Endothelial nitric-oxide synthase. Expression in Escherichia coli, spectroscopic characterization, and role of tetrahydrobiopterin in dimer formation

Effects of tetrahydrobiopterin on endothelial dysfunction in rats with ischemic acute renal failure

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in ischemic renal injury is still controversial. NO release was measured in rat kidneys subjected to ischemia and reperfusion to determine whether (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH4), a cofactor of NO synthase (NOS), reduces ischemic injury. Twenty-four hours after bilateral renal arterial clamp for 45 min, acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and NO release were reduced and renal excretory function was impaired in Wistar rats. Administration of BH4 (20 mg/kg, by mouth) before clamping resulted in a marked improvement of those parameters (10(-8) M acetylcholine, delta renal perfusion pressure: sham-operated control -45 +/- 5, ischemia -30 +/- 2, ischemia + BH4 -43 +/- 4%; delta NO: control +30 +/- 6, ischemia + 10 +/- 2, ischemia + BH4 +23 +/- 4 fmol/min per g kidney; serum creatinine: control 23 +/- 2, ischemia 150 +/- 27, ischemia + BH4 48 +/- 6 microM; mean +/- SEM). Most of renal NOS activity was calcium-dependent, and its activity decreased in the ischemic kidney. However, it was restored by BH4 (control 5.0 +/- 0.9, ischemia 2.2 +/- 0.4, ischemia + BH4 4.3 +/- 1.2 pmol/min per mg protein). Immunoblot after low-temperature sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the dimeric form of endothelial NOS decreased in the ischemic kidney and that it was restored by BH4. These results suggest that the decreased activity of endothelium-derived NO may worsen the ischemic tissue injury, in which depletion of BH4 may be involved.

The autoinhibitory control element and calmodulin conspire to provide physiological modulation of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity

NO production by the endothelial and neuronal isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) is regulated on a moment-to-moment basis by calmodulin binding, triggered by transient elevations in intracellular-free calcium levels. Nonetheless, additional modes of cNOS regulation are implicit in the discoveries of stimuli that elicit a sustained increase in cNOS activity despite undetectable or transient increases in intracellular Ca2+ in endothelial cells; such stimuli include shear-stress, oestrogen, insulin or insulin-like growth factor treatment of endothelial cells. Recently, we identified a peptide insertion within the FMN-binding domain of mammalian NOSs that is unique to calcium-dependent isoforms, and not shared with inducible NOS or ancestral flavoproteins. Evidence suggests that this insertion serves as a fundamental control element, analogous to intrinsic autoinhibitory peptides that have been demonstrated to regulate activity of other calmodulin-dependent enzymes. Thus, the peptide insertion of cNOSs appears to function as structural element that is displaced upon calmodulin binding, resulting in dysinhibition of NO synthesis. Once displaced, the peptide may also be subject to transient chemical modifications and protein-protein interactions that modulate autoinhibitory function. Herein we summarize our present knowledge and speculate on mechanisms by which calmodulin and the autoinhibitory peptide conspire to regulate cNOS activity.

Characterization of recombinant human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase purified from the yeast Pichia pastoris

Human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, making use of the highly inducible alcohol oxidase promoter. The recombinant protein constituted approximately 3% of total protein and was largely soluble (>75%). About 1 mg of purified eNOS was obtained from 100-ml yeast cell cultures by affinity chromatography of crude cell supernatants. The purified enzyme had a V(max) of 192 +/- 18 nmol of L-citrulline x mg(-1) x min(-1), had a K(m) for L-arginine of 3.9 +/- 0.2 microM, and showed an absolute requirement for tetrahydrobiopterin (H(4)biopterin). NADPH oxidase activity was 136 +/- 9 and 342 +/- 24 nmol x mg(-1) x min(-1) in the absence and presence of 0.1 mM L-arginine, respectively, and not affected by H(4)biopterin. The protein contained 0.56 +/- 0.06 equivalents of FAD and 0.79 +/- 0.08 equivalents of FMN. On-line gel filtration/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that both iron (0.80 +/- 0.09 mol/subunit) and zinc (0.43 +/- 0.03 mol/subunit) were bound to the enzyme. Graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectroscopy yielded a value for bound iron of 0.84 +/- 0.04 mol/subunit. The absorbance of the enzyme at 398 nm implied a heme content of 0.85 +/- 0.09 mol/subunit, and the high pressure liquid chromatography heme assay gave an estimate of 0.71 +/- 0.02 mol heme/subunit. Gel permeation chromatography yielded one single peak with a Stokes radius of 6.62 +/- 0.7 nm, indicating that the native protein is dimeric. Upon low temperature gel electrophoresis the untreated protein appeared mainly as a monomer (88 +/- 3%), but pretreatment with H(4)biopterin and L-arginine led to a pronounced shift toward dimers (77 +/- 4%). Thus, in contrast to bovine eNOS (List, B. M., Klösch, B., Völker, C., Gorren, A. C. F., Sessa, W. C., Werner, E. R., Kukovetz, W. R., Schmidt, K., and Mayer, B. (1997) Biochem. J. 323, 159-165; Rodriguez-Crespo, I., Gerber, N. C., and Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 11462-11467), the human eNOS appears to be markedly stabilized by H(4)biopterin.

Formation of a pterin radical in the reaction of the heme domain of inducible nitric oxide synthase with oxygen

The heme domain (iNOS(heme)) of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Rapid freeze-quench (RFQ) EPR was used to monitor the reaction of the reduced iNOS(heme) with oxygen in the presence and absence of substrate. In these reactions, heme oxidation occurs at a rate of approximately 15 s(-)(1) at 4 degrees C. A transient species with a g = 2.0 EPR signal is also observed under these conditions. The spectral properties of the g = 2.0 signal are those of an anisotropic organic radical with S = (1)/(2). Comparison of the EPR spectra obtained when iNOS(heme) is reconstituted with N5-(14)N- and (15)N-substituted tetrahydrobiopterin (H(4)B) shows a hyperfine interaction with the pterin N5 nitrogen and identifies the radical as the one-electron oxidized form (H(3)B.) of the bound H(4)B. Substitution of D(2)O for H(2)O reveals the presence of hyperfine-coupled exchangeable protons in the H(4)B radical. This radical forms at a rate of 15-20 s(-)(1), with a slower decay rate that varies (0.12-0.7 s(-)(1)) depending on the substrate. At 127 ms, H(3)B. accumulates to a maximum of 80% of the total iNOS(heme) concentration in the presence of arginine but only to approximately 2.8% in the presence of NHA. Double-mixing RFQ experiments, where NHA is added after the formation of H(3)B., show that NHA does not react rapidly with H(3)B. and suggest that NHA instead prevents the formation of the H(4)B radical. These data constitute the first direct evidence for an NOS-bound H(3)B. and are most consistent with a role for H(4)B in electron transfer in the NOS reaction.

Essential thiol requirement to restore pterin- or substrate-binding capability and to regenerate native enzyme-type high-spin heme spectra in the Escherichia coli-expressed tetrahydrobiopterin-free oxygenase domain of neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide (NO) synthases (NOS) are thiolate-ligated heme-, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4))-, and flavin-containing monooxygenases which catalyze the NADPH-dependent conversion of L-arginine (L-Arg) to NO AND citrulline. NOS consists of two domains: an N-terminal oxygenase (heme- and BH(4)-bound) domain and a C-terminal reductase (FMN- and FAD-bound) domain. In this study, we have spectroscopically examined the binding of L-Agr and BH(4) to the dimeric, BH(4)-free ferric neuronal NOS (NNOS) oxygenase domain expressed in Escherichia coli separately from the reductase domain. Addition of L-Arg or its analogue inhibitors (N(G)()-methyl-L-Arg, N(G)()-nitro-L-Arg) and BH(4), together with dithiothreitol (DTT), to the pterin-free ferric low-spin oxygenase domain (gamma(MAX): 419, 538, 568 NM) and incubation for 2-3 days at 4 degrees C converted the domain to a native enzyme-type, predominantly high-spin state (gamma(MAX): approximately 395, approximately 512, approximately 650 NM). 7,8-Dihydrobiopterin and other thiols (E.G., beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, and glutathione, with less effectiveness) can replace BH(4) and DTT, respectively. the UV-visible absorption spectrum of L-Arg-bound ferric full length NNOS, which exhibits a relatively intense band at approximately 650 NM (epsilon equals 7.5-8 MM(-)(1) CM(-)(1)) due to the presence of a neutral flavin semiquinone, can then be quantitatively reconstructed by combining the spectra of equimolar amounts of the oxygenase and reductase domains. Of particular note, the heme spin-state conversion does not occur in the absence of a thiol even after prolonged (35-48 H) incubation of the oxygenase domain with BH(4) and/or L-Arg under anaerobic conditions. Thus, DTT (or other thiols) plays a significant role(s) beyond keeping BH(4) in its reduced form, In restoring the pterin- and/or substrate-binding capability of the E. coli-expressed, BH(4) free, dimeric NNOS oxygenase domain. Our results in combination with recently available X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis data suggest that the observed DTT effects arise from the involvement of an intersubunit disulfide bond or its rearrangement in the NOS dimer.

