S-nitrosohemoglobin: a biochemical perspective

Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia on Oxidative Stress: Overwintering in Antarctic Concordia Station

Concordia Station is the permanent, research station on the Antarctic Plateau at 3230 m. During the eleventh winter-over campaign (DC11-2015; February 2015 to November 2015) at Antarctic Concordia Station, 13 healthy team members were studied and blood samples were collected at six different time points: baseline measurements (T0), performed at sea level before the departure, and during the campaign at 3, 7, 20, 90, and 300 days after arrival at Concordia Station. Reducing the partial pressure of O₂ as barometric pressure falls, hypobaric hypoxia (HH) triggers several physiological adaptations. Among the others, increased oxidative stress and enhanced generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), resulting in severe oxidative damage, were observed, which can share potential physiopathological mechanisms associated with many diseases. This study characterized the extent and time-course changes after acute and chronic HH exposure, elucidating possible fundamental mechanisms of adaptation. ROS, oxidative stress biomarkers, nitric oxide, and proinflammatory cytokines significantly increased (range 24-135%) during acute and chronic hypoxia exposure (peak 20^th day) with a decrease in antioxidant capacity (peak 90^th day: -52%). Results suggest that the adaptive response of oxidative stress balance to HH requires a relatively long time, more than 300^th days, as all the observed variables do not return to the preexposition level. These findings may also be relevant to patients in whom oxygen availability is limited through disease (i.e., chronic heart and lung and/or kidney disease) and/or during long-duration space missions.

Reactive Oxygen Species and Their Involvement in Red Blood Cell Damage in Chronic Kidney Disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) released in cells are signaling molecules but can also modify signaling proteins. Red blood cells perform a major role in maintaining the balance of the redox in the blood. The main cytosolic protein of RBC is hemoglobin (Hb), which accounts for 95-97%. Most other proteins are involved in protecting the blood cell from oxidative stress. Hemoglobin is a major factor in initiating oxidative stress within the erythrocyte. RBCs can also be damaged by exogenous oxidants. Hb autoxidation leads to the generation of a superoxide radical, of which the catalyzed or spontaneous dismutation produces hydrogen peroxide. Both oxidants induce hemichrome formation, heme degradation, and release of free iron which is a catalyst for free radical reactions. To maintain the redox balance, appropriate antioxidants are present in the cytosol, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), as well as low molecular weight antioxidants: glutathione, ascorbic acid, lipoic acid, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and others. Redox imbalance leads to oxidative stress and may be associated with overproduction of ROS and/or insufficient capacity of the antioxidant system. Oxidative stress performs a key role in CKD as evidenced by the high level of markers associated with oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA in vivo. In addition to the overproduction of ROS, a reduced antioxidant capacity is observed, associated with a decrease in the activity of SOD, GPx, PRDX2, and low molecular weight antioxidants. In addition, hemodialysis is accompanied by oxidative stress in which low-biocompatibility dialysis membranes activate phagocytic cells, especially neutrophils and monocytes, leading to a respiratory burst. This review shows the production of ROS under normal conditions and CKD and its impact on disease progression. Oxidative damage to red blood cells (RBCs) in CKD and their contribution to cardiovascular disease are also discussed.

Nitric oxide sensing by chlorophyll a

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a signalling molecule that has direct and indirect regulatory roles in various functional processes in biology, though in plant kingdom its role is relatively unexplored. One reason for this is the fact that sensing of NO is always challenging. There are very few probes that can classify the different NO species. The present paper proposes a simple but straightforward way for sensing different NO species using chlorophyll, the source of inspiration being hemoglobin that serves as NO sink in mammalian systems. The proposed method is able to classify NO from DETA-NONOate or (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl) amino] diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate, nitrite, nitrate and S-nitrosothiol or SNO. This discrimination is carried out by chlorophyll a (chl a) at nano molar (nM) order of sensitivity and at 293 K-310 K. Molecular docking reveals the differential binding effects of NO and SNO with chlorophyll, the predicted binding affinity matching with the experimental observation. Additional experiments with a diverse range of cyanobacteria reveal that apart from the spectroscopic approach the proposed sensing module can be used in microscopic inspection of NO species. Binding of NO is sensitive to temperature and static magnetic field. This provides additional support for the involvement of the porphyrin ring structures to the NO sensing process. This also, broadens the scope of the sensing methods as hinted in the text.

