Arabidopsis nitric oxide synthase1 is targeted to mitochondria and protects against oxidative damage and dark-induced senescence

The Arabidopsis thaliana protein nitric oxide synthase1 (NOS1) is needed for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and signaling during defense responses, hormonal signaling, and flowering. The cellular localization of NOS1 was examined because it is predicted to be a mitochondrial protein. NOS1-green fluorescent protein fusions were localized by confocal microscopy to mitochondria in roots. Isolated mitochondria from leaves of wild-type plants supported Arg-stimulated NO synthesis that could be inhibited by NOS inhibitors and quenched by a NO scavenger; this NOS activity is absent in mitochondria isolated from nos1 mutant plants. Because mitochondria are a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which participate in senescence and programmed cell death, these parameters were examined in the nos1 mutant. Dark-induced senescence of detached leaves and intact plants progressed more rapidly in the mutant compared with the wild type. Hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, oxidized lipid, and oxidized protein levels were all higher in the mutant. These results demonstrate that NOS1 is a mitochondrial NOS that reduces ROS levels, mitigates oxidative damage, and acts as an antisenescence agent.     

Modulation of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis in lactobacilli

We characterized effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) substrate L-arginine and classical inhibitors of mammalian NOS on nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis in probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum 8P-A3. NO-synthase origin of nitric oxide detected by fluorescent NO indicator 1,2-diaminoanthraquinone (DAA) was confirmed by induction of NO production by exogenous L-arginine. None of the used inhibitors of three isoforms of mammalian NOSs (L-NAME, L-NIL, nNOS inhibitor I) showed significant inhibitory effect of lactobacillar NO-synthase activity.     

Reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and their interactions play different roles in Cupressus lusitanica cell death and phytoalexin biosynthesis

Beta-thujaplicin Is a natural troponoid with strong antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer activities. Beta-thujaplicin production in yeast elicitor-treated Cupressus lusitanica cell culture and its relationships with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production and hypersensitive cell death were investigated. Superoxide anion radical (O2*-) induced cell death and inhibited beta-thujaplicin accumulation, whereas hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced beta-thujaplicin accumulation but did not significantly affect cell death. Both elicitor and O2*- induced programmed cell death, which can be blocked by protease inhibitors, protein kinase inhibitors, and Ca2+ chelators. Elicitor-induced NO generation was nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent. Inhibition of NO generation by NOS inhibitors and NO scavenger partly blocked the elicitor-induced beta-thujaplicin accumulation and cell death, and NO donors strongly induced cell death. Interaction among NO, H2O2, and O2*- shows that NO production and H2O2 production are interdependent, but NO and O2*- accumulation were negatively related because of coconsumption of NO and O2*-. NO- and O2*- -induced cell death required each other, and both were required for elicitor-induced cell death. A direct interaction between NO and O2*- was implicated in the production of a potent oxidant peroxynitrite, which might mediate the elicitor-induced cell death.     

N-acetyl cysteine enhances imatinib-induced apoptosis of Bcr-Abl+ cells by endothelial nitric oxide synthase-mediated production of nitric oxide

Introduction  Imatinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Bcr-Abl kinase, is a successful drug for treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Bcr-Abl kinase stimulates the production of H₂O₂, which in turn activates Abl kinase. We therefore evaluated whether N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger improves imatinib efficacy. Materials and methods  Effects of imatinib and NAC either alone or in combination were assessed on Bcr-Abl⁺ cells to measure apoptosis. Role of nitric oxide (NO) in NAC-induced enhanced cytotoxicity was assessed using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNAs of nitric oxide synthase isoforms. We report that imatinib-induced apoptosis of imatinib-resistant and imatinib-sensitive Bcr-Abl⁺ CML cell lines and primary cells from CML patients is significantly enhanced by co-treatment with NAC compared to imatinib treatment alone. In contrast, another ROS scavenger glutathione reversed imatinib-mediated killing. NAC-mediated enhanced killing correlated with cleavage of caspases, PARP and up-regulation and down regulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic family of proteins, respectively. Co-treatment with NAC leads to enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Involvement of eNOS dependent NO in NAC-mediated enhancement of imatinib-induced cell death was confirmed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) specific pharmacological inhibitors and siRNAs. Indeed, NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) also enhanced imatinib-mediated apoptosis of Bcr-Abl⁺ cells. Conclusion  NAC enhances imatinib-induced apoptosis of Bcr-Abl⁺ cells by endothelial nitric oxide synthase-mediated production of nitric oxide.     

