and AD. Pathway analysis links SNO-modified proteins to various biological pathways especially metabolism and signal transduction, consistent with previous reports in the literature. The OxcyscPILOT strategy provides enhanced multiplexing capability to current redox proteomics methods to study oxidative modifications of cysteine.

An Interplay of S-Nitrosylation and Metal Ion Binding for Astrocytic S100B Protein

Mammalian S100B protein plays multiple important roles in cellular brain processes. The protein is a clinically used marker for several pathologies including brain injury, neurodegeneration and cancer. High levels of S100B released by astrocytes in Down syndrome patients are responsible for reduced neurogenesis of neural progenitor cells and induction of cell death in neurons. Despite increasing understanding of S100B biology, there are still many questions concerning the detailed molecular mechanisms that determine specific activities of S100B. Elevated overexpression of S100B protein is often synchronized with increased nitric oxide-related activity. In this work we show S100B is a target of exogenous S-nitrosylation in rat brain protein lysate and identify endogenous S-nitrosylation of S100B in a cellular model of astrocytes. Biochemical studies are presented indicating S-nitrosylation tunes the conformation of S100B and modulates its Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ binding properties. Our in vitro results suggest that the possibility of endogenous S-nitrosylation should be taken into account in the further studies of in vivo S100B protein activity, especially under conditions of increased NO-related activity.

The Dual Function of Reactive Oxygen/Nitrogen Species in Bioenergetics and Cell Death: The Role of ATP Synthase

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) targeting mitochondria are major causative factors in disease pathogenesis. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) is a mega-channel modulated by calcium and ROS/RNS modifications and it has been described to play a crucial role in many pathophysiological events since prolonged channel opening causes cell death. The recent identification that dimers of ATP synthase form the PTP and the fact that posttranslational modifications caused by ROS/RNS also affect cellular bioenergetics through the modulation of ATP synthase catalysis reveal a dual function of these modifications in the cells. Here, we describe mitochondria as a major site of production and as a target of ROS/RNS and discuss the pathophysiological conditions in which oxidative and nitrosative modifications modulate the catalytic and pore-forming activities of ATP synthase.

Characterization of the sex-dependent myocardial S-nitrosothiol proteome

Premenopausal women exhibit endogenous cardioprotective signaling mechanisms that are thought to result from the beneficial effects of estrogen, which we have shown to increase protein S-nitrosylation in the heart. S-nitrosylation is a labile protein modification that increases with a number of different forms of cardioprotection, including ischemic preconditioning. Herein, we sought to identify a potential role for protein S-nitrosylation in sex-dependent cardioprotection. We utilized a Langendorff-perfused mouse heart model of ischemia-reperfusion injury with male and female hearts, and S-nitrosylation-resin-assisted capture with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify S-nitrosylated proteins and modification sites. Consistent with previous studies, female hearts exhibited resilience to injury with a significant increase in functional recovery compared with male hearts. In a separate set of hearts, we identified a total of 177 S-nitrosylated proteins in female hearts at baseline compared with 109 S-nitrosylated proteins in male hearts. Unique S-nitrosylated proteins in the female group included the F1FO-ATPase and cyclophilin D. We also utilized label-free peptide analysis to quantify levels of common S-nitrosylated identifications and noted that the S-nitrosylation of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase 2a was nearly 70% lower in male hearts compared with female, with no difference in expression. Furthermore, we found a significant increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, phosphorylation, and total nitric oxide production in female hearts compared with males, likely accounting for the enhanced S-nitrosylation protein levels in female hearts. In conclusion, we identified a number of novel S-nitrosylated proteins in female hearts that are likely to contribute to sex-dependent cardioprotection.

Overexpression of Catalase Diminishes Oxidative Cysteine Modifications of Cardiac Proteins

Reactive protein cysteine thiolates are instrumental in redox regulation. Oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), react with thiolates to form oxidative post-translational modifications, enabling physiological redox signaling. Cardiac disease and aging are associated with oxidative stress which can impair redox signaling by altering essential cysteine thiolates. We previously found that cardiac-specific overexpression of catalase (Cat), an enzyme that detoxifies excess H₂O₂, protected from oxidative stress and delayed cardiac aging in mice. Using redox proteomics and systems biology, we sought to identify the cysteines that could play a key role in cardiac disease and aging. With a ‘Tandem Mass Tag’ (TMT) labeling strategy and mass spectrometry, we investigated differential reversible cysteine oxidation in the cardiac proteome of wild type and Cat transgenic (Tg) mice. Reversible cysteine oxidation was measured as thiol occupancy, the ratio of total available versus reversibly oxidized cysteine thiols. Catalase overexpression globally decreased thiol occupancy by ≥1.3 fold in 82 proteins, including numerous mitochondrial and contractile proteins. Systems biology analysis assigned the majority of proteins with differentially modified thiols in Cat Tg mice to pathways of aging and cardiac disease, including cellular stress response, proteostasis, and apoptosis. In addition, Cat Tg mice exhibited diminished protein glutathione adducts and decreased H₂O₂ production from mitochondrial complex I and II, suggesting improved function of cardiac mitochondria. In conclusion, our data suggest that catalase may alleviate cardiac disease and aging by moderating global protein cysteine thiol oxidation.

S-Nitrosylation of Sarcomeric Proteins Depresses Myofilament Ca2+)Sensitivity in Intact Cardiomyocytes

AIMS

The heart responds to physiological and pathophysiological stress factors by increasing its production of nitric oxide (NO), which reacts with intracellular glutathione to form S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a protein S-nitrosylating agent. Although S-nitrosylation protects some cardiac proteins against oxidative stress, direct effects on myofilament performance are unknown. We hypothesize that S-nitrosylation of sarcomeric proteins will modulate the performance of cardiac myofilaments.

