Hydrogen peroxide elicits activation of bovine pulmonary arterial soluble guanylate cyclase by a mechanism associated with its metabolism by catalase

Guanylate cyclase activity in the soluble extract of bovine pulmonary arteries is activated by hydrogen peroxide generated by glucose oxidase only in the presence of catalase. This mechanism of guanylate cyclase activation is not blocked by scavengers for superoxide anion or hydroxyl radical, but is selectively inhibited by methylene blue, inactivation of catalase and ethanol. The time dependency of increases in guanylate cyclase activity in the presence of peroxides that are substrates for catalase are associated with the spectral detection of compound I, a species of catalase formed during the metabolism of peroxide. Thus, activation of soluble guanylate cyclase appears to be elicited by compound I of catalase or by a mediator generated by this species.     

Electron spin resonance study of the role of NO . catalase in the activation of guanylate cyclase by NaN3 and NH2OH. Modulation of enzyme responses by heme proteins and their nitrosyl derivatives.

The role of NO . catalase in the activation of partially purified soluble guanylate cyclase of rat liver by NaN3 and NH2OH was examined by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Equilibration of bovine liver catalase with NO resulted in formation of a paramagnetic species exhibiting a three-line ESR spectrum similar to that of NO . catalase. This paramagnetic complex produced concentration-dependent stimulation of preparations of partially purified guanylate cyclase that were devoid of detectable endogenous heme content. The stimulation of partially purified guanylate cyclase by NO . catalase was similar to that obtained with NO . hemoglobin and with NO . cytochrome P-420 prepared by reaction of hepatic microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats with NO. By contrast, these same enzyme preparations did not respond to NO or catalase alone. Addition of hematin or hemoglobin plus a reducing agent to purified guanylate cyclase restored enzyme responsiveness to NO and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), but not to NaN3 or NH2OH. Responses to the latter agents were restored by catalase and potentiated by a H2O2-generating system. Formation of the NO . catalase complex was evident by ESR spectroscopy in test solutions containing NaN3 or nh2oh, catalase, and a glucose-glucose oxidase, H2O2-generating system. The presence of NO . catalase correlated well with the ability of test solutions to activate purified guanylate cyclase. These results provide evidence for catalase-dependent NO generation from NaN3 and NH2OH under conditions leading to guanylate cyclase activation. Preformed NO . hemoglobin or NO . cytochrome P-420 also activated heme-deficient partially purified guanylate cyclase. The ability of several preformed NO . heme protein complexes, but not NO, to stimulate heme-deficient guanylate cyclase supports the concept that formation of the paramagnetic nitrosyl . heme complex, mediated by either enzymatic or nonenzymatic reactions, is a common and essential step in the process by which NO or NO-forming compounds activate guanylate cyclase. In the absence of the NO ligand, both hemoglobin and catalase suppress the stimulatory effects of the corresponding NO . heme proteins on guanylate cyclase. Release of each heme protein from the NO . heme protein complex occurs more rapidly under aerobic compared to anaerobic conditions. However, hemoglobin is approximately 2000 times more effective as an inhibitor of NO . hemoglobin stimulation of guanylate cyclase than is catalase as an inhibitor of NO . catalase action. This finding may explain the more pronounced decline in the rate of cGMP generation in air in the presence of NO . hemoglobin compared to NO . catalase. The results imply that guanylate cyclase responses to activators that can form NO are determined by both the stimulatory activity of the endogenous heme acceptors of NO and the relative inhibitory effects of the unliganded heme proteins present.     

Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase from rat lung by incubation or by hydrogen peroxide.