Pharmacological modulation of nitric oxide synthesis by mechanism-based inactivators and related inhibitors

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (EC 1.14.13.39) is a homodimeric cytochrome P450 monooxygenase analog that generates nitric oxide (NO) from the amino acid L-arginine. Enzymatically produced NO acts as an intracellular messenger in neuronal networks, blood pressure regulatory mechanisms, and immune responses. Isoform-selective pharmacological modulation of NO synthesis has emerged as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diverse clinical conditions associated with NO overproduction. Mechanism-based inactivators (MBIs) represent a class of NOS mechanistic inhibitors that require catalytic turnover to produce irreversible inactivation of the ability of NOS to generate NO. Diverse isoform-selective NOS MBIs have been characterized with respect to their kinetic parameters and chemical mechanisms of inactivation. In studies with isolated and purified NOS isoforms, MBIs produce irreversible inactivation of NOS enzymatic activities. The inactivation process is associated with covalent modification of the NOS active site and proceeds either through heme destruction, its structural alteration, or covalent modification of the NOS protein chain. The behavior of NOS MBIs in intact cells is different from their behavior observed with the isolated NOS isoforms. In cytokine-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, treatment with MBIs produces a complete loss of cellular NOS synthetic competence and inducible NOS activity. However, following drug removal, cells can recover at least partially in the absence of protein synthesis. In GH3 cells containing the neuronal NOS isoform, calcium transients are too low and abbreviated to allow significant NOS inactivation; hence, the cellular effects of MBIs on the neuronal isoform are almost completely and immediately reversible.

Identification of flow-dependent endothelial nitric-oxide synthase phosphorylation sites by mass spectrometry and regulation of phosphorylation and nitric oxide production by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002

Endothelial cells release nitric oxide (NO) acutely in response to increased laminar fluid shear stress, and the increase is correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS). Phosphoamino acid analysis of eNOS from bovine aortic endothelial cells labeled with [(32)P]orthophosphate demonstrated that only phosphoserine was present in eNOS under both static and flow conditions. Fluid shear stress induced phosphate incorporation into two specific eNOS tryptic peptides as early as 30 s after initiation of flow. The flow-induced tryptic phosphopeptides were enriched, separated by capillary electrophoresis with intermittent voltage drops, also known as "peak parking," and analyzed by collision-induced dissociation in a tandem mass spectrometer. Two phosphopeptide sequences determined by tandem mass spectrometry, TQpSFSLQER and KLQTRPpSPGPPPAEQLLSQAR, were confirmed as the two flow-dependent phosphopeptides by co-migration with synthetic phosphopeptides. Because the sequence (RIR)TQpSFSLQER contains a consensus substrate site for protein kinase B (PKB or Akt), we demonstrated that LY294002, an inhibitor of the upstream activator of PKB, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, inhibited flow-induced eNOS phosphorylation by 97% and NO production by 68%. Finally, PKB phosphorylated eNOS in vitro at the same site phosphorylated in the cell and increased eNOS enzymatic activity by 15-20-fold.

Tetrahydrobiopterin inhibits monomerization and is consumed during catalysis in neuronal NO synthase

The biosynthesis of nitric oxide (NO) is catalyzed by homodimeric NO synthases (NOS). For unknown reasons, all NOS co-purify with substoichiometric amounts of (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (H(4)Bip) and require additional H(4)Bip for maximal activity. We examined the effects of H(4)Bip and pterin-derived inhibitors (anti-pterins) on purified neuronal NOS-I quaternary structure and H(4)Bip content. During L-arginine turnover, NOS-I dimers time dependently dissociated into inactive monomers, paralleled by a loss of enzyme-associated pterin. Dimer dissociation was inhibited when saturating levels of H(4)Bip were added during catalysis. Similar results were obtained with pterin-free NOS-I expressed in Escherichia coli. This stabilizing effect of H(4)Bip was mimicked by the anti-pterin 2-amino-4,6-dioxo-3,4,5,6,8,8a,9, 10-octahydro-oxazolo[1,2f]-pteridine (PHS-32), which also displaced NOS-associated H(4)Bip in a competitive manner. Surprisingly, H(4)Bip not only dissociated from NOS during catalysis, but was only partially recovered in the solute (50.0 +/- 16.5% of control at 20 min). NOS-associated H(4)Bip appeared to react with a NOS catalysis product to a derivative distinct from dihydrobiopterin or biopterin. Under identical conditions, reagent H(4)Bip was chemically stable and fully recovered (95.5 +/- 3.4% of control). A similar loss of both reagent and enzyme-bound H(4)Bip and dimer content was observed by NO generated from spermine NONOate. In conclusion, we propose a role for H(4)Bip as a dimer-stabilizing factor of neuronal NOS during catalysis, possibly by interfering with enzyme destabilizing products.

Mutation of the five conserved histidines in the endothelial nitric-oxide synthase hemoprotein domain. No evidence for a non-heme metal requirement for catalysis

Five conserved histidine residues are found in the human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) heme domain: His-420, His-421, and His-461 are close to the heme, whereas His-146 and His-214 are some distance away. To investigate whether the histidines form a non-heme iron-binding site, we have expressed the H146A, H214A, H420A, H421A, and H461A mutants. The H420A mutant could not be isolated, and the H146A and H421A mutants were inactive. The H214A mutant resembled the wild-type enzyme in all respects. The H461A mutant had a low-spin heme, but high concentrations of L-Arg and tetrahydrobiopterin led to partial recovery of activity. Laser atomic emission showed that the only significant metal in NOS other than calcium and iron is zinc. The activities of the NOS isoforms were not increased by incubation with Fe(2+), but were inhibited by high Fe(2+) or Zn(2+) concentrations. The histidine mutations altered the ability of the protein to dimerize and to bind heme. However, the protein metal content, the inability of exogenous Fe(2+) to increase catalytic activity, and the absence of evidence that the conserved histidines form a metal site provide no support for a catalytic role for a non-heme redox-active metal.

Activation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase by the 5-methyl analog of tetrahydrobiopterin. Functional evidence against reductive oxygen activation by the pterin cofactor

Tetrahydrobiopterin ((6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (H4biopterin)) is an essential cofactor of nitric-oxide synthases (NOSs), but its role in enzyme function is not known. Binding of the pterin affects the electronic structure of the prosthetic heme group in the oxygenase domain and results in a pronounced stabilization of the active homodimeric structure of the protein. However, these allosteric effects are also produced by the potent pterin antagonist of NOS, 4-amino-H4biopterin, suggesting that the natural cofactor has an additional, as yet unknown catalytic function. Here we show that the 5-methyl analog of H4biopterin, which does not react with O2, is a functionally active pterin cofactor of neuronal NOS. Activation of the H4biopterin-free enzyme occurred in a biphasic manner with half-maximally effective concentrations of approximately 0.2 microM and 10 mM 5-methyl-H4biopterin. Thus, the affinity of the 5-methyl compound was 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of the natural cofactor, allowing the direct demonstration of the functional anticooperativity of the two pterin binding sites of dimeric NOS. In contrast to H4biopterin, which inactivates nitric oxide (NO) through nonenzymatic superoxide formation, up to 1 mM of the 5-methyl derivative did not consume O2 and had no effect on NO steady-state concentrations measured electrochemically with a Clark-type NO electrode. Therefore, reconstitution with 5-methyl-H4biopterin allowed, for the first time, the detection of enzymatic NO formation in the absence of superoxide or NO scavengers. These results unequivocally identify free NO as a NOS product and indicate that reductive O2 activation by the pterin cofactor is not essential to NO biosynthesis.