RESULTS

Incubation of intact mouse cardiomyocytes with S-nitrosocysteine (CysNO, a cell-permeable low-molecular-weight nitrosothiol) significantly decreased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity. In demembranated (skinned) fibers, S-nitrosylation with 1 μM GSNO also decreased Ca(2+) sensitivity of contraction and 10 μM reduced maximal isometric force, while inhibition of relaxation and myofibrillar ATPase required higher concentrations (≥ 100 μM). Reducing S-nitrosylation with ascorbate partially reversed the effects on Ca(2+) sensitivity and ATPase activity. In live cardiomyocytes treated with CysNO, resin-assisted capture of S-nitrosylated protein thiols was combined with label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify S-nitrosylation and determine the susceptible cysteine sites on myosin, actin, myosin-binding protein C, troponin C and I, tropomyosin, and titin. The ability of sarcomere proteins to form S-NO from 10-500 μM CysNO in intact cardiomyocytes was further determined by immunoblot, with actin, myosin, myosin-binding protein C, and troponin C being the more susceptible sarcomeric proteins.

INNOVATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Thus, specific physiological effects are associated with S-nitrosylation of a limited number of cysteine residues in sarcomeric proteins, which also offer potential targets for interventions in pathophysiological situations.

The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore: Channel Formation by F-ATP Synthase, Integration in Signal Transduction, and Role in Pathophysiology

The mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) is a permeability increase of the inner mitochondrial membrane mediated by a channel, the permeability transition pore (PTP). After a brief historical introduction, we cover the key regulatory features of the PTP and provide a critical assessment of putative protein components that have been tested by genetic analysis. The discovery that under conditions of oxidative stress the F-ATP synthases of mammals, yeast, and Drosophila can be turned into Ca(2+)-dependent channels, whose electrophysiological properties match those of the corresponding PTPs, opens new perspectives to the field. We discuss structural and functional features of F-ATP synthases that may provide clues to its transition from an energy-conserving into an energy-dissipating device as well as recent advances on signal transduction to the PTP and on its role in cellular pathophysiology.

Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) in cardiac pathophysiology

More than 350 individual MYPBC3 mutations have been identified in patients with inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), thus representing 40–50% of all HCM mutations, making it the most frequently mutated gene in HCM. HCM is considered a disease of the sarcomere and is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, myocyte disarray and diastolic dysfunction. MYBPC3 encodes for the thick filament associated protein cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C), a signaling node in cardiac myocytes that contributes to the maintenance of sarcomeric structure and regulation of contraction and relaxation. This review aims to provide a succinct overview of how mutations in MYBPC3 are considered to affect the physiological function of cMyBP-C, thus causing the deleterious consequences observed inHCM patients. Importantly, recent advances to causally treat HCM by repairing MYBPC3 mutations by gene therapy are discussed here, providing a promising alternative to heart transplantation for patients with a fatal form of neonatal cardiomyopathy due to bi-allelic truncating MYBPC3 mutations.

Dual Labeling Biotin Switch Assay to Reduce Bias Derived From Different Cysteine Subpopulations: A Method to Maximize S-Nitrosylation Detection

RATIONALE

S-nitrosylation (SNO), an oxidative post-translational modification of cysteine residues, responds to changes in the cardiac redox-environment. Classic biotin-switch assay and its derivatives are the most common methods used for detecting SNO. In this approach, the labile SNO group is selectively replaced with a single stable tag. To date, a variety of thiol-reactive tags have been introduced. However, these methods have not produced a consistent data set, which suggests an incomplete capture by a single tag and potentially the presence of different cysteine subpopulations.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate potential labeling bias in the existing methods with a single tag to detect SNO, explore if there are distinct cysteine subpopulations, and then, develop a strategy to maximize the coverage of SNO proteome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We obtained SNO-modified cysteine data sets for wild-type and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase knockout mouse hearts (S-nitrosoglutathione reductase is a negative regulator of S-nitrosoglutathione production) and nitric oxide-induced human embryonic kidney cell using 2 labeling reagents: the cysteine-reactive pyridyldithiol and iodoacetyl based tandem mass tags. Comparison revealed that <30% of the SNO-modified residues were detected by both tags, whereas the remaining SNO sites were only labeled by 1 reagent. Characterization of the 2 distinct subpopulations of SNO residues indicated that pyridyldithiol reagent preferentially labels cysteine residues that are more basic and hydrophobic. On the basis of this observation, we proposed a parallel dual-labeling strategy followed by an optimized proteomics workflow. This enabled the profiling of 493 SNO sites in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase knockout hearts.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a protocol comprising 2 tags for dual-labeling maximizes overall detection of SNO by reducing the previously unrecognized labeling bias derived from different cysteine subpopulations.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma controls inflammation-induced myocardial depression via sequential cAMP and iNOS signalling

AIMS

Sepsis-induced myocardial depression (SIMD), an early and frequent event of infection-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), is characterized by reduced contractility irrespective of enhanced adrenergic stimulation. Phosphoinositide-3 kinase γ (PI3Kγ) is known to prevent β-adrenergic overstimulation via its scaffold function by activating major cardiac phosphodiesterases and restricting cAMP levels. However, the role of PI3Kγ in SIRS-induced myocardial depression is unknown. This study is aimed at determining the specific role of lipid kinase-dependent and -independent functions of PI3Kγ in the pathogenesis of SIRS-induced myocardial depression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PI3Kγ knockout mice (PI3Kγ(-/-)), mice expressing catalytically inactive PI3Kγ (PI3Kγ(KD/KD)), and wild-type mice (P3Kγ(+/+)) were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation and assessed for survival, cardiac autonomic nervous system function, and left ventricular performance. Additionally, primary adult cardiomyocytes were used to analyse PI3Kγ effects on myocardial contractility and inflammatory response. SIRS-induced adrenergic overstimulation induced a transient hypercontractility state in PI3Kγ(-/-) mice, followed by reduced contractility. In contrast, P3Kγ(+/+) mice and PI3Kγ(KD/KD) mice developed an early and ongoing myocardial depression despite exposure to similarly increased catecholamine levels. Compared with cells from P3Kγ(+/+) and PI3Kγ(KD/KD) mice, cardiomyocytes from PI3Kγ(-/-) mice showed an enhanced and prolonged cAMP-mediated signalling upon norepinephrine and an intensified LPS-induced proinflammatory response characterized by nuclear factor of activated T-cells-mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase up-regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the lipid kinase-independent scaffold function of PI3Kγ as a mediator of SIMD during inflammation-induced SIRS. Activation of cardiac phosphodiesterases via PI3Kγ is shown to restrict myocardial hypercontractility early after SIRS induction as well as the subsequent inflammatory responses.