A 37,000 X g supernatant fraction prepared from fat lung homogenate demonstrated a 2- to 3-fold increase in guanylate cyclase activity after incubation at 30 degrees for 30 min (preincubation). Treatment of the supernatant fraction with Triton X-100 increased activity to approximately the same extent as preincubation, but would not increase the activity after preincubation. By chromatography on Sepharose 2B, before and after preincubation, it was demonstrated that the increase in activity was only associated with the soluble guanylate cyclase, and not the particulate enzyme. Activation by preincubation required O2. It was completely inhibited by thiols such as 2-mercaptoethanol, and by bovine serum albumin, KCN, and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. These inhibitors suggested a copper requirement for activation, and this was confirmed by demonstrating that 20 to 60 muM CuCl2 could relieve the inhibition by 0.1 mM sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. 2-Mercaptoethanol inhibition could also be reversed by removal of the thiol on a Sephadex G-25 column, however, this treatment partially activated the enzyme. Addition of 2-mercaptoethanol to a preincubated preparation would not reverse the activation. H2O2 was found to activate guanylate cyclase, either by its generation in the lung supernatant with glucose oxidase and glucose, or by its addition to a preparation in which the catalase was inhibited with KCN. KCN or bovine serum albumin was able to partially inhibit activation by glucose oxidase plus glucose, however, larger amounts of glucose oxidase could overcome that inhibition, indicating a catalytic role for Cu2+ at low H2O2 concentrations. No direct evidence for H2O2 formation during preincubation could be found, however, indirect evidence was obtained by the spectrophotometric detection of choleglobin formation from hemoglobin present in the lung supernatant fluid. The H2O2 is believed to result from the reaction of oxyhemoglobin with ascorbate.     

Purification and properties of guanylate cyclase from the synaptosomal soluble fraction of rat brain.

Guanylate cyclase (GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2) was purified 2250-fold from the synaptosomal soluble fraction of rat brain. The specific activity of the purified enzyme reached 41 nmol cyclic GMP formed per min per mg protein at 37 degrees C. In the purified preparation, GTPase activity was not detected and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was less than 4% of guanylate cyclase activity. The molecular weight was approx. 480 000. Lubrol PX, hydroxylamine, or NaN3 activated the guanylate cyclase in crude preparations, but had no effect on the purified enzyme. In contrast, NaN3 plus catalase, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or sodium nitroprusside activated the purified enzyme. The purified enzyme required Mn2+ for its activity; the maximum activity was observed at 3-5 mM. Cyclic GMP activated guanylate cyclase activity 1.4-fold at 2 mM, whereas inorganic pyrophosphate inhibited it by about 50% at 0.2 mM. Guanylyl-(beta,gamma-methylene)-diphosphonate and guanylyl-imidodiphosphate, analogues of GTP, served as substrates of guanylate cyclase in the purified enzyme preparation. NaN3 plus catalase or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine also remarkably activated guanylate cyclase activity when the analogues of GTP were used as substrates.     

Maxi-circles and mini-circles in kinetoplast DNA from trypanosoma cruzi

Glyceryl trinitrate specifically required cysteine, whereas NaNO2 at concentrations less than 10 mM required one of several thiols or ascorbate, to activate soluble guanylate cyclase from bovine coronary artery. However, guanylate cyclase activation by nitroprusside or nitric oxide did not require the addition of thiols or ascorbate. Whereas various thiols enhanced activation by nitroprusside, none of the thiols tested enhanced activation by nitric oxide. S-Nitrosocysteine, which is formed when cysteine reacts with either NO-2 or nitric oxide, was a potent activator of guanylate cyclase. Similarly, micromolar concentrations of the S-nitroso derivatives of penicillamine, GSH and dithiothreitol, prepared by reacting the thiol with nitric oxide, activated guanylate cyclase. Guanylate cyclase activation by S-nitrosothiols resembled that by nitric oxide and nitroprusside in that activation was inhibited by methemoglobin, ferricyanide and methylene blue. Similarly, guanylate cyclase activation by glyceryl trinitrae plus cysteine, and by NaNO2 plus either a thiol or ascorbate, was inhibited by methemoglobin, ferricyanide and methylene blue. These data suggest that the activation of guanylate cyclase by each of the compounds tested may occur through a common mechanism, perhaps involving nitric oxide. Moreover, these findings suggest that S-nitrosothiols could act as intermediates in the activation of guanylate cyclase by glyceryl trinitrate, NaNO2 and possibly nitroprusside.     

Stabilization of L-ascorbic acid by superoxide dismutase and catalase

The effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase on the autoxidation rate of L-ascorbic acid (ASA) in the absence of metal ion catalysts were examined. The stabilization of ASA by SOD was confirmed, and the enzyme activity of SOD, which scavenges the superoxide anion formed during the autoxidation of ASA, contributed strongly to this stabilization. The stabilization of ASA by catalase was observed for the first time; however, the specific enzyme ability of catalase would not have been involved in the stabilization of ASA. Such proteins as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ovalbumin also inhibited the autoxidation of ASA, therefore it seems that non-specific interaction between ASA and such proteins as catalase and BSA might stabilize ASA and that the non-enzymatic superoxide anion scavenging ability of proteins might be involved.     

