NO和H_2O_2在介导热激诱发金丝桃细胞合成金丝桃素中的信号互作

热激处理(40℃,10min)可以诱发金丝桃细胞中金丝桃素的生物合成并诱导细胞产生一氧化氮(NO)和过氧化氢(H2O2).过氧化氢酶(CAT)和NO专一性淬灭剂(cPTIO)不仅可以分别抑制由热激诱发的H2O2积累和NO合成,而且还可以阻断热激处理对金丝桃素生物合成的促进作用.H2O2单独处理虽然不能提高细胞的金丝桃素产量,但是H2O2和NO共同处理对金丝桃素产量的促进作用显著高于NO单独处理,表明NO和H2O2对金丝桃素的生物合成具有协同诱导效应.NO处理可以提高细胞的H2O2水平,而外源H2O2对金丝桃细胞的NO合成积累也具有促进作用,说明NO和H2O2对彼此的合成反应具有促进作用.CAT在抑制热激诱发H2O2合成的同时还能够部分抑制热激细胞中NO的合成,而cPITO也可以同时降低热激细胞的H2O2水平.上述实验结果提示,在热激处理下金丝桃细胞中的NO和H2O2可能通过互作反应提高各自的信号水平.质膜NAD(P)H氧化酶抑制剂DPI和NO合酶抑制剂PBITU可以抑制NO和H2O2之间的互作反应,并且解除NO和H2O2对金丝桃素合成的协同诱导作用,说明NO和H2O2对金丝桃素合成积累的协同效应依赖于两种信号分子之间的互作反应.本文实验结果不仅证实了NO和H2O2是参与热激诱发金丝桃细胞中金丝桃素合成所必需的两种信号分子,而且揭示了NO和H2O2在介导热激诱发金丝桃素生物合成过程中特殊的信号互作现象.     

三种内生真菌对茅苍术组培苗的生长及主要挥发油成分的影响

采用3种内生真菌与茅苍术组培苗共培养技术,研究了内生真菌对茅苍术组培苗生长及其主要挥发油成分的影响。结果表明：培养4周后,接内生真菌小菌核菌（AL3）的植株平均单株根数最多,比对照多92.7%（P<0.01）,并极显著地提高了平均单株根系干质量,比对照高62.9%（P<0.01）;而接种内生真菌小克银汉霉（AL4）和孔球孢霉（AL12）对茅苍术组培苗的生长影响不显著;AL3、AL4和AL12极显著提高了茅苍术叶片PAL酶活力,分别比对照提高了5.8、8.0和11.1倍（P<0.01）;AL3处理组的POD（过氧化物酶）、CAT（过氧化氢酶）和SOD（超氧化物歧化酶）3种酶活性与对照相似;而AL4处理组的3种酶活性分别比对照降低了9.1%、37.1%和9.7%,AL12处理组的3种酶活性分别比对照提高了10.4%、21.2%和9.6%;AL3、AL4和AL12都对茅苍术叶片总多酚含量有极显著影响,分别比对照提高了179.8%、86.2%和84.1%（P<0.01）;接3种内生真菌都改变了挥发油中4种主要活性成分苍术酮、苍术醇、β-桉叶醇及苍术素的相对百分含量。     

NO和H2O2在介导热激诱发金丝桃细胞合成金丝桃素中的信号互作

热激处理（40℃,10min）可以诱发金丝桃细胞中金丝桃素的生物合成并诱导细胞产生一氧化氮（NO）和过氧化氢（H2O2）．过氧化氢酶（CAT）和NO专一性淬灭剂（cPTIO）不仅可以分别抑制由热激诱发的H2O2积累和NO合成,而且还可以阻断热激处理对金丝桃素生物合成的促进作用．H2O2单独处理虽然不能提高细胞的金丝桃素产量,但是H2O2和NO共同处理对金丝桃素产量的促进作用显著高于NO单独处理,表明NO和H2O2对金丝桃素的生物合成具有协同诱导效应．NO处理可以提高细胞的H2O2水平,而外源H2O2对金丝桃细胞的NO合成积累也具有促进作用,说明NO和H2O2对彼此的合成反应具有促进作用．CAT在抑制热激诱发H2O2合成的同时还能够部分抑制热激细胞中NO的合成,而cPITO也可以同时降低热激细胞的H2O2水平．上述实验结果提示,在热激处理下金丝桃细胞中的NO和H2O2可能通过互作反应提高各自的信号水平．质膜NAD（P）H氧化酶抑制剂DPI和NO合酶抑制剂PBITU可以抑制NO和H2O2之间的互作反应,并且解除NO和H2O2对金丝桃素合成的协同诱导作用,说明NO和H2O2对金丝桃素合成积累的协同效应依赖于两种信号分子之间的互作反应．本文实验结果不仅证实了NO和H2O2是参与热激诱发金丝桃细胞中金丝桃素合成所必需的两种信号分子,而且揭示了NO和H2O2在介导热激诱发金丝桃素生物合成过程中特殊的信号互作现象．     