S-Nitrosylation of Calcium-Handling Proteins in Cardiac Adrenergic Signaling and Hypertrophy

RATIONALE

The regulation of calcium (Ca(2+)) homeostasis by β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) activation provides the essential underpinnings of sympathetic regulation of myocardial function, as well as a basis for understanding molecular events that result in hypertrophic signaling and heart failure. Sympathetic stimulation of the βAR not only induces protein phosphorylation but also activates nitric oxide-dependent signaling, which modulates cardiac contractility. Nonetheless, the role of nitric oxide in βAR-dependent regulation of Ca(2+) handling has not yet been explicated fully.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the role of protein S-nitrosylation, a major transducer of nitric oxide bioactivity, on βAR-dependent alterations in cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) handling and hypertrophy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using transgenic mice to titrate the levels of protein S-nitrosylation, we uncovered major roles for protein S-nitrosylation, in general, and for phospholamban and cardiac troponin C S-nitrosylation, in particular, in βAR-dependent regulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis. Notably, S-nitrosylation of phospholamban consequent upon βAR stimulation is necessary for the inhibitory pentamerization of phospholamban, which activates sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase and increases cytosolic Ca(2+) transients. Coincident S-nitrosylation of cardiac troponin C decreases myocardial sensitivity to Ca(2+). During chronic adrenergic stimulation, global reductions in cellular S-nitrosylation mitigate hypertrophic signaling resulting from Ca(2+) overload.

CONCLUSIONS

S-Nitrosylation operates in concert with phosphorylation to regulate many cardiac Ca(2+)-handling proteins, including phospholamban and cardiac troponin C, thereby playing an essential and previously unrecognized role in cardiac Ca(2+) homeostasis. Manipulation of the S-nitrosylation level may prove therapeutic in heart failure.

Differential alkylation-based redox proteomics--Lessons learnt

Cysteine is one of the most reactive amino acids. This is due to the electronegativity of sulphur atom in the side chain of thiolate group. It results in cysteine being present in several distinct redox forms inside the cell. Amongst these, reversible oxidations, S-nitrosylation and S-sulfenylation are crucial mediators of intracellular redox signalling, with known associations to health and disease. Study of their functionalities has intensified thanks to the development of various analytical strategies, with particular contribution from differential alkylation-based proteomics methods. Presented here is a critical evaluation of differential alkylation-based strategies for the analysis of S-nitrosylation and S-sulfenylation. The aim is to assess the current status and to provide insights for future directions in the dynamically evolving field of redox proteomics. To achieve that we collected 35 original research articles published since 2010 and analysed them considering the following parameters, (i) resolution of modification site, (ii) quantitative information, including correction of modification levels by protein abundance changes and determination of modification site occupancy, (iii) throughput, including the amount of starting material required for analysis. The results of this meta-analysis are the core of this review, complemented by issues related to biological models and sample preparation in redox proteomics, including conditions for free thiol blocking and labelling of target cysteine oxoforms.

Protein S-nitrosylation in preconditioning and postconditioning

The coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. This disease has a complex pathophysiology that includes multiple mechanisms. Among these is the oxidative/nitrosative stress. Paradoxically, oxidative/nitrosative signaling plays a major role in cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this context, the gas transmitter nitric oxide may act through several mechanisms, such as guanylyl cyclase activation and via S-nitrosylation of proteins. The latter is a covalent modification of a protein cysteine thiol by a nitric oxide-group that generates an S-nitrosothiol. Here, we report data showing that nitric oxide and S-nitrosylation of proteins play a pivotal role not only in preconditioning but also in postconditioning cardioprotection.

Reprint of "The mitochondrial permeability transition pore and its adaptive responses in tumor cells"

This review covers recent progress on the nature of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) – a key effector in the mitochondrial pathways to cell death – and on the adaptive responses of tumor cells that desensitize the PTP to Ca(2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby playing an important role in the resistance of tumors to cell death. The discovery that the PTP forms from dimers of F-ATP synthase; and the definition of the Ca(2+)- and ROS-dependent signaling pathways affecting the transition of the F-ATP synthase from an energy-conserving to an energy-dissipating device open new perspectives for therapeutic intervention in cancer cells.

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore: molecular nature and role as a target in cardioprotection

The mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) - an abrupt increase permeability of the inner membrane to solutes - is a causative event in ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart, and the focus of intense research in cardioprotection. The PT is due to opening of the PT pore (PTP), a high conductance channel that is critically regulated by a variety of pathophysiological effectors. Very recent work indicates that the PTP forms from the F-ATP synthase, which would switch from an energy-conserving to an energy-dissipating device. This review provides an update on the current debate on how this transition is achieved, and on the PTP as a target for therapeutic intervention. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Mitochondria: from basic mitochondrial biology to cardiovascular disease".

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore and its adaptive responses in tumor cells

This review covers recent progress on the nature of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) - a key effector in the mitochondrial pathways to cell death - and on the adaptive responses of tumor cells that desensitize the PTP to Ca(2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby playing an important role in the resistance of tumors to cell death. The discovery that the PTP forms from dimers of F-ATP synthase; and the definition of the Ca(2+)- and ROS-dependent signaling pathways affecting the transition of the F-ATP synthase from an energy-conserving to an energy-dissipating device open new perspectives for therapeutic intervention in cancer cells.

