Biomedical subjects

Joseph M Kocis

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph M Kocis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Nitrosation of cysteine and reduced glutathione by nitrite at physiological pH.

Unlike the formation of nitrosothiols by nitrous acid, our study revealed that NO2- effectively reacted with L-cysteine or reduced glutathione (GSH) at pH 7.0 and 7.4, to form orange-pink products of S-nitrosocysteine (CySNO) or S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). The reactions were in a concentration-dependent manner. These products exhibited not only peak absorbances at around 340 and 540 nm, but also unique colors and patterns of mobility on cellulose thin layer chromatographic plates. In comparison, the S-nitrosation of dithiothreitol was noted exclusively under acidic pH. In addition, the S-nitrosation of hemoglobin (Hb) by either peroxynitrite (PN) or NO2- at pH 6.0 was detected via Western blot. The half-life of degradation of CySNO in NO2- solution was significantly shorter than that of GSNO at a wide range of pH. In the absence of NO2-, degradation of GSNO was facilitated by incubation with L-cysteine, but not L-serine. In the signaling process involving NO -->PN --> NO2- --> CySNO/GSNO --> NO, L-cysteine may function as a NO-carrier to reach shorter-distance targets, and also an "activator" to release NO from GSNO. Furthermore, L-cysteine may play a vital role in reducing (severe) oxidative stress.

Cysteine↗

PubMed2003

Modifications of tyrosine and catecholamines by peroxynitrite, nitrite and nitrate.

At pH 7.0 in non-"deaired" potassium phosphate buffer, the reactions of L-tyrosine, L-dopa, dopamine, L-norepinephrine, and L-epinephrine with peroxynitrite (PN) or nitrite, generated colored products. These products displayed not only unique colors and patterns of mobility on silica thin layer chromatographic plates, but also varied increase of absorbance between 400 and 540 nm. In particular, with the treatment of nitrite, catecholamines exhibited longer bands and multiple colored spots due to the formation of multiple compounds. In addition, significantly increased mobilities were noted with nitrate-incubated catecholamines. These results imply the occurrence of various types of reactions, such as nitration and nitrosation, via the production of active intermediates of oxygen and/or nitrogen species during incubation.

Catecholamines↗

PubMed2003

Further study on S-nitrosation by nitrite.

At neutral pH, S-nitrosoglutathione was formed by the reaction of reduced glutathione and sodium nitrite. The degradation of S-nitrosoglutathione, presumably by transnitrosation/denitrosation, was catalyzed by L-cysteine, or CoA-SH. Additionally, from the crude extract of rat brain, one protein with a large molecular mass was nitrosolated with nitrite, and was split into duplet peptides noted in Western blot. Furthermore, the incubation of nitrite with IgG may generate the intermediates of active nitrogen/oxygen species and lead to significant production of gas bubbles.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Regulation of catalase: inhibition by peroxynitrite and reactivation by reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase.

The regulation of stable catalase from Aspergillus niger was investigated. The preincubation of catalase with peroxynitrite (PN) resulted in a significant decrease in the production of O2, while the subsequent incubation with reduced glutathione (GSH, 1mM) led to restoration of the enzymatic activity. Western blot analysis revealed not only the increased immunoreactivities of 3-nitrotyrosine and S-nitrosocysteine in a PN-dose-dependent manner, but also conversely decreased immunoreactivity of 3-nitrotyrosine by the subsequent preincubation of catalase with GSH (1mM)/glutathione S-transferase (GST). The inhibition of the catalase after PN-treatment may be due to conformational changes of the enzyme via tyrosine-nitration/cysteine-nitrosation and the binding of active nitrogen/oxygen species to the Fe3+-protoporphyrin groups of the enzyme. The reverse of these processes to restore enzymatic activity by GSH/GST may be a vital antioxidative mechanism.

Aspergillus niger↗

PubMed2002

Protein denitration/modification by Escherichia coli nitrate reductase and mammalian cytochrome P-450 reductase.

The incubation of peroxynitrite (PN)-pretreated histone III-S (NH) with Escherichia coli nitrate reductase (cytochrome, NADPH/GSH-independent) and that of NADPH-treated NH (NHNADPH) with liver cytochrome P-450 reductase (NADPH-dependent) resulted in decreased 3-nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity found in Western blot analysis. Additionally, increased nitrate was noted as an end product of these reactions. These findings imply that varied enzymatic denitration/modification of NO/PN-reacted protein, either with or without a reductant, may be important in regulating related signal transduction cascade(s) and relieving oxidative stress.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Nitration/S-nitrosation of proteins by peroxynitrite-treatment and subsequent modification by glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase.

In various peroxynitrite (PN)-treated proteins, the formations of stable 3-nitrotyrosine (nitration) and labile S-nitrosocysteine (S-nitrosation) were observed by employing rapid Western blot in 6 h. The steps of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and membrane-blotting were performed at 4 degrees C. It was noted that the intensity of immunoreactive bands specific for anti-nitrotyrosine was stronger than that specific for anti-S-nitrosocysteine. Additionally, the intensity was in the manner of a dose-dependency of PN. Nitration/S-nitrosation were formed in the following treated proteins, including bovine serum albumin (BSA), DNase-1, ceruloplasmin, catalase and hemoglobin (Hb). The incubation of PN-pretreated hemoglobin with 1 mM reduced glutathione (GSH) did not change immunoreactivity significantly. However, the addition of glutathione S-transferase (GST) or glutathione peroxidase (GPX) to the above incubation mixture, resulted in decreased immunoreactivity, suggesting GSH may form a transition complex with PN-pretreated hemoglobin and/or partially reduce/modify the treated hemoglobin, thereby increasing the accessibility for the subsequent modification by GST or GPX. Such decreased immunoreactivity indicates that nitrotyrosine and S-nitrosocysteine of treated hemoglobin was, indeed, further modified via (a) converting -NO2 to -NH2 in tyrosine residues, (b) denitrating -NO2 directly/indirectly in tyrosine residues, and/or (c) changing -S-NO to -SH in cysteine residues, or denitrosation. The findings imply similar enzymatic modifications of proteins may also occur in vivo, and therefore play a pivotal role in the NO-related cellular signaling cascade(s).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Protein denitration/modification by glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase.

Peroxynitrite (PN)-pretreated histone III-S (NH) and reduced glutathione (GSH)-treated NH (NH(GSH)) were incubated with glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Western blot analysis revealed decreased 3-nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity for NH(GSH), but not for NH. Additionally, increased nitrate was noted as an end product of these enzymatic reactions. The findings imply that GSH-treatment of NH may facilitate its conformational change in favor of subsequent enzymatic denitration and/or modification, which could be vital in relieving cellular oxidative stress and regulating NO/PN-mediated signal transduction cascade.

Animals↗