水杨酸诱发的丹参悬浮培养细胞内H2O2迸发与其培养基碱化的关系

水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)处理可诱导丹参悬浮培养细胞内H2O2产生及其培养基碱化。利用NADPH氧化酶抑制剂咪唑(imidazole,IMD)、H2O2淬灭剂二甲基硫脲(dimethylthiourea,DMTU)、质膜H+-ATPase抑制剂钒酸钠(Na3VO4)及激活剂壳梭孢菌素(fusicoccin,FC)处理丹参悬浮培养细胞,探讨SA诱导的H2O2迸发与培养基碱化之间的关系。结果表明,H2O2可促发培养基碱化,IMD和DMTU抑制SA诱发的培养基碱化,说明H2O2参与SA诱发的培养基碱化过程;SA抑制质膜H+-ATPase活性,Na3VO4引发培养基碱化并使H2O2迸发时间提前,FC处理逆转了SA诱导的培养基碱化及H2O2迸发,说明质膜H+-ATPase调控培养基pH值变化,培养基碱化促进了H2O2产生。因此,丹参悬浮培养细胞内H2O2水平与其培养基碱化程度之间相互关联、共同作用,协同响应SA的诱导。     

NO和H2O2在光/暗调控蚕豆气孔运动中的作用及其相互关系

借助表皮条分析和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术,对NO和H2O2在光/暗调控蚕豆(Vicia faba L.)气孔运动中的作用及其相互关系进行了探索.结果显示,光下外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)和H2O2促进气孔关闭的效应明显大于暗中,暗中NO专一性清除剂2,4-羧基苯-4,4,5,5-四甲基咪唑-1-氧-3-氧化物(cPTIO)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂NG-氮-L-精氨酸-甲酯(L-NAME)和H2O2清除剂抗坏血酸(Vc)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)对气孔开度的效应明显大于光下,而且光下蚕豆保卫细胞NO和H2O2水平比暗中明显降低.上述结果表明,光/暗通过影响保卫细胞NO和H2O2的水平调控气孔运动.研究还发现,光下H2O2既诱导NO水平增加,也诱导气孔关闭,cPTIO和L-NAME有效地逆转H2O2的这些效应;光下SNP既诱导H2O2水平增加,也诱导气孔关闭,SNP的上述效应又被Vc和CAT有效逆转.这些结果表明,NO和H2O2在生成及效应上均存在明显的相互作用.另外,L-NAME显著逆转暗和光下H2O2处理对气孔关闭和NO生成的效应表明,蚕豆保卫细胞中可能存在NOS,暗和光下H2O2处理可能通过提高NOS的活性促进NO水平增加,进而诱导气孔关闭.     