Recent advances in the chemical biology of nitroxyl (HNO) detection and generation

Nitroxyl or azanone (HNO) represents the redox-related (one electron reduced and protonated) relative of the well-known biological signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO). Despite the close structural similarity to NO, defined biological roles and endogenous formation of HNO remain unclear due to the high reactivity of HNO with itself, soft nucleophiles and transition metals. While significant work has been accomplished in terms of the physiology, biology and chemistry of HNO, important and clarifying work regarding HNO detection and formation has occurred within the last 10 years. This review summarizes advances in the areas of HNO detection and donation and their application to normal and pathological biology. Such chemical biological tools allow a deeper understanding of biological HNO formation and the role that HNO plays in a variety of physiological systems.

Exhaled nitric oxide is associated with postnatal adaptation to hypoxia in Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants

AIM

This Chinese study assessed partial pressure of exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO) in healthy Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants born at a very high altitude.

METHODS

Full-term Tibetan and non-Tibetan neonates born in Lhasa, 3658 metres above sea level, were compared to non-Tibetan neonates born in Kunming (1891 m) and Huai'an (16 m). The chemiluminiscence technique was used to measure the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide during spontaneous tidal breathing and this was then converted to partial pressure of exhaled nitric oxide (PeNO).

RESULTS

In their first week, Tibetan and non-Tibetan neonates born in Lhasa had persistently higher PeNO levels than non-Tibetan neonates born in Kunming and Huai'an, which was further verified by partial pressure of inspired oxygen adjustment. However, the non-Tibetans born in Lhasa required short-term oxygen therapy to improve their early postnatal oxygenation. The temporal changes of PeNO and cardio-respiratory function measurements demonstrated that Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborns in Lhasa initially needed to adapt to attain homoeostasis in oxygenation and gas exchange.

CONCLUSION

Tibetan and non-Tibetan newborn infants living at the same high altitude demonstrated comparable PeNO levels during postnatal adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia, which warrants further investigation of the mechanism of endogenous nitric oxide and hypoxic tolerance.

Routes for formation of S-nitrosothiols in blood

S-nitrosothiols (RSNO) are involved in post-translational modifications of many proteins analogous to protein phosphorylation. In addition, RSNO have many physiological roles similar to nitric oxide ((•)NO), which are presumably involving the release of (•)NO from the RSNO. However, the much longer life span in biological systems for RSNO than (•)NO suggests a dominant role for RSNO in mediating (•)NO bioactivity. RSNO are detected in plasma in low nanomolar levels in healthy human subjects. These RSNO are believed to be redirecting the (•)NO to the vasculature. However, the mechanism for the formation of RSNO in vivo has not been established. We have reviewed the reactions of (•)NO with oxygen, metalloproteins, and free radicals that can lead to the formation of RSNO and have evaluated the potential for each mechanism to provide a source for RSNO in vivo.

Potential biological chemistry of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) with the nitrogen oxides

Hydrogen sulfide, an important gaseous signaling agent generated in numerous biological tissues, influences many physiological processes. This biological profile seems reminiscent of nitric oxide, another important endogenously synthesized gaseous signaling molecule. Hydrogen sulfide reacts with nitric oxide or oxidized forms of nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors in vitro to form species that display distinct biology compared to both hydrogen sulfide and NO. The products of these interesting reactions may include small-molecule S-nitrosothiols or nitroxyl, the one-electron-reduced form of nitric oxide. In addition, thionitrous acid or thionitrite, compounds structurally analogous to nitrous acid and nitrite, may constitute a portion of the reaction products. Both the chemistry and the biology of thionitrous acid and thionitrite, compared to nitric oxide or hydrogen sulfide, remain poorly defined. General mechanisms for the formation of S-nitrosothiols, nitroxyl, and thionitrous acid based upon the ability of hydrogen sulfide to act as a nucleophile and a reducing agent with reactive nitric oxide-based intermediates are proposed. Hydrogen sulfide reactivity seems extensive and could have an impact on numerous areas of redox-controlled biology and chemistry, warranting more work in this exciting and developing area.

