Pathways of dopamine oxidation mediated by nitric oxide

This study was aimed at establishing the interaction between dopamine and nitric oxide and elucidating the mechanistic aspects inherent in this interaction. At high (*) NO concentrations (microM range), dopamine underwent nitrosation with subsequent nitration. Nitrosation is proposed to occur via a nucleophilic attack to N(2)O(3) by dopamine. At low (*) NO concentrations (microM range), dopaminochrome was formed. EPR spin stabilization studies showed the occurrence of two o-semiquinone intermediates during dopaminochrome formation. Heats of formation obtained by AM1 semiempirical calculations supported the formation of the two o-semiquinone species. Hydroxyl radicals were detected by spin trapping EPR, and experiments performed with superoxide dismutase and catalase suggested that peroxynitrite was the source of HO(*). A mechanism is presented that considers the several factors influencing these reactions.