Autoinhibition of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase. Identification of an electron transfer control element

The primary sequences of the three mammalian nitric- oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms differ by the insertion of a 52-55-amino acid loop into the reductase domains of the endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS), but not inducible (iNOS). On the basis of studies of peptide derivatives as inhibitors of.NO formation and calmodulin (CaM) binding (Salerno, J. C., Harris, D. E., Irizarry, K., Patel, B., Morales, A. J., Smith, S. M., Martasek, P., Roman, L. J., Masters, B. S., Jones, C. L., Weissman, B. A., Lane, P., Liu, Q., and Gross, S. S. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 29769-29777), the insert has been proposed to be an autoinhibitory element. We have examined the role of the insert in its native protein context by deleting the insert from both wild-type eNOS and from chimeras obtained by swapping the reductase domains of the three NOS isoforms. The Ca2+ concentrations required to activate the enzymes decrease significantly when the insert is deleted, consistent with suppression of autoinhibition. Furthermore, removal of the insert greatly enhances the maximal activity of wild-type eNOS, the least active of the three isoforms. Despite the correlation between reductase and overall enzymatic activity for the wild-type and chimeric NOS proteins, the loop-free eNOS still requires CaM to synthesize.NO. However, the reductive activity of the CaM-free, loop-deleted eNOS is enhanced significantly over that of CaM-free wild-type eNOS and approaches the same level as that of CaM-bound wild-type eNOS. Thus, the inhibitory effect of the loop on both the eNOS reductase and. NO-synthesizing activities may have an origin distinct from the loop's inhibitory effects on the binding of CaM and the concomitant activation of the reductase and.NO-synthesizing activities. The eNOS insert not only inhibits activation of the enzyme by CaM but also contributes to the relatively low overall activity of this NOS isoform.

Mammalian nitric oxide synthases

The nitric oxide (NO) synthase family of enzymes generate NO from L-arginine, which acts as a biologic effector molecule in a broad number of settings. This report summarizes some of the current information regarding NO synthase structure-function, reaction mechanism, control of catalysis, and protein interactions.

Chimeric forms of neuronal nitric oxide synthase identify different regions of the reductase domain that are essential for dimerization and activity

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline and nitric oxide. Dimerization of the enzyme is an absolute requirement for catalytic activity. Each NOS monomer contains an N-terminal heme-binding domain and a C-terminal reductase domain. It is unclear how the reductase domain is involved in controlling dimerization and whether dimer formation alone controls enzyme activity. Our initial studies demonstrated that no dimerization or activity could be detected when the reductase domain of rat neuronal NOS (nNOS) was expressed either separately or in combination with the heme domain. To further evaluate the reductase domain, a set of expression plasmids was created by replacing the reductase domain of nNOS with other electron-transport proteins, thereby creating nNOS chimeric fusion proteins. The rat nNOS heme domain was linked with either cytochrome P450 reductase, adrenodoxin reductase, or the reductase domain from Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P450, BM-3. All the chimeric enzymes retained the ability to dimerize but were unable to metabolize L-arginine (<8% of wildtype activity levels), indicating that dimerization alone is insufficient to produce an active enzyme. Because the greatest regions of homology between electron-transport proteins are in the flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) binding regions, we produced truncation mutants within the nNOS reductase domain to investigate the role of these sequences in the ability of nNOS to dimerize and to metabolize L-arginine. The results demonstrated that the deletion of the final 56 amino acids or the NADPH-binding region had no effect on dimerization but produced an inactive enzyme. However, when the FAD-binding site (located between amino acids 920 and 1161) was deleted, both activity and dimerization were abolished. These results implicate sequences within the FAD-binding site as essential for nNOS dimerization but sequences within amino acids 1373 to 1429 as essential for activity.

A new decoration for nitric oxide synthase - a Zn(Cys)4 site

Intense interest in the action and synthesis of nitric oxide has fueled structural studies of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The monomeric and dimeric heme domains of inducible NOS were the first NOS structures to be described. A recent independent analysis of the corresponding heme domains from endothelial NOS confirms most of the features found earlier and also reveals a novel Zn(Cys)4 center - a new feature for NOS.

Efficient formation of nitric oxide from selective oxidation of N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines by inducible nitric oxide synthase

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of N-(4-chlorophenyl)N'-hydroxyguanidine 1 by NADPH and O2, with concomitant formation of the corresponding urea and NO. The characteristics of this reaction are very similar to those of the NOS-dependent oxidation of endogenous Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA), i.e., (i) the formation of products resulting from an oxidation of the substrate C=N(OH) bond, the corresponding urea and NO, in a 1:1 molar ratio, (ii) the absolute requirement of the tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor for NO formation, and (iii) the strong inhibitory effects of L-arginine (L-arg) and classical inhibitors of NOSs. N-Hydroxyguanidine 1 is not as good a substrate for NOS II as is NOHA (Km = 500 microM versus 15 microM for NOHA). However, it leads to relatively high rates of NO formation which are only 4-fold lower than those obtained with NOHA (Vm = 390 +/- 50 nmol NO min-1 mg protein-1, corresponding roughly to 100 turnovers min-1). Preliminary results indicate that some other N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines exhibit a similar behavior. These results show for the first time that simple exogenous compounds may act as NO donors after oxidative activation by NOSs. They also suggest a possible implication of NOSs in the oxidative metabolism of certain classes of xenobiotics.

Modulation of the remote heme site geometry of recombinant mouse neuronal nitric-oxide synthase by the N-terminal hook region

The role of two essential residues at the N-terminal hook region of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) in nitric-oxide synthase activity was investigated. Full-length mouse nNOS proteins containing single-point mutations of Thr-315 and Asp-314 to alanine were produced in the Escherichia coli and baculovirus-insect cell expression systems. The molecular properties of the mutant proteins were analyzed in detail by biochemical, optical, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques and compared with those of the wild-type enzyme. Replacement of Asp-314 by Ala altered the geometry around the heme site and the substrate-binding pocket of the heme domain and abrogated the ability of nNOS to form catalytically active dimers. Replacement of Thr-315 by Ala reduced the protein stability and altered the geometry around the heme site, especially in the absence of bound (6R)-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin cofactor. These results suggest that Asp-314 and Thr-315 both play critical structural roles in stabilizing the heme domain and subunit interactions in mouse nNOS.

AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in rat skeletal and cardiac muscle is activated by vigorous exercise and ischaemic stress. Under these conditions AMPK phosphorylates and inhibits acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase causing increased oxidation of fatty acids. Here we show that AMPK co-immunoprecipitates with cardiac endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and phosphorylates Ser-1177 in the presence of Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM) to activate eNOS both in vitro and during ischaemia in rat hearts. In the absence of Ca2+-calmodulin, AMPK also phosphorylates eNOS at Thr-495 in the CaM-binding sequence, resulting in inhibition of eNOS activity but Thr-495 phosphorylation is unchanged during ischaemia. Phosphorylation of eNOS by the AMPK in endothelial cells and myocytes provides a further regulatory link between metabolic stress and cardiovascular function.

Assay of isoforms of Escherichia coli-expressed nitric oxide synthase

The techniques described herein have added to our repertoire of experimental approaches for the characterization of the NOSs. These procedures have reinforced our conviction that the NOSs are structurally suited to perform unique functions in their cellular milieux and that these differences have physiological consequences.

