Reaction of the XPA zinc finger with S-nitrosoglutathione

Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Feb;21(2):386-92. doi: 10.1021/tx700297f. Epub 2008 Jan 3.

Abstract

S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is an intracellular redox signaling molecule, also implicated in nitrosative stress. GSNO actions include modifications of Cys thiols in proteins. In this study, we focused on a GSNO reaction with a Cys4 zinc finger (ZF) sequence of human protein XPA, crucial to the nucleotide excision repair pathway of DNA repair. By using a corresponding synthetic 37-residue peptide acetyl-DYVICEECGKEFMDSYLMNHFDLPTCDNCRDADDKHK-amide (XPAzf) and combining the detection of noncovalent and covalent complexes by ESI-MS with zinc release monitored by the zinc-sensitive chromophore 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR), we demonstrated that the reaction of XPAzf with GSNO yielded S-nitrosylated intermediates, intrapeptide disulfides, and mixed glutathione disulfides. The reaction started with the formation of a complex of GSNO with ZnXPAzf followed by thiol transnitrosylation reactions and the final formation of disulfides. The results obtained suggest that at low levels/transient exposures, GSNO may act as a reversible regulator of Cys4 ZF activity, whereas transnitrosylation by GSNO, occurring at prolonged exposures, may cause deleterious effects to the functions of Cys 4 ZF proteins. In the case of XPA, this may lead to DNA repair inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • DNA Repair
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • S-Nitrosoglutathione / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein / chemistry*
  • Zinc / analysis
  • Zinc / chemistry
  • Zinc Fingers*

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • XPA protein, human
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein
  • S-Nitrosoglutathione
  • Zinc
  • Cysteine