-
1.
Diversity and complexity of flavodiiron NO/O2 reductases.
Folgosa, F, Martins, MC, Teixeira, M
FEMS microbiology letters. 2018;(3)
Abstract
Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs) are a family of enzymes endowed with nitric oxide (NO) or oxygen reductase activities, forming the innocuous nitrous oxide (N2O) or water molecules, respectively. FDPs are widespread in the three life kingdoms, and have a modular nature, being each monomer minimally constituted by a metallo-β-lactamase-like domain containing a catalytic diiron centre, followed by a flavodoxin one, with a flavin mononucleotide. Since their discovery, additional domains have been found in FDPs, attached to the C-terminus, and containing either extra metal (iron) centers or extra flavin binding modules. Following an extensive analysis of genomic databases, we identified novel domain compositions, and proposed a new classification of FDPs in eight classes based on the nature and number of extra domains.
-
2.
Chloroplasts at the Crossroad of Photosynthesis, Pathogen Infection and Plant Defense.
Lu, Y, Yao, J
International journal of molecular sciences. 2018;(12)
Abstract
Photosynthesis, pathogen infection, and plant defense are three important biological processes that have been investigated separately for decades. Photosynthesis generates ATP, NADPH, and carbohydrates. These resources are utilized for the synthesis of many important compounds, such as primary metabolites, defense-related hormones abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, and antimicrobial compounds. In plants and algae, photosynthesis and key steps in the synthesis of defense-related hormones occur in chloroplasts. In addition, chloroplasts are major generators of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and a site for calcium signaling. These signaling molecules are essential to plant defense as well. All plants grown naturally are attacked by pathogens. Bacterial pathogens enter host tissues through natural openings or wounds. Upon invasion, bacterial pathogens utilize a combination of different virulence factors to suppress host defense and promote pathogenicity. On the other hand, plants have developed elaborate defense mechanisms to protect themselves from pathogen infections. This review summarizes recent discoveries on defensive roles of signaling molecules made by plants (primarily in their chloroplasts), counteracting roles of chloroplast-targeted effectors and phytotoxins elicited by bacterial pathogens, and how all these molecules crosstalk and regulate photosynthesis, pathogen infection, and plant defense, using chloroplasts as a major battlefield.
-
3.
The ellagitannin HeT induces electrolyte leakage, calcium influx and the accumulation of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in strawberry.
Martos, GG, Mamaní, A, Filippone, MP, Castagnaro, AP, Díaz Ricci, JC
Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB. 2018;:400-405
Abstract
HeT (1-0-galloyl-2,3; 4,6-bis-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-D-glucopyranose) is a penta-esterified ellagitannin obtained from strawberry leaves. Previous studies have shown that foliar application of HeT prior to inoculation with a virulent pathogen increases the resistance toward Colletotrichum acutatum in strawberry plants and to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri in lemon plants. In this work we report that HeT induces an immediate leak of electrolytes, the hyperpolarization of the cellular membrane, a rapid Ca2+ influx to the cytoplasm during the first few seconds, which in turn modulates the accumulation of nitric oxide 5 min after treatment. At longer times, a biphasic accumulation of H2O2 with peaks at 2 and 5 h post treatment could be observed. In addition, HeT elicited the increase of alternative oxidase capacity during the first 12 h post treatment.
-
4.
Bacterial denitrifying nitric oxide reductases and aerobic respiratory terminal oxidases use similar delivery pathways for their molecular substrates.
Mahinthichaichan, P, Gennis, RB, Tajkhorshid, E
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics. 2018;(9):712-724
Abstract
The superfamily of heme‑copper oxidoreductases (HCOs) include both NO and O2 reductases. Nitric oxide reductases (NORs) are bacterial membrane enzymes that catalyze an intermediate step of denitrification by reducing nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O). They are structurally similar to heme‑copper oxygen reductases (HCOs), which reduce O2 to water. The experimentally observed apparent bimolecular rate constant of NO delivery to the deeply buried catalytic site of NORs was previously reported to approach the diffusion-controlled limit (108-109 M-1 s-1). Using the crystal structure of cytochrome-c dependent NOR (cNOR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we employed several protocols of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, which include flooding simulations of NO molecules, implicit ligand sampling and umbrella sampling simulations, to elucidate how NO in solution accesses the catalytic site of this cNOR. The results show that NO partitions into the membrane, enters the enzyme from the lipid bilayer and diffuses to the catalytic site via a hydrophobic tunnel that is resolved in the crystal structures. This is similar to what has been found for O2 diffusion through the closely related O2 reductases. The apparent second order rate constant approximated using the simulation data is ~5 × 108 M-1 s-1, which is optimized by the dynamics of the amino acid side chains lining in the tunnel. It is concluded that both NO and O2 reductases utilize well defined hydrophobic tunnels to assure that substrate diffusion to the buried catalytic sites is not rate limiting under physiological conditions.