Guanylate cyclase from bovine lung. Evidence that enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine is mediated by iron-phenyl hemoprotein complexes

The mechanism of activation of soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung by phenylhydrazine is reported. Heme-deficient and heme-containing forms of guanylate cyclase were studied. Heme-deficient enzyme was activated 10-fold by NO but was not activated by phenylhydrazine. Catalase or methemoglobin enabled phenylhydrazine to activate guanylate cyclase 10-fold and enhanced activation by NO to over 100-fold. Heme-containing enzyme was activated only 3-fold by phenylhydrazine but over 100-fold by NO. Added hemoproteins enhanced enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine to 12-fold without enhancing activation by NO. Reducing or anaerobic conditions inhibited, whereas oxidants enhanced enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine plus catalase, and KCN had no effect. In contrast, enzyme activation by NO and NaN3 was inhibited by oxidants or KCN. NaN3 required native catalase, whereas phenylhydrazine also utilized heat-denatured catalase for enzyme activation. Thus, the mechanism of guanylate cyclase activation by phenylhydrazine differed from that by NO or NaN3. Guanylate cyclase activation by phenylhydrazine resulted from an O2-dependent reaction between phenylhydrazine and hemoproteins to generate stable iron-phenyl hemoprotein complexes. These complexes activated guanylate cyclase in the absence of O2, but lost activity after acidification, basification, or heating. Gel filtration of prereacted mixtures of [U-14C]phenylhydrazine plus hemoproteins resulted in co-chromatography of radioactivity, protein, and guanylate cyclase stimulating activity, and yielded a phenyl-hemoprotein binding stoichiometry of four under specified conditions (one phenyl/heme). [14C]Phenyl bound to heme-containing but not heme-deficient guanylate cyclase and binding correlated with enzyme activation. Moreover, reactions between enzyme and iron-[14C] phenyl hemoprotein complexes resulted in the exchange or transfer of iron-phenyl heme to guanylate cyclase and this correlated with enzyme activation.     

Free radical mediated interaction of ascorbic acid and ascorbate/Cu(II) with viral and plasmid DNAs

Previous studies indicate that ascorbic acid, when combined with copper or iron cleaves several viral DNA. ln this study, we generated the ascorbate radical anion electrochemically in a simple chemical environment without the participation of a metal ion. This solution possesses viral DNA scission activity. Ohe absence of catalytic metal ions [Fe (III) and Cu(II)] in the incubation medium was evidenced by metal chelating agents such as desferrioxamine and EDTA. Ohe radical quenching at high EDTA concentration was attributed to ionic strength of EDTA rather than metal chelation. Ohe effects of antioxidants, radical scavangers, catalase, superoxide dismutase and some proteins on DNA cleavage have been tested. Cleavage may not arise directly from ascorbate free radical but the reaction of the radical form of ascorbate with oxygen may produce the actual reactive species. Aerobic oxidation of ascorbate itself strictly requires transition metal catalysts, however electrochemically produced ascorbyl radical avoided the kinetic barrier that prevented direct oxidation of ascorbic acid with oxygen and eliminated the need for the transition metal ion catalysts.     

Activatin of guanylate cyclase during the oxidation of arylamine carcinogens.

When added alone, the arylamine procarcinogens N-acetyl-aminofluorene, 4-acetyl-aminobiphenyl or their N-hydroxy derivatives failed to alter partially purified soluble guanylate cyclase from rat liver or particulate guanylate cyclase activity from colonic mucosa. However, addition of linoleic acid hydroperoxide to the enzyme preparation in the presence N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene or N-OH-acetyl-aminobiphenyl significantly increased guanylate cyclase activity. With linoleic acid hydroperoxide plus N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene, both the activation of hepatic guanylate cyclase and the formation of the carcinogen oxidation product 2-nitrosofluorene required hematin but not molecular O₂. Both processes were inhibited by ascorbic acid. These data strongly imply that guanylate cyclase activation was dependent upon hematin catalyzed oxidation of N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene by the lipid peroxide. The results provide the first evidence that guanylate cyclase activation can occur during the conversion of a procarcinogen to a more reactive chemical species, and thereby emphasize the importance of examining carcinogen interaction with the GC system under conditions which permit such chemical conversion.     