Structural mechanisms of cyclophilin D-dependent control of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

BACKGROUND

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore is the underlying cause of cellular dysfunction during diverse pathological situations. Although this bioenergetic entity has been studied extensively, its molecular componentry is constantly debated. Cyclophilin D is the only universally accepted modulator of this channel and its selective ligands have been proposed as therapeutic agents with the potential to regulate pore opening during disease.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

This review aims to recapitulate known molecular determinants necessary for Cyclophilin D activity regulation and binding to proposed pore constituents thereby regulating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

While the main target of Cyclophilin D is still a matter of further research, permeability transition is finely regulated by post-translational modifications of this isomerase and its catalytic activity facilitates pore opening.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Complete elucidation of the molecular determinants required for Cyclophilin D-mediated control of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore will allow the rational design of therapies aiming to control disease phenotypes associated with the occurrence of this unselective channel. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Proline-directed Foldases: Cell Signaling Catalysts and Drug Targets.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase acts as a mitochondrial trans-S-nitrosylase in the heart

Mitochondrial proteins have been shown to be common targets of S-nitrosylation (SNO), but the existence of a mitochondrial source of nitric oxide remains controversial. SNO is a nitric oxide-dependent thiol modification that can regulate protein function. Interestingly, trans-S-nitrosylation represents a potential pathway for the import of SNO into the mitochondria. The glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which has been shown to act as a nuclear trans-S-nitrosylase, has also been shown to enter mitochondria. However, the function of GAPDH in the mitochondria remains unknown. Therefore, we propose the hypothesis that S-nitrosylated GAPDH (SNO-GAPDH) interacts with mitochondrial proteins as a trans-S-nitrosylase. In accordance with this hypothesis, SNO-GAPDH should be detected in mitochondrial fractions, interact with mitochondrial proteins, and increase mitochondrial SNO levels. Our results demonstrate a four-fold increase in GAPDH levels in the mitochondrial fraction of mouse hearts subjected to ischemic preconditioning, which increases SNO-GAPDH levels. Co-immunoprecipitation studies performed in mouse hearts perfused with the S-nitrosylating agent S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), suggest that SNO promotes the interaction of GAPDH with mitochondrial protein targets. The addition of purified SNO-GAPDH to isolated mouse heart mitochondria demonstrated the ability of SNO-GAPDH to enter the mitochondrial matrix, and to increase SNO for many mitochondrial proteins. Further, the overexpression of GAPDH in HepG2 cells increased SNO for a number of different mitochondrial proteins, including heat shock protein 60, voltage-dependent anion channel 1, and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, thus supporting the role of GAPDH as a potential mitochondrial trans-S-nitrosylase. In further support of this hypothesis, many of the mitochondrial SNO proteins identified with GAPDH overexpression were no longer detected with GAPDH knock-down or mutation. Therefore, our results suggest that SNO-GAPDH can act as a mitochondrial trans-S-nitrosylase, thereby conferring the transfer of SNO from the cytosol to the mitochondria.

Signaling by S-nitrosylation in the heart

Nitric oxide is a gaseous signaling molecule that is well-known for the Nobel prize-winning research that defined nitric oxide as a physiological regulator of blood pressure in the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide can signal via the classical pathway involving activation of guanylyl cyclase or by a post-translational modification, referred to as S-nitrosylation (SNO) that can occur on cysteine residues of proteins. As proteins with cysteine residues are common, this allows for amplification of the nitric oxide signaling. This review will focus on the possible mechanisms through which SNO can alter protein function in cardiac cells, and the role of SNO occupancy in these mechanisms. The specific mechanisms that regulate protein SNO, including redox-dependent processes, will also be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Redox Signalling in the Cardiovascular System".

Global analysis of S-nitrosylation sites in the wild type (APP) transgenic mouse brain-clues for synaptic pathology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by an early synaptic loss, which strongly correlates with the severity of dementia. The pathogenesis and causes of characteristic AD symptoms are not fully understood. Defects in various cellular cascades were suggested, including the imbalance in production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Alterations in S-nitrosylation of several proteins were previously demonstrated in various AD animal models and patients. In this work, using combined biotin-switch affinity/nano-LC-MS/MS and bioinformatic approaches we profiled endogenous S-nitrosylation of brain synaptosomal proteins from wild type and transgenic mice overexpressing mutated human Amyloid Precursor Protein (hAPP). Our data suggest involvement of S-nitrosylation in the regulation of 138 synaptic proteins, including MAGUK, CamkII, or synaptotagmins. Thirty-eight proteins were differentially S-nitrosylated in hAPP mice only. Ninety-five S-nitrosylated peptides were identified for the first time (40% of total, including 33 peptides exclusively in hAPP synaptosomes). We verified differential S-nitrosylation of 10 (26% of all identified) synaptosomal proteins from hAPP mice, by Western blotting with specific antibodies. Functional enrichment analysis linked S-nitrosylated proteins to various cellular pathways, including: glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, calcium homeostasis, ion, and vesicle transport, suggesting a basic role of this post-translational modification in the regulation of synapses. The linkage of SNO-proteins to axonal guidance and other processes related to APP metabolism exclusively in the hAPP brain, implicates S-nitrosylation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Mitochondrial channels: ion fluxes and more

The field of mitochondrial ion channels has recently seen substantial progress, including the molecular identification of some of the channels. An integrative approach using genetics, electrophysiology, pharmacology, and cell biology to clarify the roles of these channels has thus become possible. It is by now clear that many of these channels are important for energy supply by the mitochondria and have a major impact on the fate of the entire cell as well. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the electrophysiological properties, molecular identity, and pathophysiological functions of the mitochondrial ion channels studied so far and to highlight possible therapeutic perspectives based on current information.

The oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein of mitochondrial ATP synthase: emerging new roles in mitochondrial pathophysiology

The oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP) of the mitochondrial F(O)F1 ATP synthase has long been recognized to be essential for the coupling of proton transport to ATP synthesis. Located on top of the catalytic F1 sector, it makes stable contacts with both F1 and the peripheral stalk, ensuring the structural and functional coupling between F(O) and F1, which is disrupted by the antibiotic, oligomycin. Recent data have established that OSCP is the binding target of cyclophilin (CyP) D, a well-characterized inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), whose opening can precipitate cell death. CyPD binding affects ATP synthase activity, and most importantly, it decreases the threshold matrix Ca²⁺ required for PTP opening, in striking analogy with benzodiazepine 423, an apoptosis-inducing agent that also binds OSCP. These findings are consistent with the demonstration that dimers of ATP synthase generate Ca²⁺-dependent currents with features indistinguishable from those of the PTP and suggest that ATP synthase is directly involved in PTP formation, although the underlying mechanism remains to be established. In this scenario, OSCP appears to play a fundamental role, sensing the signal(s) that switches the enzyme of life in a channel able to precipitate cell death.

S-nitrosylation of TRIM72 at cysteine 144 is critical for protection against oxidation-induced protein degradation and cell death

Oxidative stress and membrane damage following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury are important contributors to cardiomyocyte death and the loss of myocardial function. Our previous study identified cysteine 144 (C144) of tripartite motif-containing protein 72 (TRIM72) as a potential site for S-nitrosylation (SNO). TRIM72 is a cardioprotective membrane repair protein that can be both activated and targeted for degradation by different oxidative modifications. Consistent with the potential regulation of TRIM72 by various oxidative modifications, we found that SNO levels increased at C144 of TRIM72 with ischemic preconditioning. Therefore, to investigate the role of C144 in the regulation of TRIM72 function, we mutated C144 of TRIM72 to a serine residue (TRIM72(C144S)), and expressed either TRIM72(WT) or TRIM72(C144S) in HEK-293 cells, which lack endogenous TRIM72, in order to examine the effect of this mutation on the functional stability of TRIM72 and on cell survival. We hypothesized that SNO of TRIM72 stabilizes the protein, thus allowing for membrane repair and enhanced cell survival. Upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), we found that TRIM72(WT) levels were decreased, but not TRIM72(C144S) and this correlated with increased H2O2-induced cell death in TRIM72(WT) cells. Additionally, we found that treatment with the cardioprotective S-nitrosylating agent S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), was able to preserve TRIM72(WT) protein levels and enhance TRIM72(WT)-mediated cell survival, but had no effect on TRIM72(C144S) levels. Consistent with our hypothesis, GSNO was also found to increase SNO levels and inhibit H2O2-induced irreversible oxidation for TRIM72(WT) without affecting TRIM72(C144S). In further support of our hypothesis, GSNO blocked the ischemia/reperfusion-induced decrease in TRIM72 levels and reduced infarct size in a Langendorff-perfused heart model. The results of these studies have important implications for cardioprotection and suggest that SNO of TRIM72 at C144 prevents the oxidation-induced degradation of TRIM72 following oxidative insult, therefore enhancing cardiomyocyte survival.

Cardiac mitochondria and reactive oxygen species generation

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) have emerged as an important mechanism of disease and redox signaling in the cardiovascular system. Under basal or pathological conditions, electron leakage for ROS production is primarily mediated by the electron transport chain and the proton motive force consisting of a membrane potential (ΔΨ) and a proton gradient (ΔpH). Several factors controlling ROS production in the mitochondria include flavin mononucleotide and flavin mononucleotide-binding domain of complex I, ubisemiquinone and quinone-binding domain of complex I, flavin adenine nucleotide-binding moiety and quinone-binding pocket of complex II, and unstable semiquinone mediated by the Q cycle of complex III. In mitochondrial complex I, specific cysteinyl redox domains modulate ROS production from the flavin mononucleotide moiety and iron-sulfur clusters. In the cardiovascular system, mitochondrial ROS have been linked to mediating the physiological effects of metabolic dilation and preconditioning-like mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel activation. Furthermore, oxidative post-translational modification by glutathione in complex I and complex II has been shown to affect enzymatic catalysis, protein-protein interactions, and enzyme-mediated ROS production. Conditions associated with oxidative or nitrosative stress, such as myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, increase mitochondrial ROS production via oxidative injury of complexes I and II and superoxide anion radical-induced hydroxyl radical production by aconitase. Further insight into cellular mechanisms by which specific redox post-translational modifications regulate ROS production in the mitochondria will enrich our understanding of redox signal transduction and identify new therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases in which oxidative stress perturbs normal redox signaling.

Recent insights in the paracrine modulation of cardiomyocyte contractility by cardiac endothelial cells

The cardiac endothelium is formed by a continuous monolayer of cells that line the cavity of the heart (endocardial endothelial cells (EECs)) and the luminal surface of the myocardial blood vessels (intramyocardial capillary endothelial cells (IMCEs)). EECs and IMCEs can exercise substantial control over the contractility of cardiomyocytes by releasing various factors such as nitric oxide (NO) via a constitutive endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS), endothelin-1, prostaglandins, angiotensin II, peptide growth factors, and neuregulin-1. The purpose of the present paper is actually to shortly review recent new information concerning cardiomyocytes as effectors of endothelium paracrine signaling, focusing particularly on contractile function. The modes of action and the regulatory paracrine role of the main mediators delivered by cardiac endothelial cells upon cardiac contractility identified in cardiomyocytes are complex and not fully described. Thus, careful evaluation of new therapeutic approaches is required targeting important physiological signaling pathways, some of which have been until recently considered as deleterious, like reactive oxygen species. Future works in the field of cardiac endothelial cells and cardiac function will help to better understand the implication of these mediators in cardiac physiopathology.

Pivotal role of mTORC2 and involvement of ribosomal protein S6 in cardioprotective signaling

RATIONALE

There is tight coupling between Akt activation and suppression of cell death. Full Akt activation requires mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), but the regulation of mTORC2 is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To gain new insights into mechanisms of mTORC2/Akt signaling.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The role of mTORC2 in cardioprotection was examined. In perfused mouse hearts, ischemic preconditioning increased mTORC2 activity, leading to phosphorylation of Akt on Ser473. The protective effect of ischemic preconditioning was lost by pretreatment with dual mTORC inhibitors but not with rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, which indicates the fundamental role of mTORC2 activation in cardioprotection. Next, the regulation and downstream targets of mTORC2/Akt signaling were explored. We have found that ischemic preconditioning and other Akt activators (insulin and opioids) result in phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (Rps6) at Ser235/236 in mouse hearts and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Rps6 interacts with components of mTORC2, and siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rps6 attenuates insulin-induced mTORC2 activation and Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation. On the other hand, Rps6 overexpression enhanced Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation, indicating that Rps6 activation amplifies mTORC2/Akt signaling. Disruption of the Rps6/mTORC2 pathway by knockdown of Rps6 or rictor abrogated insulin-induced cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Although rapamycin blocks Rps6-dependent mTORC2 activation, mTORC2 is still activated by an alternative signaling pathway, demonstrating the redundancy in cardioprotective signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of mTORC2 plays a pivotal role in cardioprotection, and Rps6 is a convergence point of cardioprotective signaling, providing positive feedback regulation of mTORC2/Akt signaling.

Identification of endogenously S-nitrosylated proteins in Arabidopsis plantlets: effect of cold stress on cysteine nitrosylation level

S-nitrosylation is a nitric oxide (NO)-based post-translational modification regulating protein function and signalling. We used a combination between the biotin switch method and labelling with isotope-coded affinity tag to identify endogenously S-nitrosylated peptides in Arabidopsis thaliana proteins extracted from plantlets. The relative level of S-nitrosylation in the identified peptides was compared between unstressed and cold-stress seedlings. We thereby detected 62 endogenously nitrosylated peptides out of which 20 are over-nitrosylated following cold exposure. Taken together these data provide a new repertoire of endogenously S-nitrosylated proteins in Arabidopsis with cysteine S-nitrosylation site. Furthermore they highlight the quantitative modification of the S-nitrosylation status of specific cysteine following cold stress.

Postconditioning leads to an increase in protein S-nitrosylation

Previous studies have shown a role for nitric oxide and S-nitrosylation (SNO) in postconditioning (PostC), but specific SNO proteins and sites have not been identified in the myocardium after PostC. In this study, we examined SNO signaling in PostC using a Langendorff-perfused mouse heart model. After 20 min of equilibrium perfusion and 25 min of global ischemia, PostC was applied at the beginning of reperfusion with six cycles of 10 s of reperfusion and 10 s of ischemia. The total period of reperfusion was 90 min. Compared with the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) control, PostC significantly reduced postischemic contractile dysfunction and infarct size. PostC-induced protection was blocked by treatment with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (10 μmol/l; a constitutive NO synthase inhibitor), but not by either ODQ (10 μmol/l, a highly selective soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor) or KT5823 (1 μmol/l, a specific protein kinase G inhibitor). Two biotin switch based methods, two dimensional CyDye-maleimide difference gel electrophoresis (2D CyDye-maleimide DIGE) and SNO-resin-assisted capture (SNO-RAC), were utilized to identify SNO-modified proteins and sites. Using 2D CyDye-maleimide DIGE analysis, PostC was found to cause a 25% or greater increase in SNO of a number of proteins, which was blocked by treatment with l-NAME in parallel with the loss of protection. Using SNO-RAC, we identified 77 unique proteins with SNO sites after PostC. These results suggest that NO-mediated SNO signaling is involved in PostC-induced cardioprotection and these data provide the first set of candidate SNO proteins in PostC hearts.

S-nitrosylation: specificity, occupancy, and interaction with other post-translational modifications

SIGNIFICANCE

S-nitrosylation (SNO) has been identified throughout the body as an important signaling modification both in physiology and a variety of diseases. SNO is a multifaceted post-translational modification, in that it can either act as a signaling molecule itself or as an intermediate to other modifications.

RECENT ADVANCES AND CRITICAL ISSUES

Through extensive SNO research, we have made progress toward understanding the importance of single cysteine-SNO sites; however, we are just beginning to explore the importance of specific SNO within the context of other SNO sites and post-translational modifications. Additionally, compartmentalization and SNO occupancy may play an important role in the consequences of the SNO modification.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

In this review, we will consider the context of SNO signaling and discuss how the transient nature of SNO, its role as an oxidative intermediate, and the pattern of SNO, should be considered when determining the impact of SNO signaling.

Nitric oxide-sphingolipid interplays in plant signalling: a new enigma from the Sphinx?

Nitric oxide (NO) emerged as one of the major signaling molecules operating during plant development and plant responses to its environment. Beyond the identification of the direct molecular targets of NO, a series of studies considered its interplay with other actors of signal transduction and the integration of NO into complex signaling networks. Beside the close relationships between NO and calcium or phosphatidic acid signaling pathways that are now well-established, recent reports paved the way for interplays between NO and sphingolipids (SLs). This mini-review summarizes our current knowledge of the influence NO and SLs might exert on each other in plant physiology. Based on comparisons with examples from the animal field, it further indicates that, although SL-NO interplays are common features in signaling networks of eukaryotic cells, the underlying mechanisms and molecular targets significantly differ.