-
5.
Reduction of FENO by tap water and carbonated water mouthwashes: magnitude and time course.
Lassmann-Klee, PG, Lindholm, T, Metsälä, M, Halonen, L, Sovijärvi, ARA, Piirilä, P
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation. 2018;(1-2):153-156
Abstract
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) assesses eosinophilic inflammation of the airways, but FENO values are also influenced by oral nitric oxide (NO). The aim of this pilot study was to measure FENO and compare the effect of two different mouthwashes on FENO and analyse the duration of the effect. FENO was measured in 12 randomized volunteers (healthy or asthmatic subjects) with a NIOX VERO® analyser at an expiratory flow rate of 50 mL/s. After a baseline measurement, a mouthwash was performed either with tap water or carbonated water and was measured during 20 min in 2 min intervals. The procedure was repeated with the other mouthwash. We found that both mouthwashes reduced FENO immediately at the beginning compared to the baseline (p < .001). The carbonated water mouthwash effect lasted 12 min (p ranging from <0.001 to <0.05). The tap water mouthwash reduced FENO statistically significantly only for 2 min compared with the baseline. We conclude that a single carbonated water mouthwash can significantly reduce the oropharyngeal NO contribution during a 12 min time interval.
-
6.
Functional Nitric Oxide Nutrition to Combat Cardiovascular Disease.
Bryan, NS
Current atherosclerosis reports. 2018;(5):21
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To reveal the mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) production in humans and how lifestyle, drug therapy, and hygienic practices can decrease NO production. Furthermore, to show how functional nitric oxide nutrition can overcome these limitations to restore endogenous NO production and combat cardiovascular disease. RECENT FINDINGS Research over the past decade has revealed that inorganic nitrate and nitrite found naturally in green leafy vegetables and other vegetables such as beets can provide the human body with a source of bioactive nitric oxide. NO is one of the most important molecules produced within the cardiovascular system that maintains normal blood pressure and prevents inflammation, immune dysfunction, and oxidative stress, hallmarks of cardiovascular disease. This pathway is dependent upon the amount of inorganic nitrate and nitrite in the foods we eat, the presence of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, and sufficient stomach acid production. The concept of food being medicine and medicine being food has lost its place in the practice and implementation of modern medicine over the past century. Certain dietary patterns and specific foods are known to confer very significant protective effects for many human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of men and women in the developed world. However, identification of single or multiple bioactive molecules that are responsible for these effects has escaped scientists and nutritionists for many years. This review will highlight the biochemical, physiological, and epidemiological basis for functional nitric oxide nutrition that can be safely and effectively utilized in patients.
-
7.
Sex differences in the nitrate-nitrite-NO• pathway: Role of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria.
Kapil, V, Rathod, KS, Khambata, RS, Bahra, M, Velmurugan, S, Purba, A, S Watson, D, Barnes, MR, Wade, WG, Ahluwalia, A
Free radical biology & medicine. 2018;:113-121
Abstract
Oral reduction of nitrate to nitrite is dependent on the oral microbiome and is the first step of an alternative mammalian pathway to produce nitric oxide in humans. Preliminary evidence suggests important sex differences in this pathway. We prospectively investigated sex-differences following inorganic nitrate supplementation on nitrate/nitrite levels and vascular function, and separately examined sex differences in oral nitrate reduction, and oral microbiota by 16S rRNA profiling. At baseline, females exhibit higher nitrite levels in all biological matrices despite similar nitrate levels to males. Following inorganic nitrate supplementation, plasma nitrite was increased to a significantly greater extent in females than in males and pulse wave velocity was only reduced in females. Females exhibited higher oral bacterial nitrate-reducing activity at baseline and after nitrate supplementation. Despite these differences, there were no differences in the composition of either the total salivary microbiota or those oral taxa with nitrate reductase genes. Our results demonstrate that females have augmented oral nitrate reduction that contributes to higher nitrite levels at baseline and also after inorganic nitrate supplementation, however this was not associated with differences in microbial composition (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01583803).
-
8.