Altered production of the active oxygen species is involved in enhanced cytotoxic action of acylated derivatives of ascorbate to tumor cells

Our previous study shows that 6-O-acyl derivatives of L-ascorbic acid inhibits more markedly cell growth of mouse Ehrlich carcinoma than ascorbic acid. The present study shows that 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid but not ascorbic acid prolongs the lifespan of mice into which tumors such as Meth A fibrosarcoma, MM46 mammary carcinoma, Ehrlich carcinoma and sarcoma 180 are implanted. The potentiated cytotoxicity of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid is not due to an increase in duration time of the cytotoxic action, because 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid is gradually inactivated during contact with tumor cells and exhibits a similar action time curve to that of ascorbic acid as shown by clonal growth assay. Cytotoxicity of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid is markedly diminished by combined addition of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as shown by dye exclusion assay, whereas the cytotoxicity was slightly reduced by either enzyme alone but not by the specifically inactivated or heat-denatured enzymes. In contrast, cytotoxicity of ascorbic acid is abolished by catalyse but not SOD. Autooxidation of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid was not inhibited by catalase plus SOD. The results indicate that cytotoxicity of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid is attributed at least partly to both hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-.) generated at the early stage. Cytotoxicity of 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid is also appreciably attenuated by singlet oxygen (1O2) scavengers such as hydroquinone, 1,4-diazobicyclo-2,2,2-octane or sodium azide, but not by hydroxyl radical scavengers including butylated hydroxytoluene, D-mannitol, benzoic acid and ethanol. Thus, in contrast to cytotoxicity of ascorbic acid mediated entirely by H2O2 initially generated, acylated ascorbic acid produces a diversity of active oxygen species including H2O2, O2-. and other species secondarily generated via disproportion, which may be additively involved in the enhanced cytotoxic action.     

Prooxidant Action of Maltol: Role of Transition Metals in the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Enhanced Formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine Formation in DNA

Maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) produced reactive oxygen species as a complex with transition metals. Maltol/iron complex inactivated aconitase the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress. The inactivation of aconitase was iron-dependent, and prevented by TEMPOL, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, suggesting that the maltol/iron-mediated generation of superoxide anion is responsible for the inactivation of aconitase. Addition of maltol effectively enhanced the ascorbate/copper-mediated formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Oxidation of ascorbic acid by CuSO₄ was effectively stimulated by addition of maltol, and the enhanced oxidation rate was markedly inhibited by the addition of catalase and superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that maltol can stimulate the copper reduction coupled with the oxidation of ascorbate, resulting in the production of superoxide radical which in turn converts to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. Cytotoxic effect of maltol can be explained by its prooxidant properties: maltol/transition metal complex generates reactive oxygen species causing the inactivation of aconitase and the production of hydroxyl radical causing the formation of DNA base adduct.     

Requirement of thiols for activation of coronary arterial guanylate cyclase by glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitrite possible involvement of S-nitrosothiols

Glyceryl trinitrate specifically required cysteine, whereas NaNO₂ at concentrations less than 10 mM required one of several thiols or ascorbate, to activate soluble guanylate cyclase from bovine coronary artery. However, guanylate cyclase activation by nitroprusside or nitric oxide did not require the addition of thiols or ascorbate. Whereas various thiols enhanced activation by nitropruside, none of the thiols tested enhanced activation by nitric oxide. S-Nitrosocysteine, which is formed when cysteine reacts with either NO₂^? or nitric oxide, was a potent activator of guanylate cyclase. Similarly, micromolar concentrations of the S-nitroso derivatives of penicillamine, GSH and dithiothreitol, prepared by reacting the thiol with nitric oxide, activated guanylate cyclase. Guanylate cyclase activation by S-nitrosothiols resembled that by nitric oxide and nitroprusside in that activation was inhibited by methemoglobin, ferricyanide and methylene blue. Similarly, guanylate cyclase activation by glyceryl trinitrate plus cysteine, and by NaNO₂ plus either a thiol or ascorbate, was inhibited by methemoglobin, ferricyanide and methylene blue. These data suggest that the activation of guanylate cyclase by each of the compounds tested may occur through a common mechanism, perhaps involving nitric oxide. Moreover, these findings suggest that S-nitrosothiols could act as intermediates in the activation of guanylate cyclase by glyceryl trinitrate, NaNO₂ and possibly     