NO通过水杨酸(SA)或者茉莉酸(JA)信号途径介导真菌诱导子对粉葛悬浮细胞中葛根素生物合成的促进作用

一氧化氮(NO)是近年来发现对植物细胞次生代谢产物合成具有调控作用的一种新型信号分子. 为了研究NO对植物细胞次生代谢调控的信号转导机理, 考查了在真菌诱导子作用下粉葛悬浮细胞中NO, 水杨酸(SA), 茉莉酸(JA)及葛根素含量的变化情况. 试验结果表明, 真菌诱导子可以诱发粉葛细胞的NO迸发、SA合成和葛根素含量增加, 但细胞中JA水平未发生明显变化. NO猝灭剂cPITO可以阻断真菌诱导子对粉葛细胞中SA和葛根素合成的促进作用, 说明NO是介导真菌诱导子诱发粉葛细胞中葛根素和SA生物合成所必需的上游信号分子. 在缺乏SA积累能力的NahG转基因粉葛细胞中, 真菌诱导子虽然不能促进SA积累, 但仍然可以诱发NO迸发和葛根素生物合成, 并且促进细胞中JA的合成积累. cPITO可以抑制真菌诱导子对NahG转基因粉葛细胞中JA合成的诱导作用, 说明JA是作用于NO下游的信号分子. JA合成抑制剂IBU和NDGA可以抑制外源NO对NahG转基因粉葛细胞中葛根素生物合成的促进作用, 说明NO依赖JA诱发NahG转基因粉葛细胞中葛根素的生物合成. 外源SA处理可以显著降低真菌诱导子对NahG转基因粉葛细胞中JA合成的促进作用, 并逆转IBU和NDGA对NO和真菌诱导子诱发葛根素合成的抑制作用, 说明SA可以抑制细胞中JA的生物合成; 而且当JA合成受到抑制时, SA可以替代JA介导NO和真菌诱导子对葛根素合成的促进作用. 由于真菌诱导子可以促进野生型粉葛细胞中SA的生物合成, 我们推测在野生型粉葛细胞中, 真菌诱导子可能通过诱发SA合成积累抑制了其对细胞中JA合成的促进作用, NO可能主要通过SA信号途径介导真菌诱导子对细胞中葛根素生物合成的促进作用. 而在SA积累受阻的NahG转基因粉葛细胞中, NO则通过激活JA的生物合成并依赖JA信号途径介导真菌诱导子促进粉葛细胞中葛根素的生物合成.     

H2O2参与水杨酸诱导丹参培养细胞中丹酚酸B合成的信号转导

过氧化氢(Hydrogen peroxide,H2O2)为活性氧(Reactive oxygen species,ROS)的一种,存在于许多生物体系中并介导植物中多种生理和生化过程。为了探讨H2O2作为信号分子在水杨酸(Salicylic acid,SA)诱导丹参培养细胞合成丹酚酸B(Salvianolic acid B,Sal B)过程中的作用,分别考察了SA和H2O2、过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)、二甲基硫脲(2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide,DMTU)及咪唑(Imidazole,IMD)对苯丙氨酸解氨酶(Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase,PAL)和酪氨酸氨基转移酶(Tyrosine aminotransferase,TAT)的活性及Sal B含量的影响。结果表明,SA处理可有效地诱导丹参培养细胞中H2O2产生、PAL和TAT活性升高以及Sal B合成积累量的增加;外源施加10～30 mmol/L H2O2也可以有效促进PAL、TAT活性升高和Sal B合成积累量的增加;用H2O2的清除剂CAT处理发现,CAT对SA或外源H2O2诱导的Sal B合成积累具有消除作用,说明H2O2可能作为SA诱导Sal B积累过程中的上游信号分子起作用;用H2O2淬灭剂DMTU处理,可以有效抑制SA对Sal B合成的促进作用;用质膜烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(Nicotinamide vadenine dinucleotide phosphate,NADPH)氧化酶(H2O2来源的主要酶)抑制剂IMD处理,可以抑制Sal B的合成,但这种抑制效果可以部分被外源施加的SA削弱,说明通过HADPH氧化酶产生的H2O2受阻时,SA诱导的Sal B合成积累也会受到抑制。表明H2O2是介导SA诱导丹参培养细胞中Sal B合成积累的信号分子。     

内生真菌和诱导子对长春花悬浮细胞及生物碱合成的影响

目的:探讨内生真茵和诱导子对长春花悬浮细胞生长及生物碱合成的影响.方法:接种内生真茵与悬浮细胞的共同培养,添加诱导子到细胞培养液中对长春花悬浮细胞进行诱导处理,检测实验处理后长春花悬浮细胞各项生化指标.结果:培养液pH值上升,悬浮细胞MDA舍量增加,细胞抗氧化酶(POD、CAT)和生物碱合成的关键性酶(PAL、TDC)活性升高.生物碱产量得到提高,诱导组悬浮细胞生物碱产量达到770.36μg/gFW,共培养组生物碱产量为693.76 μg/gFW,分别比对照组提高了48%和32%.结论:真菌及其诱导子能改变长春花悬浮培养细胞的态势,导致细胞代谢结构的改变,使生物碱的产量提高.     