Antifungal imidazoles block assembly of inducible NO synthase into an active dimer

Cytokine-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a homodimeric enzyme that generates nitric oxide (NO) and L-citrulline from L-arginine (L-Arg) and O2. The N-terminal oxygenase domain (amino acids 1-498; iNOSox) in each subunit binds heme, L-Arg, and tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B), is the site of NO synthesis, and is responsible for the dimeric interaction, which must occur to synthesize NO. In both cells and purified systems, iNOS dimer assembly is promoted by H4B, L-Arg, and L-Arg analogs. We examined the ability of imidazole and N-substituted imidazoles to promote or inhibit dimerization of heme-containing iNOSox monomers, or to affect iNOS dimerization in cells. Imidazole, 1-phenylimidazole, clotrimazole, and miconazole all bound to the iNOSox monomer heme iron. Imidazole and 1-phenylimidazole promoted iNOSox dimerization, whereas clotrimazole (30 microM) and miconazole (15 microM) did not, and instead inhibited dimerization normally promoted by L-Arg and H4B. Clotrimazole also bound to iNOSox dimers in the absence of L-Arg and H4B and caused their dissociation. When added to cells expressing iNOS, clotrimazole (50 microM) had no effect on iNOS protein expression but almost completely inhibited its dimerization and consequent NO synthesis over an 8-h culture period, without affecting calmodulin interaction with iNOS. Thus, imidazoles can promote or inhibit dimerization of iNOS both in vitro and in cells, depending on their structure. Bulky imidazoles like clotrimazole block NO synthesis by inhibiting assembly of the iNOS dimer, revealing a new means to control cellular NO synthesis.

Binding of dynein light chain (PIN) to neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the absence of inhibition

PIN, an 89-amino-acid polypeptide found in a rat hippocampal cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system and various neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) fragments as bait, was reported to be an inhibitor of nNOS (Science 274, 774-778, 1996). PIN reportedly inhibited nNOS selectively and did not interact with either the endothelial or inducible nitric oxide synthase isoforms. Inhibition was attributed to the ability of PIN to dissociate the catalytically active nNOS homodimer. PIN is a dynein light chain (J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19358-19366, 1996), which suggested that PIN may serve as an axonal transport protein for nNOS. We have synthesized a rat PIN cDNA by recursive polymerase chain reaction and have expressed the protein in Escherichia coli. Recombinant PIN is a folded dimeric, mostly alpha-helical protein with a single deeply buried tryptophan residue. We have also expressed and purified the nNOS fragment to which PIN reportedly binds (residues 163-245). This recombinant peptide has a disordered secondary structure. Gel-filtration experiments show that PIN binds to both the full-length nNOS and nNOS fragment. However, PIN neither inhibits nNOS activity nor dissociates the nNOS dimer into monomeric species. PIN thus possibly functions as a dynein light chain involved in nNOS axonal transport but is not an inhibitor of the enzyme. Our results agree with the proposal (Cell 82, 743-752, 1995) that the PIN recognition sequence in nNOS both lies outside the catalytic core and is not part of the monomer-monomer contact region.

Reactions catalyzed by tetrahydrobiopterin-free nitric oxide synthase

Murine macrophage nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was expressed in E. coli and purified in the presence (holoNOS) or absence (H4B-free NOS) of (6R)-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (H4B). Isolation of active enzyme required the coexpression of calmodulin. Recombinant holoNOS displayed similar spectral characteristics and activity as the enzyme isolated from murine macrophages. H4B-free NOS exhibited a Soret band at approximately 420 nm and, by analytical gel filtration, consisted of a mixture of monomers and dimers. H4B-free NOS catalyzed the oxidation of NG-hydroxy-L-arginine (NHA) with either hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or NADPH and O2 as substrates. No product formation from arginine was observed under either condition. The amino acid products of NHA oxidation in both the H2O2 and NADPH/O2 reactions were determined to be citrulline and Ndelta-cyanoornithine (CN-orn). Nitrite and nitrate were also formed. Chemiluminescent analysis did not detect the formation of nitric oxide (*NO) in the NADPH/O2 reaction. The initial inorganic product of the NADPH/O2 reaction is proposed to be the nitroxyl anion (NO-) based on the formation of a ferrous nitrosyl complex using the heme domain of soluble guanylate cyclase as a trap, and the formation of a ferrous nitrosyl complex of H4B-free NOS during turnover of NHA and NADPH. NO- is unstable and, under the conditions of the reaction, is oxidized to nitrite and nitrate. At 25 degreesC, the H2O2-supported reaction had a specific activity of 120 +/- 14 nmol min-1 mg-1 and the NADPH-supported reaction had a specific activity of 31 +/- 6 nmol min-1 mg-1 with a KM,app for NHA of 129 +/- 9 microM. HoloNOS catalyzed the H2O2-supported reaction with a specific activity of 815 +/- 30 nmol min-1 mg-1 and the NADPH-dependent reaction to produce *NO and citrulline at 171 +/- 20 nmol min-1 mg-1 with a KM, app for NHA in the NADPH reaction of 36.9 +/- 0.3 microM.

Calmodulin-dependent regulation of inducible and neuronal nitric-oxide synthase

Neuronal and endothelial nitric-oxide synthases depend upon Ca2+/calmodulin for activation, whereas the activity of the inducible nitric-oxide synthase is Ca2+-independent, presumably due to tightly bound calmodulin. To study these different mechanisms, a series of chimeras derived from neuronal and inducible nitric- oxide synthases were analyzed. Chimeras containing only the oxygenase domain, calmodulin-binding region, or reductase domain of inducible nitric-oxide synthase did not confer significant Ca2+-independent activity. However, each chimera was more sensitive to Ca2+ than the neuronal isoform. The calmodulin-binding region of inducible nitric-oxide synthase with either its oxygenase or reductase domains resulted in significant, but not total, Ca2+-independent activity. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed no calmodulin associated with the former chimera in the absence of Ca2+. Trifluoperazine also inhibited this chimera in the absence of Ca2+. The combined interactions of calmodulin bound to inducible nitric-oxide synthase calmodulin-binding region with the oxygenase domain may be weaker than with the reductase domain. Thus, Ca2+-independent activity of inducible nitric-oxide synthase appears to result from the concerted interactions of calmodulin with both the oxygenase and reductase domains in addition to the canonical calmodulin-binding region. The neuronal isoform is not regulated by a unique autoinhibitory element in its reductase domain.

Catalysis by nitric oxide synthase

The enzyme nitric oxide synthase catalyzes the oxidation of the amino acid L-arginine to L-citrulline and nitric oxide in an NADPH-dependent reaction. Nitric oxide plays a critical role in signal transduction pathways in the cardiovascular and nervous systems and is a key component of the cytostatic/cytotoxic function of the immune system. Characterization of nitric oxide synthase substrates and cofactors has outlined the broad details of the overall reaction and suggested possibilities for chemical steps in the reaction; however, the molecular details of the reaction mechanism are still poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests a role for the reduced bound pterin in the first step of the reaction--the hydroxylation of L-arginine.

Superoxide generation by endothelial nitric oxide synthase: the influence of cofactors

The mechanism of superoxide generation by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was investigated by the electron spin resonance spin-trapping technique using 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. In the absence of calcium/calmodulin, eNOS produces low amounts of superoxide. Upon activating eNOS electron transfer reactions by calcium/calmodulin binding, superoxide formation is increased. Heme-iron ligands, cyanide, imidazole, and the phenyl(diazene)-derived radical inhibit superoxide generation. No inhibition is observed after addition of L-arginine, NG-hydroxy-L-arginine, L-thiocitrulline, and L-NG-monomethyl arginine to activated eNOS. These results demonstrate that superoxide is generated from the oxygenase domain by dissociation of the ferrous-dioxygen complex and that occupation of the L-arginine binding site does not inhibit this process. However, the concomitant addition of L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) abolishes superoxide generation by eNOS. Under these conditions, L-citrulline production is close to maximal. Our data indicate that BH4 fully couples L-arginine oxidation to NADPH consumption and prevents dissociation of the ferrous-dioxygen complex. Under these conditions, eNOS does not generate superoxide. The presence of flavins, at concentrations commonly employed in NOS assay systems, enhances superoxide generation from the reductase domain. Our data indicate that modulation of BH4 concentration may regulate the ratio of superoxide to nitric oxide generated by eNOS.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase isoforms alpha and mu are closely related calpain-sensitive proteins

The neuronal nitric oxide synthase isoform nNOSmu, which is expressed in striated muscle, differs from nNOSalpha, the major brain isoform, by the insertion of 34 amino acid residues between the calmodulin- and flavin-binding domains [J Biol Chem 271:11204-11208 (1996)]. We show here that recombinant, purified nNOSmu, despite the peptide insertion, has the same spectroscopic properties, L-arginine kcat and Km values, optimal pH, and calmodulin binding affinity constant as nNOSalpha. However, nNOSmu consumes NADPH and reduces cytochrome c at approximately half the rate of nNOSalpha. The rates of degradation of the two proteins by rat brain and muscle homogenates show that nNOSmu is degraded more slowly than nNOSalpha. The in vitro half-lives of nNOSalpha and nNOSmu are 12 and 50 min, respectively, and calpain is important for this degradation. These short in vitro half-lives suggest that the nNOS isoforms are susceptible to rapid degradation in vivo. The elevated (20-fold) levels of calpain in diseased muscle tissue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the hydrolytic sensitivity of both nNOS mu and nNOSalpha to this enzyme, may contribute to the deficiency of nNOS activity in the diseased tissue.