Activation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase by arachidonic acid requires absence of enzyme-bound heme

The mechanism by which arachidonic acid activates soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung is partially elucidated. Unlike enzyme activation by nitric oxide (NO), which required the presence of enzyme-bound heme, enzyme activation by arachidonic acid was inhibited by heme. Human but not bovine serum albumin in the presence of NaF abolished activation of heme-containing guanylate cyclase by NO and nitroso compounds, whereas enzyme activation by arachidonic acid was markedly enhanced. Addition of heme to enzyme reaction mixtures restored enzyme activation by NO but inhibited enzyme activation by arachidonic acid. Whereas heme-containing guanylate cyclase was activated only 4- to 5-fold by arachidonic or linoleic acid, both heme-deficient and albumin-treated heme-containing enzymes were activated over 20-fold. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that human serum albumin promoted the reversible dissociation of heme from guanylate cyclase. Arachidonic acid appeared to bind to the hydrophobic heme-binding site on guanylate cyclase but the mechanism of enzyme activation was dissimilar to that for NO or protoporphyrin IX. Enzyme activation by arachidonic acid was insensitive to Methylene blue or KCN, was inhibited competitively by metalloporphyrins, and was abolished by lipoxygenase. Whereas NO and protoporphyrin IX lowered the apparent Km and Ki for MgGTP and uncomplexed Mg2+, arachidonic and linoleic acids failed to alter these kinetic parameters. Thus, human serum albumin can promote the reversible dissociation of heme from soluble guanylate cyclase and thereby abolish enzyme activation by NO but markedly enhance activation by polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arachidonic acid activates soluble guanylate cyclase by heme-independent mechanisms that are dissimilar to the mechanism of enzyme activation caused by protoporphyrin IX.     

臭氧浓度升高对油松抗氧化系统活性的影响

以生长在开顶箱内的油松为试材,对高浓度臭氧(80 nmol·mol^-1)条件下油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)针叶中超氧阴离子自由基(O₂^·)产生速率、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性与抗坏血酸(ASA)含量进行测定.结果表明:高浓度臭氧使O₂^·产生速率提高,H₂O₂ 和MDA含量增加.ASA含量与SOD、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性在高浓度臭氧熏蒸的前期升高,随后下降并低于对照.说明生长季前期,油松抗氧化系统对高浓度臭氧存在适应性反应,但不能抵抗长期臭氧胁迫带来的氧化伤害.     

Effect of carnosine on the activation of human platelet soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside and protoporphyrin IX

Effect of carnosine on the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside and protoporphyrin IX was studied using human platelet 105000 g supernatants and partially purified heme-deficient guanylate cyclase preparations. In experiments with 105000 g supernatants, carnosine (1 mM) inhibited the enzyme activation by nitroprusside by about 70%. With the partially purified heme-deficient guanylate cyclase, the enzyme activation by nitroprusside was lowered by 86%, and the remaining insignificant stimulatory effect remained unchanged upon carnosine addition. The stimulatory effect of protoporphyrin IX on the partially purified heme-deficient enzyme preparation did not differ from that observed with the 105000 g supernatant; carnosine addition had no effect on activation of guanylate cyclase by protoporphyrin IX. It was concluded that the inhibitory effect of carnosine on the ability of the enzyme to be activated by nitroprusside is due to the interaction of carnosine with guanylate cyclase, and that it is heme directed.     

鲜切加工加速荸荠组织衰老与H2O2累积的关系

以荸荠为材料,研究了鲜切加工加速组织衰老与活性氧代谢的关系.结果表明:鲜切加工提高了荸荠切片抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸-过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶)的活性;但同时明显刺激了O2-产生,促进了H2O2累积,加速了抗坏血酸在贮藏后期的损失,加强了膜脂过氧化作用和增加了电解质渗出率.统计分析表明H2O2含量、丙二醛含量、电解质渗出率三者之间存在正相关性.H2O2组织定位结果也证实鲜切加速组织衰老与H2O2累积密切相关.完整荸荠组织O2-产生比较平稳,抗氧化酶活性维持稳定,H2O2未有明显累积.     