机械刺激诱导的烟草悬浮细胞一氧化氮产生途径及其与C矿和钙调素的关系

通过提高摇床转速对烟草细胞施加机械刺激（Ms）可诱导其胞内一氧化氮（No）的快速产生和一氧化氮合酶（Nos）活性的提高,这种MS诱导的NO产生可被N0清除剂cPTIO和NOS抑制剂L-NMMA显著抑制。此外,Ca2＋螯合剂EGTA、质膜Ca＋通道阻断剂La3＋、胞内Ca2＋通道拮抗剂钌红,以及钙调素抑制剂CPZ和TFP预处理均不同程度地抑制了机械刺激诱导的烟草细胞NO的产生,而机械刺激过程中钙调素活性显著上升并与NOS活性和NO含量的变化相一致。这些结果暗示着（类）Nos酶催化的精氨酸依赖途径可能是机械刺激诱发烟草细胞NO产生的主要途径,Ca2＋／CAM可能通过调节（类）NOS活性来调控No的产生。     

Role of nitric oxide in abscisic acid-induced subcellular antioxidant defense of maize leaves

The sources of nitric oxide (NO) production in response to abscisic acid (ABA) and the role of NO in ABA-induced hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) accumulation and subcellular antioxidant defense in leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) plants were investigated. ABA induced increases in generation of NO and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in maize leaves. Such increases were blocked by pretreatment with each of the two NOS inhibitors. Pretreatments with a NO scavenger or NR inhibitors inhibited ABA-induced increase in production of NO, but did not affect the ABA-induced increases in activity of NOS, indicating that ABA-induced NO production originated from sources of NOS and NR. ABA- and H(2)O(2)-induced increases in expression of the antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 4 (SOD4), cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX), and glutathione reductase 1 (GR1) and the activities of the chloroplastic and cytosolic antioxidant enzymes were arrested by pretreatments with the NO scavenger, inhibitors of NOS and NR, indicating that NO is involved in the ABA- and H(2)O(2)-induced subcellular antioxidant defense reactions. On the other hand, NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) reduced accumulation of H(2)O(2) induced by ABA, and c-PTIO reversed the effect of SNP in decreasing the accumulation of H(2)O(2). SNP induced increases in activities of subcellular antioxidant enzymes, and the increases were substantially prevented from occurring by the pretreatment with c-PTIO. These results suggest that ABA induces production of H(2)O(2) and NO, which can up-regulate activities of the subcellular antioxidant enzymes, to prevent overproduction of H(2)O(2) in maize plants. There is a negative feedback loop between NO and H(2)O(2) in ABA signal transduction in maize plants.     

Nitric oxide modulates excitation-contraction coupling in the diaphragm

We investigated the enzymatic source, cellular production, and functional importance of nitric oxide (NO) in rat diaphragm. Neuronal and endothelial isoforms of constituitive nitric oxide synthase (nc-NOS, ec-NOS) were identified by immunostaining. NOS activity measured in diaphragm homogenates averaged 5.1 pmol/min/mg. Passive diaphragm fiber bundles produced NO derivatives (NOx) at the rate of 0.9 pmol/min/mg as measured by the cytochrome c reduction assay; NO production was confirmed by photolysis/ chemiluminescence measurements. Endogenous NO depressed diaphragm contractile function. The force of submaximal contraction was increased by NOS inhibitors, an effect that was stable for up to 60 min and was reversed by NO donors. We conclude that diaphragm muscle fibers express nc-NOS, ec-NOS, or both; passive myocytes produce NOx; and NO or NO-derivatives inhibit force production by modulating excitation-contraction coupling.     

Effect of centrally administered nitric oxide modulators in Brewer's yeast-induced nociception in rats

Possible modulation of Brewer's yeast-induced nociception by centrally (icv) administered nitric oxide (NO) modulators, viz., NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors, NO precursor, donors, scavengers and co-administration of NO donor (SIN-1) with NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) and NO scavenger (Hb) was investigated in rats. Administration of NOS inhibitors and NO scavenger Hb increased the pain threshold capacity significantly, whereas NO donors SIN-1, SNP and NO precursor L-arginine were found to be hyperalgesic. D-arginine, the inactive isomer of L-arginine and methylene blue, inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase failed to alter the nociceptive behaviour in rats. Co-administration of SIN-1 with L-NAME and Hb found to increase the nociceptive threshold. The results indicate, that centrally administered NO modulators alter the nociceptive transmission induced by Brewer's yeast in rats.     

Methods of nitric oxide detection in plants: A commentary

Over the last decade nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to influence a range of processes in plants. However, when, where and even if NO production occurs is controversial in several physiological scenarios in plants. This arises from a series of causes: (a) doubts have arisen over the specificity of widely used 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA)/4-amino-5-methylamino-2,7-difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM) dyes for NO, (b) no plant nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has been cloned, so that the validity of using mammalian NOS inhibitors to demonstrate that NO is being measured is debatable, (c) the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-l-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO) needs to be used with caution, and (d) some discrepancies between assays for in planta measurements and another based on sampling NO from the gas phase have been reported. This review will outline some commonly used methods to determine NO, attempt to reconcile differing results obtained by different laboratories and suggest appropriate approaches to unequivocally demonstrate the production of NO.     

