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The nitric oxide/superoxide assay. Insights into the biological chemistry of the NO/O-2 interaction.

The nitric oxide/superoxide assay. Insights into the biological chemistry of the NO/O-2 interaction.
The nitric oxide/superoxide assay. Insights into the biological chemistry of the NO/O-2 interaction.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a widespread signaling molecule involved in the regulation of an impressive spectrum of diverse cellular functions. Superoxide anions (O-2) not only contribute to the localization of NO action by rapid inactivation, but also give rise to the formation of the potentially toxic species peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and other reactive nitrogen oxide species. The chemistry and biological effect of ONOO- depend on the relative rates of formation of NO and O-2. However, the simultaneous quantification of NO and O-2 has not been achieved yet due to their high rate of interaction, which is almost diffusion-controlled. A sensitive spectrophotometric assay was developed for the simultaneous quantification of NO and O-2 in aqueous solution that is based on the NO-induced oxidation of oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) to methemoglobin and the O-2-mediated reduction of ferricytochrome c. Using a photodiode array photometer, spectral changes of either reaction were analyzed, and appropriate wavelengths were identified for the simultaneous monitoring of absorbance changes of the individual reactions. oxyHb oxidation was followed at 541.2 nm (isosbestic wavelength for the conversion of ferri- to ferrocytochrome c), and ferricytochrome c reduction was followed at 465 nm (wavelength at which absorbance changes during oxyHb to methemoglobin conversion were negligible), using 525 nm as the isosbestic point for both reactions. At final concentrations of 20 microM ferricytochrome c and 5 microM oxyHb, the molar extinction coefficients were determined to be epsilon465-525 = 7.3 mM-1 cm-1 and epsilon541.2-525 = 6.6 mM-1 cm-1, respectively. The rates of formation of either NO or O-2 determined with the combined assay were virtually identical to those measured with the classical oxyhemoglobin and cytochrome c assays, respectively. The assay was successfully adapted to either kinetic or end point determination in a cuvette or continuous on-line measurement of both radicals in a flow-through system. Maximal assay sensitivity was approximately 25 nM for NO and O-2. Cross-reactivity with ONOO- was controlled for by the presence of L-methionine. Generation of NO from the NO donor spermine diazeniumdiolate could be reliably quantified in the presence and absence of low, equimolar, and high flux rates of O-2. Likewise, O-2 enzymatically generated from hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase could be specifically quantified with no difference in absolute rates in the presence or absence of concomitant NO generation at different flux rates. Nonenzymatic decomposition of 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (100 microM) in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 (37 degrees C), was found to be associated with almost stoichiometric production of NO and O-2 (1.24 microM NO/min and 1.12 microM O-2/min). Assay selectivity and applicability to biological systems were demonstrated in cultured endothelial cells and isolated aortic tissue using calcium ionophore and NADH for stimulation of NO and O-2 formation, respectively. Based on these data, a computer model was elaborated that successfully predicts the reaction of NO and O-2 with hemoprotein and may thus help to further elucidate these reactions. In conclusion, the nitric oxide/superoxide assay allows the specific, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of NO and O-2. The simulation model developed also allows the reliable prediction of the reaction between NO and O-2 as well as their kinetic interaction with other biomolecules. These new analytical tools will help to gain further insight into the physiological and pathophysiological significance of the formation of these radicals in cell homeostasis.
0021-9258
9922-9932
Kelm, Malte
db2bb062-32d7-4b50-9f65-8ba89ffa5f42
Dahmann, Rüdiger
c5735230-665c-4444-bb6d-c3f6dd50943d
Wink, David
80a55b02-613c-43b4-88d0-88315f9d4135
Feelisch, Martin
8c1b9965-8614-4e85-b2c6-458a2e17eafd
Kelm, Malte
db2bb062-32d7-4b50-9f65-8ba89ffa5f42
Dahmann, Rüdiger
c5735230-665c-4444-bb6d-c3f6dd50943d
Wink, David
80a55b02-613c-43b4-88d0-88315f9d4135
Feelisch, Martin
8c1b9965-8614-4e85-b2c6-458a2e17eafd

