Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:1.7.1.2 (nitrate reductase)
3,861 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

1. In Aspergillus nidulans nitrate and nitrite induce nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase, and ammonium represses the three enzymes. 2. Nitrate reductase can donate electrons to a wide variety of acceptors in addition to nitrate. These artificial acceptors include benzyl viologen, 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyltetrazolium chloride, cytochrome c and potassium ferricyanide. Similarly nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine reductase (which are possibly a single enzyme in A. nidulans) can donate electrons to these same artificial acceptors in addition to the substrates nitrite and hydroxylamine. 3. Nitrate reductase can accept electrons from reduced benzyl viologen in place of the natural donor NADPH. The NADPH-nitrate-reductase activity is about twice that of reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase under comparable conditions. 4. Mutants at six gene loci are known that cannot utilize nitrate and lack nitrate-reductase activity. Most mutants in these loci are constitutive for nitrite reductase, hydroxylamine reductase and all the nitrate-induced NADPH-diaphorase activities. It is argued that mutants that lack nitrate-reductase activity are constitutive for the enzymes of the nitrate-reduction pathway because the functional nitrate-reductase molecule is a component of the regulatory system of the pathway. 5. Mutants are known at two gene loci, niiA and niiB, that cannot utilize nitrite and lack nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. 6. Mutants at the niiA locus possess inducible nitrate reductase and lack nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. It is suggested that a single enzyme protein is responsible for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium in A. nidulans and that the niiA locus is the structural gene for this enzyme. 7. Mutants at the niiB locus lack nitrate-reductase, nitrite-reductase and hydroxylamine-reductase activities. It is argued that the niiB gene is a regulator gene whose product is necessary for the induction of the nitrate-utilization pathway. The niiB mutants either lack or produce an incorrect product and consequently cannot be induced. 8. Mutants at the niiribo locus cannot utilize nitrate or nitrite unless provided with a flavine supplement. When grown in the absence of a flavine supplement the activities of some of the nitrate-induced enzymes are subnormal. 9. The growth and enzyme characteristics of a total of 123 mutants involving nine different genes indicate that nitrate is reduced to ammonium. Only two possible structural genes for enzymes concerned with nitrate utilization are known. This suggests that only two enzymes, one for the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, the other for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium, are involved in this pathway.
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PMID:Genetic and biochemical studies of nitrate reduction in Aspergillus nidulans. 438 27

The increasing importance of nitric oxide synthase has been underscored by the elucidation of its role in a growing number of normal and pathophysiological processes. Therefore, techniques for detection of nitrite/nitrate, oxidation products of the enzymatic conversion of arginine to citrulline and nitric oxide, should serve as useful tools in defining the contribution of NO synthase to these processes. We have developed a rapid and sensitive fluorometric assay for quantification of nitrite/nitrate based upon the reaction of nitrite with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene to form the fluorescent product, 1-(H)-naphthotriazole. The assay can be used to detect 10 nM nitrite, making it 50-100 times more sensitive than the well-known Griess assay. Moreover, the assay is adaptable to a 96-well plate format, facilitating the handling of a large number of samples including conditioned media from cell culture or the nitrite generated by the purified enzyme. Nitrite/nitrate levels in blood can also be monitored using this assay when it is combined with a filtration step (to remove hemoglobin) followed by conversion of the nitrate to nitrite by nitrate reductase. Thus, this fluorometric method combines speed and sensitivity with the handling of a large number of samples for the quantification of nitrite generated from in vivo and in vitro sources.
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PMID:A fluorometric assay for the measurement of nitrite in biological samples. 750 9

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be synthesized by mammalian cells from L-arginine by a group of NO synthase enzymes. We now show that NO is generated from human skin and propose a different mechanism of production. Whereas enzymatic NO synthesis is inhibited by monomethyl L-arginine, this arginine analog, when infused into the brachial artery at concentrations sufficient to inhibit endothelial NO synthase activity, has little effect on hand skin NO production. Hand skin NO production is increased by topical acidification of the skin surface and greatly increased by the addition of nitrite solutions. We propose that NO generation from skin derives from sweat nitrite (the concentration of which was found to average 3.4 microM in six subjects) due to chemical reduction consequent to the acidic nature of sweat. Sweat contains nitrate in appreciable amounts, and skin commensal bacteria can synthesize nitrate reductase enzyme. Patients on long-term tetracycline antibiotics showed significantly reduced skin NO synthesis, although topical antiseptic and antibiotics had little effect on NO generation in the short-term. We propose that NO generation from skin is dependent on bacterial nitrate reduction to nitrite and subsequent reduction by acidification. We speculate that this has a physiologic role in the inhibition of infection by pathogenic fungi and other susceptible microorganisms and may affect cutaneous T-cell function, keratinocyte differentiation, and skin blood flow.
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PMID:Nitric oxide is generated on the skin surface by reduction of sweat nitrate. 875 65