A role for thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip) in cellular creatine homeostasis

Creatine is important for energy metabolism, yet excitable cells such as cardiomyocytes do not synthesize creatine and rely on uptake via a specific membrane creatine transporter (CrT; SLC6A8). This process is tightly controlled with downregulation of CrT upon continued exposure to high creatine via mechanisms that are poorly understood. Our aim was to identify candidate endogenous CrT inhibitors. In 3T3 cells overexpressing the CrT, creatine uptake plateaued at 3 h in response to 5 mM creatine but peaked 33% higher (P < 0.01) in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting CrT regulation depends on new protein synthesis. Global gene expression analysis identified thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip) as the only significantly upregulated gene (by 46%) under these conditions (P = 0.036), subsequently verified independently at mRNA and protein levels. There was no change in Txnip expression with exposure to 5 mM taurine, confirming a specific response to creatine rather than osmotic stress. Small-interfering RNA against Txnip prevented Txnip upregulation in response to high creatine, maintained normal levels of creatine uptake, and prevented downregulation of CrT mRNA. These findings were relevant to the in vivo heart since creatine-deficient mice showed 39.71% lower levels of Txnip mRNA, whereas mice overexpressing the CrT had 57.6% higher Txnip mRNA levels and 28.7% higher protein expression compared with wild types (mean myocardial creatine concentration 124 and 74 nmol/mg protein, respectively). In conclusion, we have identified Txnip as a novel negative regulator of creatine levels in vitro and in vivo, responsible for mediating substrate feedback inhibition and a potential target for modulating creatine homeostasis.

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore: a mystery solved?

The permeability transition (PT) denotes an increase of the mitochondrial inner membrane permeability to solutes with molecular masses up to about 1500 Da. It is presumed to be mediated by opening of a channel, the permeability transition pore (PTP), whose molecular nature remains a mystery. Here I briefly review the history of the PTP, discuss existing models, and present our new results indicating that reconstituted dimers of the F_OF₁ ATP synthase form a channel with properties identical to those of the mitochondrial megachannel (MMC), the electrophysiological equivalent of the PTP. Open questions remain, but there is now promise that the PTP can be studied by genetic methods to solve the large number of outstanding problems.

Mitochondrial permeability transition and cell death: the role of cyclophilin d

Mitochondria serve as a “powerhouse” which provides near 90% of ATP necessary for cell life. However, recent studies provide strong evidence that mitochondria also play a central role in cell death. Mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) at high conductance in response to oxidative or other cellular stresses is accompanied by pathological and non-specific mPT pore (mPTP) opening in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Mitochondrial PTP can serve as a target to prevent cell death under pathological conditions such as cardiac and brain ischemia/reperfusion injury and diabetes. On the other hand, mPTP can be used as an executioner to specifically induce cell death thus blocking tumorigenesis in cancer diseases. Despite many studies, the molecular identity of the mPTP remains unclear. Cyclophilin D (CyP-D) plays an essential regulatory role in pore opening. This review will discuss direct and indirect mechanisms underlying CyP-D interaction with a target protein of the mPTP complex. Understanding of the mechanisms of mPTP opening will be helpful to further develop new pharmacological agents targeting mitochondria-mediated cell death.

Quantitative site-specific reactivity profiling of S-nitrosylation in mouse skeletal muscle using cysteinyl peptide enrichment coupled with mass spectrometry

S-nitrosylation, the formation of S-nitrosothiol (SNO), is an important reversible thiol oxidation event that has been increasingly recognized for its role in cell signaling. Although many proteins susceptible to S-nitrosylation have been reported, site-specific identification of physiologically relevant SNO modifications remains an analytical challenge because of the low abundance and labile nature of this modification. Herein we present further improvement and optimization of the recently reported resin-assisted cysteinyl peptide enrichment protocol for SNO identification and its application to mouse skeletal muscle to identify specific cysteine sites sensitive to S-nitrosylation by a quantitative reactivity profiling strategy. Our results indicate that the protein- and peptide-level enrichment protocols provide comparable specificity and coverage of SNO-peptide identifications. S-nitrosylation reactivity profiling was performed by quantitatively comparing the site-specific SNO modification levels in samples treated with S-nitrosoglutathione, an NO donor, at two different concentrations (i.e., 10 and 100 μM). The reactivity profiling experiments led to the identification of 488 SNO-modified sites from 197 proteins with specificity of ∼95% at the unique peptide level, i.e., ∼95% of enriched peptides contain cysteine residues as the originally SNO-modified sites. Among these sites, 281 from 145 proteins were considered more sensitive to S-nitrosylation based on the ratios of observed SNO levels between the two treatments. These SNO-sensitive sites are more likely to be physiologically relevant. Many of the SNO-sensitive proteins are localized in mitochondria, contractile fiber, and actin cytoskeleton, suggesting the susceptibility of these subcellular compartments to redox regulation. Moreover, these observed SNO-sensitive proteins are primarily involved in metabolic pathways, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glutathione metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism, suggesting the importance of redox regulation in muscle metabolism and insulin action.

Physiologic functions of cyclophilin D and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

This review focuses on the role of cyclophilin D (CypD) as a prominent mediator of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and subsequent effects on cardiovascular physiology and pathology. Although a great number of reviews have been written on the MPTP and its effects on cell death, we focus on the biology surrounding CypD itself and the non-cell death physiologic functions of the MPTP. A greater understanding of the physiologic functions of the MPTP and its regulation by CypD will likely suggest novel therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease, both dependent and independent of programmed necrotic cell death mechanisms.  

Modulation of stretch-induced myocyte remodeling and gene expression by nitric oxide: a novel role for lipoma preferred partner in myofibrillogenesis

Prolonged hemodynamic load as a result of hypertension eventually leads to maladaptive cardiac adaptation and heart failure. The signaling pathways that underlie these changes are still poorly understood. The adaptive response to mechanical load is mediated by mechanosensors that convert the mechanical stimuli into a biological response. We examined the effect of cyclic mechanical stretch on myocyte adaptation using neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with 10% (adaptive) or 20% (maladaptive) maximum strain at 1 Hz for 48 h to mimic in vivo mechanical stress. Cells were also treated with and without nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a general nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor to suppress NO production. Maladaptive 20% mechanical stretch led to a significant loss of intact sarcomeres that were rescued by L-NAME (P < 0.05; n ≥ 5 cultures). We hypothesized that the mechanism was through NO-induced alteration of myocyte gene expression. L-NAME upregulated the mechanosensing proteins muscle LIM protein (MLP; by 100%; P < 0.05; n = 5 cultures) and lipoma preferred partner (LPP), a novel cardiac protein (by 80%; P < 0.05; n = 4 cultures). L-NAME also significantly altered the subcellular localization of LPP and MLP in a manner that favored growth and adaptation. These findings suggest that NO participates in stretch-mediated adaptation. The use of isoform selective NOS inhibitors indicated a complex interaction between inducible NOS and neuronal NOS isoforms regulate gene expression. LPP knockdown by small intefering RNA led to formation of α-actinin aggregates and Z bodies showing that myofibrillogenesis was impaired. There was an upregulation of E3 ubiquitin ligase (MUL1) by 75% (P < 0.05; n = 5 cultures). This indicates that NO contributes to stretch-mediated adaptation via the upregulation of proteins associated with mechansensing and myofibrillogenesis, thereby presenting potential therapeutic targets during the progression of heart failure.