Kelm, Malte, Dahmann, Rüdiger, Wink, David and Feelisch, Martin (1997) The nitric oxide/superoxide assay. Insights into the biological chemistry of the NO/O-2 interaction. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 272, 9922-9932. (PMID:9092531)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a widespread signaling molecule involved in the regulation of an impressive spectrum of diverse cellular functions. Superoxide anions (O-2) not only contribute to the localization of NO action by rapid inactivation, but also give rise to the formation of the potentially toxic species peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and other reactive nitrogen oxide species. The chemistry and biological effect of ONOO- depend on the relative rates of formation of NO and O-2. However, the simultaneous quantification of NO and O-2 has not been achieved yet due to their high rate of interaction, which is almost diffusion-controlled. A sensitive spectrophotometric assay was developed for the simultaneous quantification of NO and O-2 in aqueous solution that is based on the NO-induced oxidation of oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) to methemoglobin and the O-2-mediated reduction of ferricytochrome c. Using a photodiode array photometer, spectral changes of either reaction were analyzed, and appropriate wavelengths were identified for the simultaneous monitoring of absorbance changes of the individual reactions. oxyHb oxidation was followed at 541.2 nm (isosbestic wavelength for the conversion of ferri- to ferrocytochrome c), and ferricytochrome c reduction was followed at 465 nm (wavelength at which absorbance changes during oxyHb to methemoglobin conversion were negligible), using 525 nm as the isosbestic point for both reactions. At final concentrations of 20 microM ferricytochrome c and 5 microM oxyHb, the molar extinction coefficients were determined to be epsilon465-525 = 7.3 mM-1 cm-1 and epsilon541.2-525 = 6.6 mM-1 cm-1, respectively. The rates of formation of either NO or O-2 determined with the combined assay were virtually identical to those measured with the classical oxyhemoglobin and cytochrome c assays, respectively. The assay was successfully adapted to either kinetic or end point determination in a cuvette or continuous on-line measurement of both radicals in a flow-through system. Maximal assay sensitivity was approximately 25 nM for NO and O-2. Cross-reactivity with ONOO- was controlled for by the presence of L-methionine. Generation of NO from the NO donor spermine diazeniumdiolate could be reliably quantified in the presence and absence of low, equimolar, and high flux rates of O-2. Likewise, O-2 enzymatically generated from hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase could be specifically quantified with no difference in absolute rates in the presence or absence of concomitant NO generation at different flux rates. Nonenzymatic decomposition of 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (100 microM) in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 (37 degrees C), was found to be associated with almost stoichiometric production of NO and O-2 (1.24 microM NO/min and 1.12 microM O-2/min). Assay selectivity and applicability to biological systems were demonstrated in cultured endothelial cells and isolated aortic tissue using calcium ionophore and NADH for stimulation of NO and O-2 formation, respectively. Based on these data, a computer model was elaborated that successfully predicts the reaction of NO and O-2 with hemoprotein and may thus help to further elucidate these reactions. In conclusion, the nitric oxide/superoxide assay allows the specific, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of NO and O-2. The simulation model developed also allows the reliable prediction of the reaction between NO and O-2 as well as their kinetic interaction with other biomolecules. These new analytical tools will help to gain further insight into the physiological and pathophysiological significance of the formation of these radicals in cell homeostasis.

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Published date: 11 April 1997
Organisations: Clinical & Experimental Sciences

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Local EPrints ID: 337889
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/337889
ISSN: 0021-9258
PURE UUID: 2db3f8fa-5549-49b2-b717-0c8b3d3e6719
ORCID for Martin Feelisch: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2320-1158

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Date deposited: 29 Jun 2012 13:28
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:41

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Contributors

Author: Malte Kelm
Author: Rüdiger Dahmann
Author: David Wink
Author: Martin Feelisch ORCID iD

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