Is S-nitrosocysteine a true surrogate for nitric oxide?

S-Nitrosothiol (RSNO) formation is one manner by which nitric oxide (•NO) exerts its biological effects. There are several proposed mechanisms of formation of RSNO in vivo: auto-oxidation of •NO, transnitrosation, oxidative nitrosylation, and from dinitrosyliron complexes (DNIC). Both free •NO, generated by •NO donors, and S-nitrosocysteine (CysNO) are widely used to study •NO biology and signaling, including protein S-nitrosation. It is assumed that the cellular effects of both compounds are analogous and indicative of in vivo •NO biology. A quantitative comparison was made of formation of DNIC and RSNO, the major •NO-derived cellular products. In RAW 264.7 cells, both •NO and CysNO were metabolized, leading to rapid intracellular RSNO and DNIC formation. DNIC were the dominant products formed from physiologic •NO concentrations, however, and RSNO were the major product from CysNO treatment. Chelatable iron was necessary for DNIC assembly from either •NO or CysNO, but not for RSNO formation. These profound differences in RSNO and DNIC formation from •NO and CysNO question the use of CysNO as a surrogate for physiologic •NO. Researchers designing experiments intended to elucidate the biological signaling mechanisms of •NO should be aware of these differences and should consider the biological relevance of the use of exogenous CysNO.

Chemical methods for the direct detection and labeling of S-nitrosothiols

SIGNIFICANCE

Posttranslational modification of proteins through phosphorylation, glycosylation, and oxidation adds complexity to the proteome by reversibly altering the structure and function of target proteins in a highly controlled fashion.

RECENT ADVANCES

The study of reversible cysteine oxidation highlights a role for this oxidative modification in complex signal transduction pathways. Nitric oxide (NO), and its respective metabolites (including reactive nitrogen species), participates in a variety of these cellular redox processes, including the reversible oxidation of cysteine to S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs). RSNOs act as endogenous transporters of NO, but also possess beneficial effects independent of NO-related signaling, which suggests a complex and versatile biological role. In this review, we highlight the importance of RSNOs as a required posttranslational modification and summarize the current methods available for detecting S-nitrosation.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Given the limitations of these indirect detection methods, the review covers recent developments toward the direct detection of RSNOs by phosphine-based chemical probes. The intrinsic properties that dictate this phosphine/RSNO reactivity are summarized. In general, RSNOs (both small molecule and protein) react with phosphines to yield reactive S-substituted aza-ylides that undergo further reactions leading to stable RSNO-based adducts.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This newly explored chemical reactivity forms the basis of a number of exciting potential chemical methods for protein RSNO detection in biological systems.

The Clinical Application of Ozonetherapy

The reader may be eager to examine in which diseases ozonetherapy can be proficiently used and she/he will be amazed by the versatility of this complementary approach (Table 9 1). The fact that the medical applications are numerous exposes the ozonetherapist to medical derision because superficial observers or sarcastic sceptics consider ozonetherapy as the modern panacea. This seems so because ozone, like oxygen, is a molecule able to act simultaneously on several blood components with different functions but, as we shall discuss, ozonetherapy is not a panacea. The ozone messengers ROS and LOPs can act either locally or systemically in practically all cells of an organism. In contrast to the dogma that “ozone is always toxic”, three decades of clinical experience, although mostly acquired in private clinics in millions of patients, have shown that ozone can act as a disinfectant, an oxygen donor, an immunomodulator, a paradoxical inducer of antioxidant enzymes, a metabolic enhancer, an inducer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and possibly an activator of stem cells with consequent neovascularization and tissue reconstruction.