A large, mobile pathogenicity island confers plant pathogenicity on Streptomyces species

Potato scab is a globally important disease caused by polyphyletic plant pathogenic Streptomyces species. Streptomyces acidiscabies, Streptomyces scabies and Streptomyces turgidiscabies possess a conserved biosynthetic pathway for the nitrated dipeptide phytotoxin thaxtomin. These pathogens also possess the nec1 gene which encodes a necrogenic protein that is an independent virulence factor. In this article we describe a large (325-660 kb) pathogenicity island (PAI) conserved among these three plant pathogenic Streptomyces species. A partial DNA sequence of this PAI revealed the thaxtomin biosynthetic pathway, nec1, a putative tomatinase gene, and many mobile genetic elements. In addition, the PAI from S. turgidiscabies contains a plant fasciation (fas) operon homologous to and colinear with the fas operon in the plant pathogen Rhodococcus fascians. The PAI was mobilized during mating from S. turgidiscabies to the non-pathogens Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces diastatochromogenes on a 660 kb DNA element and integrated site-specifically into a putative integral membrane lipid kinase. Acquisition of the PAI conferred a pathogenic phenotype on S. diastatochromogenes but not on S. coelicolor. This PAI is the first to be described in a Gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium and is responsible for the emergence of new plant pathogenic Streptomyces species in agricultural systems.     

Cross-talk between calcium-calmodulin and nitric oxide in abscisic acid signaling in leaves of maize plants

Using pharmacological and biochemical approaches, the signaling pathways between hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）, calcium （Ca^2＋）-calmodulin （CAM）, and nitric oxide （NO） in abscisic acid （ABA）-induced antioxidant defense were investigated in leaves of maize （Zea mays L.） plants. Treatments with ABA, H2O2, and CaCl2 induced increases in the generation of NO in maize mesophyll cells and the activity of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions of maize leaves. However, such increases were blocked by the pretreatments with Ca^2＋ inhibitors and CaM antagonists. Meanwhile, pretreatments with two NOS inhibitors also suppressed the Ca^2＋-induced increase in the production of NO. On the other hand, treatments with ABA and the NO donor sodium nitroprusside （SNP） also led to increases in the concentration of cytosolic Ca^2＋ in protoplasts of mesophyll cells and in the expression of calmodulin 1 （CaM1） gene and the contents of CaM in leaves of maize plants, and the increases induced by ABA were reduced by the pretreatments with a NO scavenger and a NOS inhibitor. Moreover, SNP-induced increases in the expression of the antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 4 （SOD4）, cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase （cAPX）, and glutathione reductase 1 （GR1） and the activities of the chloroplastic and cytosolic antioxidant enzymes were arrested by the pretreatments with Ca^2＋ inhibitors and CaM antagonists. Our results suggest that Ca^2＋-CaM functions both upstream and downstream of NO production, which is mainly from NOS, in ABA- and H2O2-induced antioxidant defense in leaves of maize plants.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the amphibian, Xenopus tropicalis

Nitric oxide (NO) is generated by NO synthase (NOS) of which there are three isoforms: neuronal NOS (nNOS, nos1), inducible NOS (iNOS, nos2), and endothelial NOS (eNOS, nos3). This study utilised the genome of Xenopus tropicalis to sequence a nos3 cDNA and determine if eNOS protein is expressed in blood vessels. A nos3 cDNA was sequenced that encoded a 1177 amino acid protein called XteNOS, which showed closest sequence identity to mammalian eNOS protein. The X. tropicalis nos3 gene and eNOS protein were determined to be an orthologue of mammalian nos3 and eNOS using gene synteny and phylogenetic analyses, respectively. In X. tropicalis, nos3 mRNA expression was highest in lung and skeletal muscle and lower in the liver, gut, kidney, heart and brain. Western analysis of kidney protein using an affinity-purified anti-XteNOS produced a single band at 140kDa. Immunohistochemistry showed XteNOS immunoreactivity in the proximal tubule of the kidney and endocardium of the heart, but not in the endothelium of blood vessels. Thus, X. tropicalis has a nos3 gene that appears not to be expressed in the vascular endothelium.     