NO对银杏悬浮细胞生长及黄酮类物质合成的影响

以硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)为一氧化氮(NO)的供体,向银杏悬浮细胞培养液中加入不同浓度的SNP,研究外源NO对银杏悬浮细胞生长状况、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性和黄酮类物质生物合成的影响.结果表明,低浓度SNP有利于银杏悬浮细胞生长,而高浓度SNP可以促进黄酮类物质的合成.银杏悬浮细胞在添加0.5和10 mmol/L SNP的培养基中培养16 d时,细胞干重分别为对照组的134%和73%;在添加10 mmol/L SNP的培养基中培养20 d时,细胞中黄酮类物质的含量为对照组的136%.同时,10 mmol/L SNP促进银杏悬浮细胞PAL和CAT活性显著升高.NO专一性淬灭剂c-PITO(carboxyl phenyltetramethylimidazoleoxide)抑制SNP对银杏悬浮细胞生长、CAT活性、PAL活性和黄酮类物质含量的促进作用,说明SNP是通过其分解产物NO影响细胞生长和黄酮类物质的合成.根据这些结果推测,NO可能通过触发银杏悬浮细胞的防卫反应,激活了细胞中黄酮类物质的生物合成途径.     

内生青霉菌对黄花蒿组培苗生长和青蒿素合成的影响

从黄花蒿茎中分离得到了17株内生真菌,其中内生青霉菌(Penicilliumsp.Y2)能有效促进黄花蒿组培苗生长及青蒿素合成。内生青霉菌悬浮培养5d后,分别将培养液与菌丝匀浆后经过高压灭菌处理,或将培养液经过高压灭菌、过滤除菌处理获得3种内生菌诱导子(A、B和C)。结果表明,3种内生菌诱导子对植株生长、抗氧化酶活性及青蒿素合成都有促进作用,诱导子C青蒿素合成诱导效果最好,可促进黄花蒿组培苗的干重增长44.44%、可溶性糖含量提高38.24%,诱导超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性,从而提高青蒿素合成达58.86%,黄花蒿组培苗青蒿素含量达4.701mg.g-1(干重)。     

NO可能作为H2O2的下游信号介导ABA诱导的蚕豆气孔关闭

ABA、H2O2和硝普钠(SNP)均能诱导蚕豆气孔关闭.NO的清除剂c-PTIO可以减轻由ABA或H2O2所诱导的蚕豆气孔关闭的程度,而过氧化氢酶(CAT)则不能减轻NO诱导的气孔关闭程度.激光共聚焦显微检测结果显示,10μmo1/L的ABA处理后,胞内H2O2的产生速率明显高于NO的产生速率;CAT几乎可完全抑制ABA所诱导的DAF的荧光增加;外源H2O2能显著诱导胞内DAF的荧光增加;c-PTIO对ABA诱导的DCF荧光略有促进作用,但外源SNP不能诱导胞内DCF荧光增加.这些结果表明,在ABA诱导气孔关闭过程中,H2O2可能在NO的上游起作用并受NO的负反馈调节.     

Nitric oxide induced by hydrogen peroxide mediates abscisic acid-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade involved in antioxidant defense in maize leaves

* The role of nitric oxide (NO) and the relationship between NO, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in abscisic acid (ABA)-induced antioxidant defense in leaves of maize (Zea mays) plants were investigated. * Both ABA and H(2)O(2) induced increases in the generation of NO in mesophyll cells of maize leaves, and H(2)O(2) was required for the ABA-induced generation of NO. Pretreatment with NO scavenger and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor substantially reduced the ABA-induced production of NO, and partly blocked the activation of a 46 kDa MAPK and the expression and the activities of several antioxidant enzymes induced by ABA. Treatment with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) also induced the activation of the MAPK, and enhanced the antioxidant defense systems. * Conversely, SNP treatment did not induce the production of H(2)O(2), and pretreatments with NO scavenger and NOS inhibitor did not affect ABA-induced H(2)O(2) production. * Our results suggest that ABA-induced H(2)O(2) production mediates NO generation, which, in turn, activates MAPK and results in the upregulation in the expression and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in ABA signaling.     