Substrate specificity of NO synthases: detailed comparison of L-arginine, homo-L-arginine, their N omega-hydroxy derivatives, and N omega-hydroxynor-L-arginine

A detailed comparison of the oxidation of five compounds closely related to L-arginine (Arg) by purified recombinant neuronal and macrophage NO synthases (NOS I and NOS II) was performed. Homo-L-arginine (homo-Arg) is oxidized by both NOSs in the presence of NADPH with major formation of NO and homo-L-citrulline, with a molar ratio of close to 1, and minor formation of N omega-hydroxyhomo-L-arginine (homo-NOHA). Oxidation of homo-NOHA by the two NOSs also leads to NO and homocitrulline in a 1:1 molar ratio. On the contrary, N omega-hydroxynor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA) is a very poor substrate of NOS I and II, which fails to produce significant amounts of nitrite. The catalytic efficiency of both NOSs markedly decreases in the order Arg > NOHA > homo-Arg > homo-NOHA, as shown by the 20- and 10-fold decrease of kcat/Km observed for NOS I and NOS II, respectively, when comparing Arg to homo-NOHA. The greater loss of catalytic efficiency for homo-Arg, when compared to that for Arg, appears to occur at the first step (N-hydroxylation) of the reaction. In that regard, it is noteworthy that the Vm values for NOHA and homo-NOHA oxidation are very similar (about 1 and 2 micromol of NO min-1 mg of protein-1 for NOS I and II, respectively). In fact, lengthening of the Arg chain by one CH2 leads not only to markedly decreased kcat/Km but also to clear disturbances in NOS functioning. This is shown by a greater accumulation of the N omega-hydroxyguanidine intermediate (homo-NOHA:homocitrulline ratio between 0.2 and 0.4) and an increased consumption of NADPH for NO formation (between 2.0 and 2.6 mol of NADPH consumed for the formation of 1 mol of NO in the case of homo-Arg, instead of 1.5 mol in the case of Arg). Most of the above results could be interpreted by comparing the possible positionings of the various substrates relative to the two NOS active oxygen species which are believed to be responsible for the two steps of the reaction.

The protein inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (PIN): characterization of its action on pure nitric oxide synthases

Neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) was discovered recently to interact specifically with the protein PIN (protein inhibitor of nNOS) [Jaffrey, S.R. and Snyder, S.H. (1996) Science 274, 774-777]. We have studied the effects on pure NOS enzymes of the same GST-tagged PIN used in the original paper. Unexpectedly, all NOS isoenzymes were inhibited. The IC50 for nNOS was 18 +/- 6 microM GST-PIN with 63 nM nNOS after 30 min at 37 degrees C. Uncoupled NADPH oxidation was inhibited similarly, whereas cytochrome c reductase activity, the K(M) for L-arginine, and dimerization were unaffected. We reconsider the physiological role of PIN in the light of these results.

Effects of pH on the structure and function of neuronal nitric oxide synthase

We investigated how pH affects rat brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) with regard to spin-state equilibrium and the thiolate ligand bond of the haem group, catalytic activity, and monomerleft and right arrow dimer equilibrium. At neutral pH, nNOS containing 1 equiv. of (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-l-biopterin (BH4) per dimer was mostly high-spin (lambdamax at 398 nm), whereas the BH4-free enzyme consisted of a mixture of the high-spin and two low-spin forms (lambdamax at 418 nm, and at 376 and 456 nm respectively). With BH4-free nNOS, an appreciable high-spin fraction was only observed between pH 7 and 8; at pH 6 and 9, the 418 and 376/456 nm low-spin forms predominated respectively. With nNOS containing 1 equiv. of BH4 per dimer, similar observations were made, but these involved only half of the enzyme; the other half, presumably the BH4-containing subunits, remained high-spin. Since the spin state in the BH4-free subunit appeared little affected by the state of the other subunit, we conclude that, in dimeric nNOS, the two haem groups function independently. Low pH destabilized thiolate binding and the interaction between NOS subunits, as indicated by CO-binding studies and gel electrophoresis respectively. Formation of l-citrulline was optimal between pH 7.0 and 7.5; the decrease in NOS activity at lower pH proved to be due to uncoupling of NADPH oxidation, resulting in increased formation of H2O2. At high pH strict coupling of l-arginine and NADPH oxidation was maintained, even in the absence of exogenous BH4. The possible pathophysiological implications of the uncoupling at low pH are discussed.

Electron transfer and catalytic activity of nitric oxide synthases. Chimeric constructs of the neuronal, inducible, and endothelial isoforms

The nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are single polypeptides that encode a heme domain, a calmodulin binding motif, and a flavoprotein domain with sequence similarity to P450 reductase. Despite this basic structural similarity, the three major NOS isoforms differ significantly in their rates of .NO synthesis, cytochrome c reduction, and NADPH utilization and in the Ca2+ dependence of these rates. To assign the origin of these differences to specific protein domains, we constructed chimeras in which the reductase domains of endothelial and inducible NOS, respectively, were replaced by the reductase domain of neuronal NOS. The results with the chimeric proteins confirm the modular organization of the NOS polypeptide chain and demonstrate that (a) similar residues establish the necessary contacts between the reductase and heme domains in the three NOS isoforms, (b) the maximal rate of .NO synthesis is determined by the maximum intrinsic ability of the reductase domain to deliver electrons to the heme domain, (c) the Ca2+ independence of inducible NOS requires interactions of calmodulin with both the calmodulin binding motif and the flavoprotein domain, and (d) the effects of tetrahydrobiopterin and L-arginine on electron transfer rates are mediated exclusively by heme domain interactions.

Dynamic regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase: complementary roles of dual acylation and caveolin interactions

N-Terminal myristoylation and thiopalmitoylation of the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) are required for targeting the enzyme to specialized signal-transducing microdomains of plasma membrane termed caveolae. We have previously documented that the subcellular localization of eNOS is dynamically regulated by agonists such as bradykinin, which promotes enzyme depalmitoylation and translocation from caveolae. More recently, we have shown that association of eNOS with caveolin, the principal structural protein in caveolae, leads to enzyme inhibition, in a reversible process modulated by Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM). We now report studies of the respective roles of acylation and caveolin interaction for regulating eNOS activity. Using eNOS truncation and deletion mutants expressed in COS-7 cells, we have identified an obligatory role for the N-terminal half of eNOS in stabilizing its association with caveolin. By exploring the differential effects of detergents (CHAPS vs octyl glucoside), we have shown that this direct interaction between both proteins is facilitated by, but does not require, eNOS acylation, and, importantly, that treatment of intact aortic endothelial cells with the calcium ionophore A23187 leads to the rapid disruption of the eNOS-caveolin complexes. Finally, using transiently transfected COS-7 cells, we have observed that the myristoylation-deficient cytosol-restricted eNOS mutant (myr-) as well as the cytosolic fraction of the palmitoylation-deficient eNOS mutant (palm-) may both interact with caveolin; this association also leads to a marked inhibition of enzyme activity, which is completely reversed by addition of calmodulin. We conclude that the regulatory eNOS-caveolin association is independent of the state of eNOS acylation, indicating that agonist-evoked Ca2+/CaM-dependent disruption of the caveolin-eNOS complex, rather than agonist-promoted depalmitoylation of eNOS, relieves caveolin's tonic inhibition of enzyme activity. We therefore propose that caveolin may serve as an eNOS chaperone regulating NO production independently of the enzyme's residence within caveolae or its state of acylation.

