Dataset Information

The ratio between tetrahydrobiopterin and oxidized tetrahydrobiopterin analogues controls superoxide release from endothelial nitric oxide synthase: an EPR spin trapping study.

ABSTRACT: Augmentation of superoxide levels has been linked to impaired relaxation in hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. Purified endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) generates superoxide under limited availability of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). Thus alterations in endothelial BH(4) levels have been postulated to stimulate superoxide production from eNOS. This possibility was examined by determining the concentration-dependent effects of BH(4), and its analogues, on superoxide formation by eNOS. Superoxide was quantified by EPR spin trapping, which is the only available technique to quantify superoxide from eNOS. Using 5-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-pyrroline N-oxide, we show that only fully reduced BH(4) diminished superoxide release from eNOS, with efficiency BH(4)>6-methyl-BH(4)>5-methyl-BH(4). In contrast, partially oxidized BH(4) analogues, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (7,8-BH(2)) and sepiapterin had no effect. Neither l-arginine nor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) abolished superoxide formation. Together, BH(4) and l-arginine stimulated .NO production at maximal rates of 148 nmol/min per mg of protein. These results indicate that BH(4) acts as a "redox switch", decreasing superoxide release and enhancing .NO formation. This role was verified by adding 7,8-BH(2) or sepiapterin to fully active eNOS. Both 7,8-BH(2) and sepiapterin enhanced superoxide release while inhibiting (.)NO formation. Collectively, these results indicate that the ratio between oxidized and reduced BH(4) metabolites tightly regulates superoxide formation from eNOS. The pathological significance of this scenario is discussed.

SUBMITTER: Vasquez-Vivar J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1222439 | biostudies-other | 2002 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Recently, we showed that peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) reacts directly and rapidly with aromatic and aliphatic boronic acids (k ? 10(6) M(-1)s(-1)). Product analyses and substrate consumption data indicated that ONOO(-) reacts stoichiometrically with boronates, yielding the corresponding phenols as the major product (?85-90%), and the remaining products (10-15%) were proposed to originate from free radical intermediates (phenyl and phenoxyl radicals). Here, we investigated in detail the minor, free radical pathway of boronate reaction with ONOO(-). The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping technique was used to characterize the free radical intermediates formed from the reaction between boronates and ONOO(-). Using 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) and 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO) spin traps, phenyl radicals were trapped and detected. Although phenoxyl radicals were not detected, the positive effects of molecular oxygen, and inhibitory effects of hydrogen atom donors (acetonitrile, and 2-propanol) and general radical scavengers (GSH, NADH, ascorbic acid, and tyrosine) on the formation of phenoxyl radical-derived nitrated product, suggest that the phenoxyl radical was formed as the secondary species. We propose that the initial step of the reaction involves the addition of ONOO(-) to the boron atom in boronates. The anionic intermediate undergoes both heterolytic (major pathway) and homolytic (minor pathway) cleavage of the peroxy (O-O) bond to form phenol and nitrite as a major product (via a nonradical mechanism), or a radical pair PhB(OH)(2)O(•-)···(•)NO(2) as a minor product. It is conceivable that phenyl radicals are formed by the fragmentation of the PhB(OH)(2)O(•-) radical anion. According to the DFT quantum mechanical calculations, the energy barrier for the dissociation of PhB(OH)(2)O(•-) radical anion to form phenyl radical is only a few kcal/mol, suggesting rapid and spontaneous fragmentation of the PhB(OH)(2)O(•-) radical anion in aqueous media. Biological implications of the minor free radical pathway are discussed in the context of ONOO(-) detection, using the boronate probes.

Dataset Information

The ratio between tetrahydrobiopterin and oxidized tetrahydrobiopterin analogues controls superoxide release from endothelial nitric oxide synthase: an EPR spin trapping study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets