Nitrogen monoxide (NO) storage and transport by dinitrosyl-dithiol-iron complexes: long-lived NO that is trafficked by interacting proteins

J Biol Chem. 2012 Mar 2;287(10):6960-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R111.329847. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Abstract

Nitrogen monoxide (NO) markedly affects intracellular iron metabolism, and recent studies have shown that molecules traditionally involved in drug resistance, namely GST and MRP1 (multidrug resistance-associated protein 1), are critical molecular players in this process. This is mediated by interaction of these proteins with dinitrosyl-dithiol-iron complexes (Watts, R. N., Hawkins, C., Ponka, P., and Richardson, D. R. (2006) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 7670-7675; Lok, H. C., Suryo Rahmanto, Y., Hawkins, C. L., Kalinowski, D. S., Morrow, C. S., Townsend, A. J., Ponka, P., and Richardson, D. R. (2012) J. Biol. Chem. 287, 607-618). These complexes are bioavailable, have a markedly longer half-life compared with free NO, and form in cells after an interaction between iron, NO, and glutathione. The generation of dinitrosyl-dithiol-iron complexes acts as a common currency for NO transport and storage by MRP1 and GST P1-1, respectively. Understanding the biological trafficking mechanisms involved in the metabolism of NO is vital for elucidating its many roles in cellular signaling and cytotoxicity and for development of new therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport, Active / physiology
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione S-Transferase pi / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Iron Compounds / metabolism*
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitrogen Oxides / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Iron Compounds
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • dinitrosyl iron thiosulfate
  • Nitric Oxide
  • GSTP1 protein, human
  • Glutathione S-Transferase pi
  • Glutathione
  • multidrug resistance-associated protein 1