A Simple and Useful Method to Apply Exogenous NO Gas to Plant Systems: Bell Pepper Fruits as a Model.
Palma, JM, Ruiz, C, Corpas, FJ
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 2018;:3-11
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is involved many physiological plant processes, including germination, growth and development of roots, flower setting and development, senescence, and fruit ripening. In the latter physiological process, NO has been reported to play an opposite role to ethylene. Thus, treatment of fruits with NO may lead to delay ripening independently of whether they are climacteric or nonclimacteric. In many cases different methods have been reported to apply NO to plant systems involving sodium nitroprusside, NONOates, DETANO, or GSNO to investigate physiological and molecular consequences. In this chapter a method to treat plant materials with NO is provided using bell pepper fruits as a model. This method is cheap, free of side effects, and easy to apply since it only requires common chemicals and tools available in any biology laboratory.
-
9.
Phenotyping patients with chronic cough: Evaluating the ability to predict the response to anti-inflammatory therapy.
Sadeghi, MH, Wright, CE, Hart, S, Crooks, M, Morice, A
Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2018;(3):285-291
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement can predict the response to anti-inflammatory treatment in chronic cough is unknown. OBJECTIVE To explore whether the effectiveness of treatment with 10 mg of montelukast or 20 mg of prednisolone in patients with chronic cough is predicted by FeNO level. METHODS In this randomized, open-label, controlled pilot study conducted in the Clinical Trial Unit in Castle Hospital in the United Kingdom, 50 nonsmoking patients with a cough that lasted more than 8 weeks were sequentially enrolled in the study. Thirty patients with high FeNO levels (≥30 ppb) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 10 mg of montelukast or 20 mg of prednisolone for 2 weeks followed by 10 mg of montelukast for 2 weeks. Twenty patients with a low FeNO level (≤20 ppb) received 10 mg of montelukast. The primary objective was to determine the effectiveness of treatment on 24-hour cough counts. RESULTS The 24-hour cough counts decreased in both groups by approximately 50% (P < .005), indicating that FeNO did not predict treatment response. However, it was a good marker for eosinophilic inflammation with a high degree of correlation with blood and sputum eosinophilia (P < .001). CONCLUSION These results suggest that prior investigation may not predict response to anti-inflammatory treatment, which may be consequent on localized leukotriene-mediated inflammation. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02479074.
-
10.
Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is up-regulated during sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit ripening. In vitro analysis shows that NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activity is inhibited by H2S and NO.
Muñoz-Vargas, MA, González-Gordo, S, Cañas, A, López-Jaramillo, J, Palma, JM, Corpas, FJ
Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry. 2018;:36-45
Abstract
Like nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recognized as a new gasotransmitter which plays an important role as a signaling molecule in many physiological processes in higher plants. Although fruit ripening is a complex process associated with the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen oxygen species (RNS), little is known about the potential involvement of endogenous H2S. Using sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as a model non-climacteric fruit during the green and red ripening stages, we studied endogenous H2S content and cytosolic l-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-DES) activity which increased by 14% and 28%, respectively, in red pepper fruits. NADPH is a redox compound and key cofactor required for cell growth, proliferation and detoxification. We studied the NADPH-regenerating enzyme, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH), whose activity decreased by 34% during ripening. To gain a better understanding of its potential regulation by H2S, we obtained a 50-75% ammonium sulfate-enriched protein fraction containing the NADP-ICDH protein; with the aid of in vitro assays in the presence of H2S, we observed that 2 and 10 mM NaHS used as H2S donors resulted in a decrease of up to 36% and 45%, respectively, in NADP-ICDH activity, which was unaffected by reduced glutathione (GSH). On the other hand, peroxynitrite (ONOO-), S-nitrosocyteine (CysNO) and DETA-NONOate, with the last two acting as NO donors, also inhibited NADP-ICDH activity. In silico analysis of the tertiary structure of sweet pepper NADP-ICDH activity (UniProtKB ID A0A2G2Y555) suggests that residues Cys133 and Tyr450 are the most likely potential targets for S-nitrosation and nitration, respectively. Taken together, the data reveal that the increase in the H2S production capacity of red fruits is due to higher L-DES activity during non-climacteric pepper fruit ripening. In vitro assays appear to show that H2S inhibits NADP-ICDH activity, thus suggesting that this enzyme may be regulated by persulfidation, as well as by S-nitrosation and nitration. NO and H2S may therefore regulate NADPH production and consequently cellular redox status during pepper fruit ripening.