Superoxide dismutase requires ascorbate for activation of cerebral soluble guanylate cyclase

Guanylate cyclase in 100,000 × g supernatant fraction prepared from the rat brain was markedly activated by superoxide dismutase. Although guanylate cyclase in pH 5.0 precipitated fraction prepared from the supernatant fraction failed to be stimulated by superoxide dismutase, the addition of ascorbate restored the responsiveness. Guanylate cyclase in the supernatant fraction which was preincubated with ascorbate oxidase also showed no response to superoxide dismutase. The superoxide dismutase-induced activation of guanylate cyclase in the supernatant fraction as well as in the ascorbate-added pH 5.0 precipitated fraction was completely eliminated by the addition of KCN, diethyldithiocarbamate, Tiron, retinol or hemoglobin.     

Differential contractile actions of reactive oxygen species on rat aorta: selective activation of ATP receptor by H2O2

This study aims to examine the effects of different reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the resting tension of endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings. In these preparations, H2O2 (30 microM) induced a fast and transient contraction, which could be abolished by pretreatment of catalase (800 U/ml), but not affected by superoxide anion scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD; 150 U/ml) or the hydroxyl free radical scavenger, DMSO/mannitol (each 3 mM). In contrast, pyrogallol, a putative superoxide anion donor, induced a biphasic contraction, which could be abolished by SOD, but not by catalase or DMSO/mannitol. Unlike H2O2 and pyrogallol, Vitamin C(VitC)/Fe2+ (each 100 microM), a commonly used hydroxyl radical-generating system, triggered a tonic contraction which could be prevented by DMSO/mannitol, but not by SOD or catalase. Interestingly, H2O2-induced contraction could be concentration-dependently (10-100 microM) inhibited by suramin and reactive blue-2 (RB-2), two widely used ATP receptor antagonists. On the other hand, suramin or RB-2, at concentration up to 100 microM, affected neither pyrogallol nor VitC/Fe2+-induced contraction. In conclusion, we showed for the first time that different ROS could contract rat aorta with different mechanisms of action, and H2O2 elicits a transient contraction probably as a result of the ATP receptor activation.     

Under anaerobic conditions, soluble guanylate cyclase is specifically stimulated by glutathione

Various thiols exert non-specific effects on the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase under aerobic conditions. We studied the effects of thiols under anaerobic conditions (pO2 less than 6 Torr) on soluble guanylate cyclase, purified from bovine lung. Reduced glutathione stimulated the enzyme concentration-dependently with half-maximal enzyme stimulation at a concentration of about 0.5 mM. The extend of maximal enzyme stimulation (up to 80-fold) was comparable with the activation by NO-containing substances. The activation by glutathione was additive with the effect of sodium nitroprusside. Cysteine and various other thiols increased the enzyme activity 20-fold and 2- to 5-fold, respectively. The stimulatory effect of these thiols was not related to their reducing potency. Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by glutathione was dose-dependently reduced in the presence of other thiols (cysteine greater than oxidized glutathione greater than S-methyl glutathione). Under aerobic conditions or with Mn-GTP as substrate, the effect of glutathione on soluble guanylate cyclase was suppressed. The results suggest a specific role for glutathione in the regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase activity and a modulation of this effect by redox reactions and other intracellular thiols.     

Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by arachidonic acid and 15-lipoxygenase products

The activity of soluble guanylate cyclase can be increased by exposure of the enzyme to arachidonic acid or to some oxidized metabolites of the fatty acid. We have tried to determine whether activation of the enzyme by arachidonate requires that the fatty acid be converted to an oxidized metabolite, either by a possible trace contaminant of a lipoxygenase or by guanylate cyclase itself, which contains a heme moiety. Soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung was activated 4-6-fold by arachidonic acid. This activation was not dependent on the presence of oxygen in the incubation medium. No detectable metabolites of arachidonic acid were formed during incubation with soluble guanylate cyclase. Addition of soybean lipoxygenase to the incubation did not increase activation by arachidonic acid. The inhibitors of lipoxygenase activity, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and eicosatetraynoic acid, had direct effects on soluble guanylate cyclase and interfered with its activation by arachidonate, whereas another lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW 755 C, did not. The data suggest that arachidonic acid increases the activity of guanylate cyclase by direct interaction with the enzyme rather than by being converted to an active metabolite.