Allosteric modulation of rat brain nitric oxide synthase by the pterin-site enzyme inhibitor 4-aminotetrahydrobiopterin

We investigated the functional and allosteric effects of the 4-amino analogue of tetrahydrobiopterin, (6R)-2,4-diamino- 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-(L-erythro-1,2-dihydroxypropyl) pteridine (4-amino-H4biopterin) on pteridine-free rat neuronal nitric oxide synthase. In the presence of added (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-erythrobiopterin (H4biopterin; 10 microM), 4-amino-H4biopterin completely inhibited the conversion of both L-arginine and NG-hydroxy-L-arginine with half-maximally effective concentrations of 1.1+/-0.09 and 1.3+/-0.09 microM, respectively. Inhibition was reversible, as shown by a time-dependent restoration of citrulline formation upon dilution of the inhibitor-treated enzyme (t1/2=3.0 min). Binding of 4-amino-H4biopterin led to a complete conversion of the haem from low-spin to high-spin state, and to the formation of stable homodimers which partially survived electrophoresis under denaturating conditions. These results show that oxidation of both L-arginine and NG-hydroxy-L-arginine is pteridine-dependent, and that the allosteric effects of H4biopterin do not fully explain the essential role of the pteridine cofactor in nitric oxide biosynthesis.

Caveolin versus calmodulin. Counterbalancing allosteric modulators of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide is synthesized in diverse mammalian tissues by a family of calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthases. The endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is targeted to the specialized signal-transducing membrane domains termed plasmalemmal caveolae. Caveolin, the principal structural protein in caveolae, interacts with eNOS and leads to enzyme inhibition in a reversible process modulated by Ca2+-calmodulin (Michel, J. B., Feron, O., Sacks, D., and Michel, T. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 15583-15586). Caveolin also interacts with other structurally distinct signaling proteins via a specific region identified within the caveolin sequence (amino acids 82-101) that appears to subserve the role of a "scaffolding domain." We now report that the co-immunoprecipitation of eNOS with caveolin is completely and specifically blocked by an oligopeptide corresponding to the caveolin scaffolding domain. Peptides corresponding to this domain markedly inhibit nitric oxide synthase activity in endothelial membranes and interact directly with the enzyme to inhibit activity of purified recombinant eNOS expressed in Escherichia coli. The inhibition of purified eNOS by the caveolin scaffolding domain peptide is competitive and completely reversed by Ca2+-calmodulin. These studies establish that caveolin, via its scaffolding domain, directly forms an inhibitory complex with eNOS and suggest that caveolin inhibits eNOS by abrogating the enzyme's activation by calmodulin.

Characterization of the inducible nitric oxide synthase oxygenase domain identifies a 49 amino acid segment required for subunit dimerization and tetrahydrobiopterin interaction

The oxygenase domain of inducible NO synthase (residues 1-498, iNOSox) is the enzyme's catalytic center. Its active form is a homodimer that contains heme and tetrahydrobiopterin (H4biopterin) and binds l-arginine [Ghosh, D. K., & Stuehr, D. J. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 801]. To help identify protein residues involved in prosthetic group and dimeric interaction, we expressed H4biopterin-free iNOSox in Escherichia coli. The iNOSox was 80% dimeric but contained a low-spin heme iron that bound DTT as a sixth ligand. The iNOSox bound H4biopterin or L-arginine with high affinity, which displaced DTT from the heme and caused spectral changes consistent with a closing up of the heme pocket. The H4biopterin-replete iNOSox could catalyze conversion of Nomega-hydroxyarginine to citrulline and NO in a H2O2-supported reaction. Limited trypsinolysis of the H4biopterin-free iNOSox dimer cut the protein at a single site in its N-terminal region (K117). H4biopterin protected against the cleavage whereas l-arginine did not. The resulting 40 kDa protein contained thiol-ligated low-spin heme, was monomeric, catalytically inactive, showed no capacity to bind H4biopterin or l-arginine, and did not dimerize when provided with these molecules, indicating that residues 1-117 were important for iNOSox dimerization and H4biopterin/l-arginine interaction. A deletion mutant missing residues 1-114 was partially dimeric but otherwise identical to the 40 kDa protein regarding its spectral and catalytic properties and inability to respond to l-arginine and H4biopterin, whereas a deletion mutant missing residues 1-65 was equivalent to wild-type iNOSox, narrowing the region of importance to amino acids 66-114. Mutation of a conserved cysteine in this region (C109A) decreased H4biopterin affinity without compromising iNOSox dimeric structure, L-arginine binding, or catalytic function. These results suggest that residues 66-114 of iNOSox are involved in productive H4biopterin interaction and subunit dimerization. H4biopterin binding appears to stabilize the protein structure in this region, and through doing so activates iNOS for NO synthesis.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase: modulations of the distal heme site produced by progressive N-terminal deletions

cDNAs coding for bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) with N-terminal deletions of 52, 91, and 105 amino acids were constructed, and the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. All three truncated proteins bind heme and exhibit the ferrous-CO absorption maximum at 444 nm characteristic of thiolate heme ligation. Deletion of the first 52 amino acids yields a fully active dimeric protein with the same spectroscopic properties as the wild-type. The myristoylation, palmitoylation, and polyproline domains of the enzyme located in the deleted region are therefore not required for full catalytic activity. The delta91 and delta105 proteins, which exhibit altered dimerization equilibria, retain 20 and 12%, respectively, of the maximal activity. Resonance Raman and UV-vis spectroscopy indicate that, in the absence of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) and l-Arg, the wild-type and delta52 proteins are predominantly five coordinate high spin, whereas the delta91 and delta105 proteins are six coordinate low spin. The delta91 and delta105 mutants bind H4B, as indicated by a concomitant decrease in the low-spin component of the UV-vis spectrum, but the binding of l-Arg is extremely slow ( approximately 15 min). Dithiothreitol readily coordinates as the sixth iron ligand in the delta91 and delta105 mutants but not in the delta52 or wild-type proteins. The dithiothreitol can be completely displaced by l-Arg but not by H4B. Resonance Raman comparison of wild-type eNOS and nNOS confirms that, in the absence of H4B and l-Arg, eNOS is primarily high spin whereas nNOS is predominantly six coordinate, low spin. The results indicate that Cys-101 is not critical for the binding of H4B and imply that some of the protein residues involved in dimer formation and in preservation of active site integrity are located, probably at the monomer-monomer interface, in the N-terminal end of the protein.

Characterization of human liver inducible nitric oxide synthase expressed in Escherichia coli

We have cloned the human liver inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) into an Escherichia coli expression vector and have expressed and purified the enzyme. The protein has been expressed with and without a polyhistidine tail. In both cases, expression of functional protein requires coexpression with calmodulin and inclusion of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) in the purification buffers. Unlike the constitutive isoforms of NOS, this isoform is unstable in the absence of L-arginine (L-Arg) and H4B toward loss of the heme group and the formation of a low-spin species spectroscopically distinct from that of the cofactor-bound protein. The enzyme purified in the presence of both L-Arg and H4B is highly active, with a Vmax of approximately 800 nmol NO min(-1) mg(-1) and a Km for L-Arg of 22 microM. The cytochrome c reductase activity is 38,000 nmol x min(-1) mg(-1). Similar values are obtained for the enzyme with and without the polyhistidine tail. Ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid does not inhibit the activity of the protein, nor is the activity of the enzyme increased by the addition of exogenous calmodulin and/or Ca2+. These findings contrast with an earlier report, based on experiments with extracts of COS-1 cells expressing the recombinant enzyme, that the enzyme responds to changes in the Ca2+ concentration. The human hepatic isoform is similar in its properties to the inducible NOS isoform purified from macrophages.

The ferrous-dioxy complex of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Divergent effects of L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin on its stability

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are hemeproteins that catalyze oxidation of L-arginine to nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline. The NOS heme iron is expected to participate in oxygen activation during catalysis, but its interactions with O2 are not characterized. We utilized the heme-containing oxygenase domain of neuronal NOS (nNOSoxy) and stopped-flow methods to study formation and autooxidative decomposition of the nNOSoxy oxygenated complex at 10 degrees C. Mixing ferrous nNOSoxy with air-saturated buffer generated a transient species with absorption maxima at 427 and approximately 560 nm. This species decayed within 1 s to form ferric nNOSoxy. Its formation was first order with respect to O2, monophasic, and gave rate constants for kon = 9 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 and koff = 108 s-1 for an L-arginine- and tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)-saturated nNOSoxy. Omission of L-arginine and/or H4B did not greatly effect O2 binding and dissociation rates. Decomposition of the oxygenated intermediate was independent of O2 concentration and was either biphasic or monophasic depending on sample conditions. L-Arginine stabilized the oxygenated intermediate (decay rate = 0.14 s-1), while H4B accelerated its decay by a factor of 70 irrespective of L-arginine. The spectral and kinetic properties of the intermediate identify it as the FeIIO2 complex of nNOSoxy. Destabilization of a metallo-oxy species by H4B is unprecedented and may be important regarding the role of this cofactor in NO synthesis.