Reduction of cardiomyocyte S-nitrosylation by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase protects against sepsis-induced myocardial depression

Myocardial depression is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in septic patients. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the development of septic cardiomyopathy, but also has protective effects. Recent evidence has indicated that NO exerts many of its downstream effects on the cardiovascular system via protein S-nitrosylation, which is negatively regulated by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), an enzyme promoting denitrosylation. We tested the hypothesis that reducing cardiomyocyte S-nitrosylation by increasing GSNOR activity can improve myocardial dysfunction during sepsis. Therefore, we generated mice with a cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of GSNOR (GSNOR-CMTg mice) and subjected them to endotoxic shock. Measurements of cardiac function in vivo and ex vivo showed that GSNOR-CMTg mice had a significantly improved cardiac function after lipopolysaccharide challenge (LPS, 50 mg/kg) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Cardiomyocytes isolated from septic GSNOR-CMTg mice showed a corresponding improvement in contractility compared with WT cells. However, systolic Ca(2+) release was similarly depressed in both genotypes after LPS, indicating that GSNOR-CMTg cardiomyocytes have increased Ca(2+) sensitivity during sepsis. Parameters of inflammation were equally increased in LPS-treated hearts of both genotypes, and no compensatory changes in NO synthase expression levels were found in GSNOR-overexpressing hearts before or after LPS challenge. GSNOR overexpression however significantly reduced total cardiac protein S-nitrosylation during sepsis. Taken together, our results indicate that increasing the denitrosylation capacity of cardiomyocytes protects against sepsis-induced myocardial depression. Our findings suggest that specifically reducing protein S-nitrosylation during sepsis improves cardiac function by increasing cardiac myofilament sensitivity to Ca(2+).

S-nitrosylation: integrator of cardiovascular performance and oxygen delivery

Delivery of oxygen to tissues is the primary function of the cardiovascular system. NO, a gasotransmitter that signals predominantly through protein S-nitrosylation to form S-nitrosothiols (SNOs) in target proteins, operates coordinately with oxygen in mammalian cellular systems. From this perspective, SNO-based signaling may have evolved as a major transducer of the cellular oxygen-sensing machinery that underlies global cardiovascular function. Here we review mechanisms that regulate S-nitrosylation in the context of its essential role in "systems-level" control of oxygen sensing, delivery, and utilization in the cardiovascular system, and we highlight examples of aberrant S-nitrosylation that may lead to altered oxygen homeostasis in cardiovascular diseases. Thus, through a bird's-eye view of S-nitrosylation in the cardiovascular system, we provide a conceptual framework that may be broadly applicable to the functioning of other cellular systems and physiological processes and that illuminates new therapeutic promise in cardiovascular medicine.

Modulation of myocardial contraction by peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite is a potent oxidant that is quickly emerging as a crucial modulator of myocardial function. This review will focus on the regulation of myocardial contraction by peroxynitrite during health and disease, with a specific emphasis on cardiomyocyte Ca²⁺ handling, proposed signaling pathways, and protein end-targets.

Recent advances in cardiovascular proteomics

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major source of global morbidity and death and more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. These diseases can occur quickly, as seen in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or progress slowly over years as with chronic heart failure. Advances in mass spectrometry detection and analysis, together with improved isolation and enrichment techniques allowing for the separation of organelles and membrane proteins, now allow for the indepth analysis of the cardiac proteome. Here we outline current insights that have been provided through cardiovascular proteomics, and discuss studies that have developed innovative technologies which permit the examination of the protein complement in specific organelles including exosomes and secreted proteins. We highlight these foundational studies and illustrate how they are providing the technologies and tools which are now being applied to further study cardiovascular disease; provide new diagnostic markers and potentially new methods of cardiac patient management with identification of novel drug targets. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: From protein structures to clinical applications.

Measurement of S-nitrosylation occupancy in the myocardium with cysteine-reactive tandem mass tags: short communication

RATIONALE

S-nitrosylation (SNO) is a reversible, thiol-based protein modification that plays an important role in the myocardium by protecting critical cysteine residues from oxidation. However, little is known with regard to the percentage of a given protein that is modified by SNO (ie, SNO occupancy). Current methods allow for the relative quantification of SNO levels, but not for the determination of SNO occupancy.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a method for the measurement of SNO occupancy, and apply this methodology to determine SNO occupancy in the myocardium.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We developed a differential cysteinereactive tandem mass tag (cysTMT) labeling procedure for the measurement of SNO occupancy. To validate this cysTMT labeling method, we treated whole-heart homogenates with the S-nitrosylating agent S-nitrosoglutathione and determined maximal SNO occupancy. We also examined SNO occupancy under more physiological conditions and observed that SNO occupancy is low for most protein targets at baseline. Following ischemic preconditioning, SNO occupancy increased to an intermediate level compared to baseline and Snitrosoglutathione treatment, and this is consistent with the ability of SNO to protect against cysteine oxidation.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel cysTMT labeling approach provides a method for examining SNO occupancy in the myocardium. Using this approach, we demonstrated that IPC-induced SNO occupancy levels are sufficient to protect against oxidation.