Hemoglobin S-nitrosation on oxygenation of nitrite/deoxyhemoglobin incubations is attenuated by methemoglobin

Nitrite is present in red blood cells (RBCs) and is proposed to be the largest intravascular storage pool of vasoactive NO. The mechanism by which nitrite exerts NO vasoactivity remains unclear but deoxyHb exhibits nitrite reductase activity. NitrosylHb (HbFe(II)NO) is formed on nitrite reduction by excess deoxyHb, and S-nitrosated Hb (HbSNO) has also been detected in nitrite/deoxyHb incubations. We report data consistent with efficient HbSNO generation from a nitrosylHb intermediate on oxygenation of anaerobic deoxyHb incubations containing physiologically revelant levels of nitrite, whereas previously a labile nitrosylmetHb (HbFe(III)NO) transient was proposed. The HbSNO yield as a function of the initial nitrite concentration varies with the nitrite/deoxyHb ratio, the incubation time, the concentration of added metHb (a nitrite trap), and the concentration of added cyanide (a strong metHb ligand). Our results reveal that metHb strongly attenuates HbSNO formation, which suggests that the met protein may play a regulatory role by limiting the amount of free (or non-Hb-bound) nitrite within RBCs to prevent hypotension.

4-Aryl-1,3,2-oxathiazolylium-5-olates as pH-Controlled NO-Donors: The Next Generation ofS-Nitrosothiols

S-Nitrosothiols (RSNOs) are important exogenous and endogenous sources of nitric oxide (NO) in biological systems. A series of 4-aryl-1,3,2-oxathiazolylium-5-olates derivatives with varying aryl para-substituents (-CF3, -H, -Cl, and -OCH3) were synthesized. These compounds were found to release NO under acidic condition (pH = 5). The decomposition pathway of the aryloxathiazolyliumolates proceeded via an acid-catalyzed ring-opening mechanism after which NO was released and an S-centered radical was generated. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping studies were performed to detect NO and the S-centered radical using the spin traps of iron(II) N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate [(MGD)2-FeII] and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). Also, EPR spin trapping and UV-vis spectrophotometry were used to analyze the effect of aryl para substitution on the NO-releasing property of aryloxathiazolyliumolates. The results showed that the presence of an electron-withdrawing substituent such as -CF3 enhanced the NO-releasing capability of the aryloxathiazolyliumolates, whereas an electron-donating substituent like methoxy (-OCH3) diminished it. Computational studies using density functional theory (DFT) at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* level were used to rationalize the experimental observations. The aryloxathiazolyliumolates diminished susceptibility to reduction by ascorbate or gluthathione, and their capacity to cause vasodilation as compared to other S-nitrosothiols suggests potential application in biological systems.

Mechanism and Driving Force of NO Transfer from S-Nitrosothiol to Cobalt(II) Porphyrin: A Detailed Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study

The thermodynamics and kinetics of NO transfer from S-nitrosotriphenylmethanethiol (Ph(3)CSNO) to a series of alpha,beta,gamma,delta-tetraphenylporphinatocobalt(II) derivatives [T(G)PPCoII], generating the nitrosyl cobalt atom center adducts [T(G)PPCoIINO], in benzonitrile were investigated using titration calorimetry and stopped-flow UV-vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The estimation of the energy change for each elementary step in the possible NO transfer pathways suggests that the most likely route is a concerted process of the homolytic S-NO bond dissociation and the formation of the Co-NO bond. The kinetic investigation on the NO transfer shows that the second-order rate constants at room temperature cover the range from 0.76 x 10(4) to 4.58 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), and the reaction rate was mainly governed by activation enthalpy. Hammett-type linear free-energy analysis indicates that the NO moiety in Ph(3)CSNO is a Lewis acid and the T(G)PPCoII is a Lewis base; the main driving force for the NO transfer is electrostatic charge attraction rather than the spin-spin coupling interaction. The effective charge distribution on the cobalt atom in the cobalt porphyrin at the various stages, the reactant [T(G)PPCoII], the transition-state, and the product [T(G)PPCoIINO], was estimated to show that the cobalt atom carries relative effective positive charges of 2.000 in the reactant [T(G)PPCoII], 2.350 in the transition state, and 2.503 in the product [T(G)PPCoIINO], which indicates that the concerted NO transfer from Ph(3)CSNO to T(G)PPCoII with the release of the Ph(3)CS* radical was actually performed by the initial negative charge (-0.350) transfer from T(G)PPCoII to Ph(3)CSNO to form the transition state and was followed by homolytic S-NO bond dissociation of Ph(3)CSNO with a further negative charge (-0.153) transfer from T(G)PPCoII to the NO group to form the final product T(G)PPCoIINO. It is evident that these important thermodynamic and kinetic results would be helpful in understanding the nature of the interaction between RSNO and metal porphyrins in both chemical and biochemical systems.

