Peroxynitrite: In vivo and In vitro synthesis and oxidant degradative action on biological systems regarding biomolecular injury and inflammatory processes

Metal-mediated DNA damage and cell death: mechanisms, detection methods, and cellular consequences

Metal ions cause various types of DNA damage by multiple mechanisms, and this damage is a primary cause of cell death and disease.

Understanding the fate of peroxynitrite in plant cells--from physiology to pathophysiology

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) is a potent oxidant and nitrating species, generated by the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide in one of the most rapid reactions known in biology. It is widely accepted that an enhanced ONOO(-) formation contributes to oxidative and nitrosative stress in various biological systems. However, an increasing number of studies have reported that ONOO(-) cannot only be considered as a mediator of cellular dysfunction, but also behaves as a potent modulator of the redox regulation in various cell signal transduction pathways. Although the formation of ONOO(-) has been demonstrated in vivo in plant cells, the relevance of this molecule during plant physiological responses is still far from being clarified. Admittedly, the detection of protein tyrosine nitration phenomena provides some justification to the speculations that ONOO() is generated during various plant stress responses associated with pathophysiological mechanisms. On the other hand, it was found that ONOO(-) itself is not as toxic for plant cells as it is for animal ones. Based on the concepts of the role played by ONOO(-) in biological systems, this review is focused mainly on the search for potential functions of ONOO(-) in plants. Moreover, it is also an attempt to stimulate a discussion on the significance of protein nitration as a paradigm in signal modulation, since the newest reports identified proteins associated with signal transduction cascades within the plant nitroproteome.

An alternative standard for Trolox-equivalent antioxidant-capacity estimation based on thiol antioxidants. Comparative 2,2'-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] decolorization and rotational viscometry study regarding hyaluronan degradation

Comparison of the effectiveness of antioxidant activity of three thiol compounds, D-penicillamine, reduced L-glutathione, and 1,4-dithioerythritol, expressed as a radical-scavenging capacity based on the two independent methods, namely a decolorization 2,2'-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] assay and a rotational viscometry, is reported. Particular concern was focused on the testing of potential free-radical scavenging effects of thiols against hyaluronan degradation, induced by hydroxyl radicals. A promising, solvent-independent, antioxidative function of 1,4-dithioerythritol, comparable to that of a standard compound, Trolox(®), was confirmed by the 2,2'-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] assay. The new potential antioxidant 1,4-dithioerythritol exhibited very good solubility in a variety of solvents (e.g., H(2)O, EtOH, and DMSO) and could be widely accepted and used as an effective antioxidant standard instead of a routinely used Trolox(®) on 2,2'-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] assay.

In vitro effects of peroxynitrite treatment on fish liver catalase activity

The effect of peroxynitrite (PN), a highly toxic agent, on catalase (CAT) activity in fish liver microsomal homogenates was determined. PN was synthesized by mixing acidic hydrogen peroxide solution with sodium nitrite solution and then adding sodium hydroxide solution into the mixture in order to stabilize the highly labile compound peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) in peroxynitrite anion form (ONOO(- )). The effect of PN and decomposed peroxynitrite (DPN), prepared by preincubation with HCl, was monitored by using a constant amount of homogenate containing the CAT enzyme. Significant losses were observed in the CAT activity of fish liver enzyme after treatment with PN and also with DPN products, the inhibitory effect of PN being slightly more pronounced than that of DPN. IC(50) values were 5.5 and 8.5 microM for PN and DPN, respectively. The PN inhibition of CAT activity is due to both the effects of the secondary and decomposition products of PN and its nitration and oxidation effects on the amino acid residues of the enzyme.