The NO-heme signaling hypothesis

AL Kleschyov - Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2017 - Elsevier
Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2017Elsevier
While the biological role of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) is appreciated, several
fundamental aspects of the NOS/NO-related signaling pathway (s) remain incompletely
understood. Canonically, the NOS-derived NO diffuses through the (inter) cellular milieu to
bind the prosthetic ferro (Fe 2+)-heme group of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). The
formation of ternary NO-ferroheme-sGC complex results in the enzyme activation and
accelerated production of the second messenger, cyclic GMP. This paper argues that cells …
Abstract
While the biological role of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) is appreciated, several fundamental aspects of the NOS/NO-related signaling pathway(s) remain incompletely understood. Canonically, the NOS-derived NO diffuses through the (inter)cellular milieu to bind the prosthetic ferro(Fe2+)-heme group of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). The formation of ternary NO-ferroheme-sGC complex results in the enzyme activation and accelerated production of the second messenger, cyclic GMP. This paper argues that cells dynamically generate mobile/exchangeable NO-ferroheme species, which activate sGC and regulate the function of some other biomolecules. In contrast to free NO, the mobile NO-ferroheme may ensure safe, efficient and coordinated delivery of the signal within and between cells. The NO-heme signaling may contribute to a number of NOS/NO-related phenomena (e.g. nitrite bioactivity, selective protein S-(N-)nitrosation, endothelium and erythrocyte-dependent vasodilation, some neural and immune NOS functions) and predicts new NO-related discoveries, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Elsevier