NOS-like-mediated nitric oxide is involved in Pinus thunbergii response to the invasion of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

The content of NO and H(2)O(2) as well as the activities of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like and nitrate reductase (NR) were monitored in the needles of Pinus thunbergii infected by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The results showed that the content of NO increased significantly only 8?h after the invasion of B. xylophilus, while H(2)O(2) increased 12?h after invasion. NO donor SNP could promote and NO scavenger cPTIO could prevent the production of NO and H(2)O(2). The content of NO changed earlier than that of H(2)O(2). In addition, the symptoms appeared 9, 5 and 12?days, respectively, after the inoculation with B. xylophilus, SNP pre-treatment and cPTIO pre-treatment followed by B. xylophilus infection. After B. xylophilus infection, the content of NO in P. thunbergii changed fiercely more earlier than the appearance of external symptoms, which indicated that the content of NO was related with the appearance and the development of the symptoms. The treatment with L-NNA (NOS inhibitor) inhibited the content of NO significantly, whereas, Na(2)WO(4) (NR inhibitor) had no effect. The further analysis of NOS revealed that NO changed in consistent with cNOS activity. To sum up, NO, as the upstream signal molecule of H(2)O(2), was involved in the pine early response to the invasion of B. xylophilus and influenced the accumulation of the content of H(2)O(2). Moreover, NOS-like rather than NR was responsible for the endogenous NO generation, which was modulated by cNOS during the interaction between P. thunbergii and B. xylophilus. Key message NO is involved in early response of P. thunbergii to the invasion of B. xylophilus and NOS is the key enzyme responsible for NO generation in P. thunbergii.     

外源NO和H2O2对洋葱鳞片外表皮气孔开度的调控

以洋葱(Allium cepa L.)肉质鳞片外表皮为材料,研究不同浓度及不同处理时间的外源NO和H2O2对洋葱鳞片外表皮上气孔开度的调节作用,并结合NO清除剂血红蛋白(Hb)和H2O2清除剂过氧化氢酶(CAT)研究调控过程中NO和H2O2的相互关系.结果显示:单独施用不同浓度的NO和H2O2均可诱导洋葱鳞片外表皮气孔不同程度关闭,并且浓度越大时间越长,其诱导气孔关闭效应越明显;NO和H2O2共同施用所诱导气孔关闭的效应大于其单独施用效应;Hb和CAT能明显减弱NO和H2O2诱导的气孔关闭.研究表明,NO和H2O2能有效诱导洋葱鳞片上气孔关闭,存在明显的浓度效应和时间效应,且两者可能互相依赖,具有协同效应.     

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.     

Signal interaction between nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in heat shock-induced hypericin production of Hypericum perforatum suspension cells

Heat shock(HS, 40℃, 10 min) induces hypericin production, nitric oxide(NO) generation, and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) accumulation of Hypericum perforatum suspension cells.Catalase(CAT) and NO spe-cific scavenger 2-4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide(cPTIO) suppress not only the HS-induced H2O2 generation and NO burst, but also the HS-triggered hypericin produc-tion.Hypericin contents of the cells treated with both NO and H2O2 are significantly higher than those of the cells treated with NO alone, although H2O2 per se has no effects on hypericin production of the cells, which suggests the synergistic action between H2O2 and NO on hypericin production.NO treatment enhances H2O2 levels of H.perforatum cells, while external application of H2O2 induces NO generation of cells.Thus, the results reveal a mutually amplifying action between H2O2 and NO in H.perforatum cells.CAT treatment inhibits both HS-induced H2O2 accumulation and NO generation, while cPTIO can also suppress H2O2 levels of the heat shocked cells.The results imply that H2O2 and NO may enhance each other's levels by their mutually amplifying action in the heat shocked cells.Membrane NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium(DPI) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor S,S′-1,3-phenylene-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-bis-isothiourea(PBITU) not only inhibit the mutually amplifying action between H2O2 and NO but also abolish the synergistic effects of H2O2 and NO on hypericin production, showing that the synergism of H2O2 and NO on secondary metabolite biosynthesis might be dependent on their mutual amplification.Taken together, data of the present work demonstrate that both H2O2 and NO are essential for HS-induced hypericin production of H.perforatum suspension cells.Furthermore, the results reveal a special interaction between the two signal molecules in mediating HS-triggered secondary metabolite biosynthesis of the cells.     