Tetrahydrobiopterin binding to macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase: heme spin shift and dimer stabilization by the potent pterin antagonist 4-amino-tetrahydrobiopterin

The characteristics of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4biopterin) binding to pteridine-free recombinant macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase expressed in Escherichia coli were investigated with a special focus given to effects caused by 2,4-diamino-5,6,7, 8-tetrahydro-6-(l-erythro-1,2-dihydroxypropyl)pteridine (4-amino-H4biopterin), a novel pterin-based inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The 4-amino compound completely inhibited enzyme stimulation by 10 microM H4biopterin with a half-maximally active concentration of 7.2 +/- 0.39 microM, whereas H2biopterin and sepiapterin were much less potent. Binding studies using [3H]H4biopterin at 4 degrees C revealed biphasic association of the radioligand according to two first-order reactions with apparent rate constants of 2.2 and 0.05 min-1, each accounting for approximately 50% of total binding. Dissociation of [3H]H4biopterin occurred with rate constants of 0.005 and 0.0028 min-1 in the absence and presence of l-arginine, respectively. Specific binding of 10 nM [3H]H4biopterin was antagonized by unlabeled H4biopterin and its 4-amino analog with half-maximal effects at 84 +/- 6 and 34 +/- 3.2 nM, respectively. Binding of H4biopterin and 4-amino-H4biopterin was accompanied by a partial low spin to high spin conversion of the heme that was completed by l-arginine. Similarly, the active cofactor and the inhibitory 4-amino derivative both induced significant formation of stable protein dimers that survived during SDS electrophoresis, suggesting that the allosteric effects caused by H4biopterin do not explain sufficiently the essential role of the pteridine cofactor in NO biosynthesis.

Tetrahydrobiopterin, nitric oxide and regulation of cerebral arterial tone

Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential cofactor required for activity of nitric oxide synthases. Existing evidence suggests that, during activation of constitutive and inducible isoforms of nitric oxide synthase, tetrahydrobiopterin is needed for allosteric and redox activation of enzymatic activity. However, precise mechanisms underlying the role of tetrahydrobiopterin in regulation of nitric oxide formation is not fully understood. In cerebral and peripheral arteries, increased availability of tetrahydrobiopterin can augment production of nitric oxide. In contrast, in arteries depleted of tetrahydrobiopterin, production of nitric oxide is impaired. Proinflammatory cytokines enhance mRNA expression of the rate-limiting enzyme of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis, GTP cyclohydrolase I and stimulate production of tetrahydrobiopterin. The ability of vascular tissues to synthesize tetrahydrobiopterin plays an important role in regulation of nitric oxide synthase under physiological conditions as well as during inflammation and sepsis. More recent studies concerning expression and function of recombinant nitric oxide synthases suggest that availability of tetrahydrobiopterin is important for production of nitric oxide in genetically engineered blood vessels. In this review, mechanisms regulating availability of intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin and its role in control of vascular tone under physiological and pathological conditions will be discussed.

Calmodulin promotes dimerization of the oxygenase domain of human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase

The active form of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) is a homodimer. The activity of the enzyme is regulated in vivo by calcium signaling involving the binding of calmodulin (CAM), which triggers the activation of eNOS. We have examined the possible role of calcium-mediated CAM binding in promoting dimerization of eNOS through the oxygenase domain of the enzyme. A recombinant form of the oxygenase domain of human eNOS was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. This recombinant domain contains the catalytic cytochrome P-450 site for arginine oxidation by molecular oxygen as well as the binding sites for tetrahydrobiopterin and Ca2+-CAM but lacks the reductase domain and associated FAD, FMN, and NADPH binding sites. Binding of Ca2+-CAM caused an association of monomeric eNOS oxygenase domain as determined by changes in fluorescence, both intrinsic and extrinsic, and by gel filtration, chemical cross-linking, and particle-sizing. Dimerization of the domain was not dependent on the presence of the substrate, arginine, or the cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin. A truncated form of the eNOS oxygenase domain lacking the Ca2+-CAM binding region did not undergo self-association to form dimers. These results show that the eNOS reductase domain is not required for Ca2+-CAM-induced dimerization of eNOS and suggest that this dimerization may be a primary event in the activation of eNOS by Ca2+.

Interactions between substrate analogues and heme ligands in nitric oxide synthase

The substrate binding site in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) can accommodate the physiological substrates, L-arginine and N(omega)-hydroxy L-arginine as well as many substrate analogues and inhibitors. Resonance Raman spectra of carbon monoxide-bound NOS were measured to determine how these substrates and analogues interact with heme, the prosthetic group which activates oxygen for the catalytic generation of NO and citrulline from arginine in the enzyme. Two distinct conformations of the Fe-C-O moiety were detected in the resonance Raman spectra, although in the optical absorption spectra the two species are indistinguishable. In one, termed the beta-form, the Fe-CO stretching frequency and the C-O stretching frequency, located at approximately 487 and approximately 1949 cm(-1), respectively, demonstrate that the Fe-C-O group adopts a linear conformation perpendicular to the heme plane ("open" structure). In the other, termed the alpha-form, frequencies of approximately 502 and approximately 1929 cm(-1), respectively, indicate that the binding properties of bound CO are significantly affected by its immediate environment thereby leading to a "closed" structure. In the presence of L-arginine or N(omega)-OH-L-arginine all of the molecules exhibit the closed structure, indicating that the substrates exert a strong polar (and/or steric) effect on the heme-bound ligand. In the absence of any substrate or inhibitor only half of the heme population adopts the open structure whereas the rest of the heme content retains the closed conformation. It is proposed that in this population with the closed structure tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor of NO synthase, may reside in close proximity to the heme-bound ligand and interact with it in a similar manner as do substrates. The inverse correlation between the Fe-CO and C-O stretching modes suggests that in NOS the bonding of the cysteine to the heme iron may be weaker, as found in chloroperoxidase, than in cytochrome P-450 enzymes. This work continually proves resonance Raman spectroscopy as a powerful probe for the interactions between substrate/inhibitor and the heme active site of proteins.

Thiols and neuronal nitric oxide synthase: complex formation, competitive inhibition, and enzyme stabilization

To elucidate how thiols affect neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) we studied the binding of thiols to tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-free nNOS. Dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol, and L- and D-cysteine all bound to the heme with Kd values varying from 0.16 mM for DTT to 41 mM for L-cysteine. DTT, 2-mercaptoethanol, and L-cysteine yielded absorbance spectra with maxima at about 378 and 456 nm, indicative of bisthiolate complexes; the maximum at 426 nm with D-cysteine suggests binding of the neutral thiol. From the results with 2-mercaptoethanol we deduced that in 2-mercaptoethanol-free, BH4-free nNOS the sixth heme ligand is not a thiolate. DTT binding to nNOS containing one BH4 per dimer was biphasic. Apparently, the BH4-free subunit bound DTT with the same affinity as the BH4-free enzyme, whereas the BH4-containing subunit exhibited a > 100-fold lower affinity, indicative of competition between DTT and BH4 binding. Binding of DTT to the BH4-containing subunit was suppressed by L-arginine, whereas high-affinity binding was not affected, suggesting that L-arginine binds only to the BH4-containing subunit. DTT competitively inhibited L-citrulline production by nNOS containing one BH4 per dimer (Ki approximately 11 mM). Comparison of DTT binding and inhibition suggests that the heme of the BH4-free subunit is not involved in catalysis. Thermostability of nNOS was studied by preincubating the enzyme at various temperatures prior to activity determination. At nanomolar concentrations, nNOS was stable at 20 degrees C but rapidly deactivated at higher temperatures (t1/2 approximately 6 min at 37 degrees C). At micromolar concentrations, inactivation was 10 times slower. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements demonstrate that inactivation was not accompanied by major structural changes. The stabilization of nNOS by thiols was illustrated by the fact that omission of 2-mercaptoethanol during preincubation for 10 min at 30 degrees C led to an activity decrease of up to 90%.