Mechanism of NO transfer from NO-donors (SNAP and G-MNBS) to ferrous tetraphenylporphyrin in CH3OH

[reaction: see text] The mechanism of NO transfer from NO-donors (SNAP and G-MNBS) to ferrous tetraphenylporphyrin (TPPFe(II)) in CH(3)OH is discovered for the first time by using a laser flash technique. The results show that the NO transfer is completed by NO(+) transfer followed by electron transfer rather than direct NO transfer in one step.

Nitric oxide redox reactions and red cell biology

Three hypotheses explain a role for red blood cells (RBCs) in delivering NO to the vasculature: (a) "the SNOHb hypothesis" involves the uptake of NO by RBCs with NO transferred from the heme to the beta-93 thiol in the R quaternary conformation, followed by the release to membrane thiols in the T quaternary conformation; and (b and c) "the nitrite hypotheses" bypass the intrinsic difficulties of transporting the highly reactive NO, by reutilizing the nitrite formed when NO reacts with oxygen. Deoxyhemoglobin reduces this nitrite back to NO. The distinction between the two nitrite mechanisms depends on the importance of intermediate species formed during nitrite reduction. Without bioactive intermediates, the NO must be immediately released to avoid binding to deoxyhemoglobin. The "nitrite intermediate hypothesis" enables the RBCs to store a pool of potentially bioactive NO until it is released from the cell. In this review, we critically compare these different proposals for the transport/delivery of NO by RBCs. We also compare the redox properties in the RBCs associated with NO with the redox properties associated with oxygen.

Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis of nitrosylhemoglobin in humans during NO inhalation

The reactions of nitric oxide with hemoglobin play an important role in explaining the vascular biology of this free radical. It is perhaps surprising that the level of nitrosylhemoglobin (HbNO) in which NO is bound to the ferrous hemoglobin heme in whole human blood under basal and stimulated conditions is a matter of some controversy, with measurements ranging from <1 nm to close to 10 mum. In order to examine HbNO levels in human blood by using EPR spectroscopy, we have developed a regression-based spectral analysis technique that has a detection level of about 200 nm HbNO. We have utilized this methodology to detect the level of HbNO under basal conditions and during NO inhalation. The major findings of this study are as follows. (i) HbNO can be accurately detected and quantified in whole blood with a detection limit of approximately 200 nm. (ii) By using regression analysis, levels of HbNO as low as 0.5-1 mum can be deconvoluted into component species. (iii) HbNO is present at less than 200 nm at basal conditions in both arterial and venous blood and is formed at a level of 0.5-2.5 mum upon inhalation of 80 ppm NO. (iv) The levels of HbNO detected by EPR are remarkably close (within a factor of 2) to those detected by tri-iodide-based chemiluminescence and much smaller than those detected by photolysis chemiluminescence. (v) The half-time of HbNO in vivo is approximately 40 min.

The red blood cell and vascular function in health and disease

Nitric oxide (NO) is widely accepted as a central regulator of vascular tone and a vast array of other cardiovascular signaling mechanisms. An emerging player in these mechanisms is hemoglobin (Hb), an erythrocytic protein that serves as the archetypical model for an allosteric protein. Specifically, red blood cells (RBC) are suggested to be integral in matching blood flow to tissue oxygen demands. The mechanisms proposed involve the ability of Hb to sense changes in oxygen concentrations and coupling this process to modulating vascular NO levels. The molecular basis of these mechanisms remains under investigation, but is clearly diverse and discussed in this article from the basis of the blood flow responses to hypoxia. Another emerging theme in RBC biology is the role of these cells during inflammatory disease in which disease processes promote the interaction of vascular NO and the RBC. This is exemplified in hemolytic diseases, in which released Hb has drastic affects on vascular homeostasis mechanisms. Additionally, it is becoming evident that RBC express numerous molecules that mediate interactions with the extracellular matrix and cellular mediators of inflammation. The functional implications for such interactions remain unclear but highlight potential roles of the RBC in modulating inflammatory disease.