The effects of nitric oxide-oxidase and putative glutathione-peroxidase activities of ceruloplasmin on the viability of cardiomyocytes exposed to hydrogen peroxide

Ceruloplasmin (CP), a ferroxidase (EC 1.16.3.1) and a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, is an important extracellular antioxidant. Bovine CP indeed protects the isolated heart under ischemia-reperfusion conditions. Human CP has been shown to also exhibit, in vitro, glutathione (GSH)-peroxidase and nitric oxide (NO)-oxidase/S-nitrosating activities. This work tested, using bovine CP, the hypothesis that both activities could provide cytoprotection during oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), the former activity by consuming H(2)O(2) and the latter by shielding thiols from irreversible oxidation. In acellular assays, bovine CP stimulated the generation of the nitrosating NO(+) species from the NO donors propylaminepropylamine-NONOate (PAPA/NO), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and S-nitrosoglutathione. This NO-oxidase activity S-nitrosated GSH as well as CP itself and was not affected by H(2)O(2). In contrast to human CP, bovine CP consumed H(2)O(2) in an additive rather than synergistic manner in the presence of GSH. A nonenzymatic scavenging of H(2)O(2) could have masked the GSH-peroxidase activity. Cytoprotection was evaluated using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. CP and PAPA/NO were not protective against the H(2)O(2)-induced loss of viability. In contrast, GSH provided a slight protection that increased more than additively in the presence of CP. This increase was canceled by PAPA/NO. CP's putative GSH-peroxidase activity can thus provide cytoprotection but is possibly affected by the S-nitrosation of a catalytically important cysteine residue.     

Apical,but not basolateral,endotoxin preincubation protects alveolar epithelial cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced loss of barrier function: the role of nitric oxide synthesis

The influence of LPS preincubation on hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced loss of epithelial barrier function was investigated in rat alveolar epithelial type II cells (ATII). Both apical and basolateral H(2)O(2) administration caused a manyfold increase in transepithelial [(3)H]mannitol passage. Apical but not basolateral preincubation of ATII with LPS did not influence control barrier properties but fully abrogated the H(2)O(2)-induced leakage response. The effect of apical LPS was CD14 dependent and was accompanied by a strong up-regulation of NO synthase II mRNA and protein and NO release. Inhibition of NO by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine suppressed the LPS effect, whereas it was reproduced by exogenous application of gaseous NO or NO donor agents. Manipulation of the glutathione homeostasis (buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine) and the cGMP pathway (1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxaline-1-one; zaprinast) did not interfere with the protective effect of LPS. Superoxide (O*(-)(2)) generation by ATII cells was reduced by exogenous NO and LPS preincubation. O*(-)(2) scavenging with exogenous superoxide dismutase, the intracellular superoxide dismutase analog Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin, and the superoxide scavenger nitroblue tetrazolium and, in particular, hydroxyl radical scavenging with hydroxyl radical scavenger 1,3-dimethyl-thiourea inhibited the H(2)O(2)-induced epithelial leakage response. In conclusion, apical but not basolateral LPS preincubation of ATII cells provides strong protection against H(2)O(2)-induced transepithelial leakage, attributable to an up-regulation of epithelial NO synthesis. It is suggested that the LPS-induced NO formation is effective via interaction with reactive oxygen species, including superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. The polarized epithelial response to LPS may be part of the lung innate immune system, activated by inhaled endotoxin or under conditions of pneumonia.     

Nitric oxide negatively modulates wound signaling in tomato plants

Synthesis of proteinase inhibitor I protein in response to wounding in leaves of excised tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants was inhibited by NO donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine. The inhibition was reversed by supplying the plants with the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxiphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide. NO also blocked the hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production and proteinase inhibitor synthesis that was induced by systemin, oligouronides, and jasmonic acid (JA). However, H(2)O(2) generated by glucose oxidase and glucose was not blocked by NO, nor was H(2)O(2)-induced proteinase inhibitor synthesis. Although the expression of proteinase inhibitor genes in response to JA was inhibited by NO, the expression of wound signaling-associated genes was not. The inhibition of wound-inducible H(2)O(2) generation and proteinase inhibitor gene expression by NO was not due to an increase in salicylic acid, which is known to inhibit the octadecanoid pathway. Instead, NO appears to be interacting directly with the signaling pathway downstream from JA synthesis, upstream of H(2)O(2) synthesis. The results suggest that NO may have a role in down-regulating the expression of wound-inducible defense genes during pathogenesis.