Delineation of the arginine- and tetrahydrobiopterin-binding sites of neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide synthase (EC 1.14.13.39) catalyses the conversion of arginine, NADPH and oxygen to nitric oxide and citrulline, using haem, (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-l-biopterin (tetrahydrobiopterin), calmodulin, FAD and FMN as cofactors. The enzyme consists of a central calmodulin-binding sequence flanked on the N-terminal side by a haem-binding region that contains the arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin sites and on the C-terminal side by a region homologous with NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase. By using domain boundaries defined by limited proteolysis of full-length enzyme, recombinant haem-binding regions of rat brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase were expressed and purified. Two proteins were made in high yield: one, corresponding to residues 221-724, contained bound haem and tetrahydrobiopterin and was able to bind Nomega-nitro-l-arginine (nitroarginine) or arginine; the other, containing residues 350-724, contained bound haem but was unable to bind tetrahydrobiopterin, nitroarginine or arginine. These results showed that rat brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase contains a critical determinant for arginine/tetrahydrobiopterin binding between residues 221 and 350. Limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin of the former protein resulted in a new species with an N-terminal residue 275 that retained the ability to bind nitroarginine, further defining the critical region for arginine binding as being between 275 and 350. Comparison of the sequences of nitric oxide synthase and the tetrahydrobiopterin-requiring amino acid hydroxylases revealed a similarity in the region between residues 470 and 600, suggesting that this might represent the core region of the pterin-binding site. The stoichiometries of binding of substrate and cofactors to the recombinant domains were not more than 0.5 mol/mol of monomer, suggesting that there might be a single high-affinity site per dimer.

Characterization of bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase as a homodimer with down-regulated uncoupled NADPH oxidase activity: tetrahydrobiopterin binding kinetics and role of haem in dimerization

The fatty-acylation-deficient bovine endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) mutant (Gly-2 to Ala-2, G2AeNOS) was purified from a baculovirus overexpression system. The purified protein was soluble and highly active (0.2-0.7 micromol of l-citrulline. mg-1.min-1), contained 0. 77+/-0.01 equivalent of haem per subunit, showed a Soret maximum at 396 nm, and exhibited only minor uncoupling of NADPH oxidation in the absence of l-arginine or tetrahydrobiopterin. Radioligand binding studies revealed KD values of 147+/-24.1 nM and 52+/-9.2 nM for specific binding of tetrahydrobiopterin in the absence and presence of 0.1 mM l-arginine respectively. The positive co-operative effect of l-arginine was due to a pronounced decrease in the rate of tetrahydrobiopterin dissociation (from 1.6+/-0.5 to 0. 3+/-0.1 min-1). Low-temperature SDS gel electrophoresis showed that approx. 80% of the protein migrated as haem-containing dimer after preincubation with l-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin. Gel-filtration chromatography yielded one peak with a Stokes radius of 6.8+/-0.04 nm, corresponding to a hydrodynamic volume of 1. 32x10(-24) m3, whereas haem-deficient preparations (approx. 0.3 equivalent per subunit) contained an additional protein species with a hydrodynamic radius of 5.1+/-0.2 nm and a corresponding volume of 0.55x10(-24) m3, suggesting that haem availability regulates eNOS dimerization.

Active site topologies and cofactor-mediated conformational changes of nitric-oxide synthases

The active site topologies of neuronal (nNOS), endothelial (eNOS), and inducible (iNOS) nitric-oxide synthases heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli have been examined using three aryldiazene (Ar-N=NH) probes. The topological information derives from (a) the rate and extent of aryl-iron complex formation in the presence and absence of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B), Ca2+-dependent calmodulin (CaM), and L-arginine, and (b) the N-phenylprotoporphyrin IX regioisomer ratios obtained upon migration of the phenyl of the phenyl-iron complex to the heme nitrogen atoms. The N-phenylprotoporphyrin ratios indicate that the three NOS isoforms have related active site topologies with unencumbered space above all four pyrrole rings but particularly above pyrrole ring D. H4B binds directly above the heme pyrrole ring D or causes a conformational change that constricts that region, because H4B markedly decreases phenyl migration to pyrrole ring D. Small CaM-dependent changes in the nNOS N-phenylporphyrin isomer pattern are consistent with a conformational link between the CaM and heme sites in this protein. The ceiling height directly above the heme iron atom differs among the isoforms and is lower than in the P450 enzymes because only nNOS and iNOS react with 2-naphthyldiazene, and none of the isoforms reacts with p-biphenyldiazene. L-Arg blocks access to the heme iron atom in all three NOS isoforms and nearly suppresses the phenyldiazene reaction. The data indicate that topological differences, including differences in the size of the active site, are superimposed on the structural similarities among the NOS active sites.

Activation and dimerization of type III nitric oxide synthase by submicromolar concentrations of tetrahydrobiopterin in microsomal preparations from human primordial placenta

We have found in a previous study that 5-50 microM tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) stimulated 1.2-2.5-fold Ca(2+)-dependent nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) activity in homogenates prepared from primordial human placentae. Now we report on the dramatic, about sixfold, activating effect of BH4 on this activity measured in microsomal preparations. Firstly, both in the absence and presence of BH4, arginine bound to kinetically homogeneous sites, with no significant change between the apparent KM values for arginine (3.12 +/- 1.99 microM and 2.06 +/- 1.13 microM in the absence and presence of 50 microM BH4 respectively, mean +/- s.d., n = 3). On the other hand, the Vmax values measured in different pools of placenta tissue varied between 2.5-7.55 (no BH4 added) and 13.3-58.5 (with BH4 added) pmol/min/mg protein. Secondly, the microsomal preparations responded sensitively to BH4 addition. A dose-response study indicated that as low as 79 nM final BH4 concentration stimulated NOS activity half-maximally, and 1 microM BH4 resulted in an almost maximal effect. Thirdly, immunoblot analysis combined with laser densitometric evaluation demonstrated that BH4 efficiently promoted the aggregation of microsomal NOS type III isozyme into a protein having the characteristics (electrophoretic mobility, resistance of SDS) of the dimeric form. Half-maximal dimerizing activity was reached at 148 +/- 33 nM BH4 (mean +/- s.d., n = 3), whereas 1 microM BH4 led to almost, maximal aggregation of monomers. This is the first time that BH4-induced dimerization of a NOS type III isoform has been demonstrated. Considering that human placenta predominantly expresses NOS type III isoform and BH4 concentration in this tissue is 207 +/- 87 nM, the present results strongly suggest that the dimerizing effect of BH4 is a crucial physiological mechanism for the assembly of active Ca(2+)-dependent NOS in the human primordial placenta.

Substrate binding and calmodulin binding to endothelial nitric oxide synthase coregulate its enzymatic activity

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a constitutively expressed flavin-containing heme protein that catalyzes the formation of NO from L-arginine, NADPH, and molecular oxygen. We purified bovine endothelial NOS from transfected embryonic kidney cells by conventional chromatographic techniques and characterized the activity of the detergent-solubilized enzyme. Endothelial NOS displays a much lower specific activity of NO synthesis (143 +/- 11 nmol NO/min/mg enzyme) than the constitutive neuronal NOS or inducible NOS isoforms. Like the neuronal isoform, endothelial NOS requires binding of Ca2+/calmodulin to achieve Vmax NO synthase activity; however, we observed a basal level of NO synthesis even when Ca2+/calmodulin was omitted and 0.5 mM EDTA was present in the assay solution. Moreover, endothelial NOS demonstrates a high-affinity bonding interaction with calmodulin such that the enzyme as purified has a NO synthase activity at about 80% of Vmax. We also observed a more than twofold increase in NADPH consumption by endothelial NOS when it was coupled to arginine oxygenation as opposed to when oxygen is activated in the absence of substrate. Substrate binding was also shown to stimulate heme reduction in the absence of added calmodulin. Thus, the enzymatic synthesis of NO from L-arginine by endothelial NOS appears to be partially regulated by binding of both calmodulin and substrate. These findings for endothelial NOS represent a significant departure from the enzymatic properties of the other constitutive NOS isoform, neuronal NOS, and we interpret this result in terms of the physiological implications.