Nitric oxide production and its functional link with OIPK in tobacco defense response elicited by chitooligosaccharide

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) or oligochitosan has been shown to induce tobacco defense responses which are connected with nitric oxide (NO) and OIPK (oligochitosan-induced Ser/Thr protein kinase). The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between NO production and OIPK pathway in the defense response of tobacco elicited by COS. NO generation was investigated by epidermal strip bioassay and fluorophore microscope using fluorophore diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA). Tobacco epidermal cells treated with COS resulted in production of NO, which was first present in chloroplast, then in nucleus, finally in the whole cell; this NO production was sensitive to NO scavenger cPTIO and the mammalian NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor l-NAME, suggesting that NOS-like enzyme maybe involved in NO generation in tobacco epidermal cells. However, NOS and nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) inhibitors reduced NO content in tobacco leaves by using NO Assay Kit, suggesting both NOS and NR were involved in NO production in tobacco leaves. Using a pharmacological approach and western blotting, we provide evidence that NO acts upstream of OIPK expression. NO scavenger, NOS inhibitor partly blocked the activation of OIPK and the activities of several defense-related enzymes induced by COS; treatment with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced the activation of OIPK and enhanced the defense systems. The results suggest that COS is able to induce NO generation, which results in up-regulation the activities of some defense-related enzymes through an OIPK-dependent or independent pathway.     

Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide are involved in ABA inhibition of stomatal opening

Although nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential signalling molecules required for mediation of abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure, it is not known whether these molecules also mediate the ABA inhibition of stomatal opening. In this study, we investigated the role of NO and ROS in the ABA inhibition of stomatal opening in Vicia faba. ABA induced both NO and ROS synthesis, and the NO scavenger reduced the ABA inhibition of stomatal opening. Exogenous NO and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) also inhibited stomatal opening, indicating that NO and ROS are involved in the inhibition signalling process. An inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) reversed the ABA inhibition of stomatal opening. Either the NO scavenger or the NOS inhibitor also reversed the process in the H2O2 inhibition of stomatal opening. We found that in the ABA inhibition of stomatal opening, NO is downstream of ROS in the signalling process, and NO is synthesized by a NOS-like enzyme.     

Phagocytosis is regulated by nitric oxide in murine microglia.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in activated microglia and has been shown to participate in host defense mechanisms. However, the role of NO produced by constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) in microglia is poorly understood. In this report, NO was found to regulate phagocytosis in murine BV-2 microglial cells as quantified by flow cytometry. Addition of NO-generating compounds caused impaired phagocytosis as compared to untreated microglia. The addition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors to microglial cells resulted in potentiation of phagocytosis, suggesting that constitutive NO was participating in the regulation of phagocytosis. The inverse correlation between NO production and phagocytosis was also observed when Alzheimer's beta-amyloid peptide was added. With beta-amyloid treatment, constitutive NO production decreased while phagocytosis increased. Cell extracts prepared from untreated microglia were found to contain both neuronal and endothelial NOS isoforms, but not the inducible form. The correlation of spontaneous NO production with attenuated phagocytosis suggests that constitutive NOS enzymes participate in microglial regulation.     

Nitric oxide synthase in porcine heart mitochondria: evidence for low physiological activity

The capacity of isolated porcine heart mitochondria to produce nitric oxide (NO) via mitochondrial NO synthase (NOS) was evaluated. The mitochondrial NOS content and activity (0.2 nmol NO x mg mitochondrial protein(-1) x min(-1)) were approximately 10 times lower than previously reported for the rat liver. No evidence for mitochondrial NOS-generated NO was found in mitochondrial suspensions based on the lack of NO production and the lack of effect of either L-arginine or NOS inhibitors on the rate of respiration. The reason that even the low mitochondrial NOS activity did not result in net NO production and metabolic effects is because the mitochondrial metabolic breakdown of NO (1-4 nmol NO x mg mitochondrial protein(-1) x min(-1)) was greater than the maximum rate of NO production measured in homogenates. These data suggest that NO production at the mitochondria via NOS is not a significant source of NO in the intact heart and does not regulate cardiac oxidative phosphorylation.     

Nitric oxide promotes differentiation of rat white preadipocytes in culture

The putative role of nitric oxide (NO) in modulating adipogenesis was investigated in cultured preadipocytes derived from rat white adipose tissue. The NO releasing reagent, hydroxylamine (HA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) substrate L-arginine (Arg) had no influence on cell replication. However, both HA and Arg exhibited significant induction on differentiation, as evidenced by increased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activities, as well as accelerated triacylglycerol (TG) accumulation. These observations suggested a positive role of NO in modulating adipogenesis. Preadipocytes were found to produce NO, and a approximately 50% increase over basal level was observed on the first 2 days of differentiation. Deprivation of endogenous NOS activity by a non-selective NOS inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), partially abrogated the differentiation process, implicating a role for endogenous NO to stimulate preadipocyte differentiation. Both NOS isoforms, eNOS and iNOS, were detected in differentiating preadipocytes. Specific iNOS inhibitors (1400W and aminoguanidine) had little influence on NO production and differentiation, suggesting that eNOS rather than iNOS may be the major isoform involved in modulating adipogenesis.