We studied the effects of administrating the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or the nitric oxide precursor, L-arginine, on hemodynamic variables and serum nitrate concentrations in an anesthetized ovine model of endotoxemia to assess the effects on regional visceral blood flow and to determine whether L-arginine availability limits nitric oxide production. Animals received Escherichia coli endotoxin (2 micrograms/kg) followed 2 h later by L-NAME (25 mg/kg), L-arginine (0.575 g/kg), or saline administered over 1 h followed by an infusion of the same dose over 8 h (n = 6 per group). Renal and mesenteric blood flow were measured by placement of electromagnetic flow probes, and serum nitrate concentrations were determined using vanadium III chloride or nitrate reductase reduction to nitric oxide or nitrite, respectively. The results showed L-NAME significantly increased systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.01), decreased serum nitrate concentrations (P < 0.05), and caused a transient reduction in mesenteric blood flow (P < 0.05). L-Arginine caused a reduction in systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.01), increased mesenteric blood flow (P < 0.001) and conductance (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in renal arterial blood flow in either group. We conclude that the availability of L-arginine limits nitric oxide production in endotoxemia and, furthermore, that L-arginine administration in this model causes significant mesenteric vasodilatation. L-NAME administration had only limited effect on visceral blood flow despite a marked increase in systemic vascular resistance and a reduction in nitric oxide production.
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PMID:L-arginine augments nitric oxide production and mesenteric blood flow in ovine endotoxemia. 889 20

Nitrite and nitrate (NO2 and NO3), the oxidative products of nitric oxide (NO), were elevated in the plasma of rabbits on the third day following ligation of a coronary artery. This elevation coincided with increased activity of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in infarcted heart muscle. Data are reported which relate the elevated plasma concentrations of NO2+NO3 (NO(x)) to the increased induction of iNOS in an infarcted heart. NO2 and NO3 in plasma were measured by chemiluminescence. Nitrate was converted to nitrite by nitrate reductase. Plasma from the ear vein, right and left ventricle, and coronary sinus were analyzed for NO(x), and iNOS activity was enzymatically determined in infarcted, risk, and normal areas of the heart. The production equivalent of NO(x) by the heart and lung was also calculated. In addition, the effect of a specific inhibitor of iNOS, S-methylisothiourea sulfate (SMT) on plasma concentration and myocardial production of NO(x) was determined. It was concluded that the elevation of plasma NO(x) following onset of myocardial ischemia was directly related to increased induction of iNOS in the heart. This conclusion was based on a proportional and simultaneous increase in NO(x) plasma concentration with myocardial iNOS activation. The inhibitory effect of SMT furnished additional confirmation of the relationship between myocardial iNOS activation and NO(x) plasma levels in experimental myocardial infarction.
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PMID:Oxidation products of nitric oxide, NO2 and NO3, in plasma after experimental myocardial infarction. 904 16

1. Within vessels, the formation of nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins is normally catalysed in the endothelium by constitutive isoforms of NO synthase (eNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1), respectively. However, during inflammatory conditions, the underlying smooth muscle acquires the ability to release NO and prostaglandins after the expression of inducible isoforms of NOS (iNOS) and COX (COX-2). The co-induction of iNOS and COX-2 has been studied over 24 h in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. However, due to the limitation of using cultured cells, the relationship between the activities of iNOS and COX over longer periods has not been addressed. Moreover, the relative contribution of the endothelium to the production of NO and prostaglandins under inflammatory conditions is not completely understood. 2. Here using an organ culture system, we have determined the profile of COX (6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha), PGE2, thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and NOS (nitrite and nitrate) metabolites released over a period of 10 days from segments of rat aorta. In each case, segments from the same animal were left untreated or treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 micrograms ml-1) in order to induce iNOS and COX-2. Prostaglandins were measured by radioimmunoassay whilst nitrite and nitrate were measured, respectively, by Greiss reaction alone, or following a nitrate reductase step. The isoforms of NOS and COX responsible for metabolite release were characterized pharmacologically by use of inhibitors and at the molecular level by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for iNOS, eNOS, COX-1 and COX-2. In separate experiments the role of the endothelium in the release of nitrite, nitrate and prostaglandins and in the expression of iNOS, eNOS, COX-1 and COX-2 was determined by comparing responses in endothelium denuded and endothelium-intact segments of rat aorta. 3. Under control culture conditions vessels released prostaglandins in the following rank order 6-keto PGF1 alpha = PGE2 > > TXB2. LPS increased the release of 6-keto PGF1 alpha and PGE2 but not of TXB2, an effect that was inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (1 microM), the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethason (1 microM), the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (30 microM) and, where tested, the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (30 microM). Similarly, segments of rat aorta released detectable levels of nitrite and nitrate, which were reduced by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 1 mM), which inhibits all isoforms of NOS, and by dexamethasone (1 microM), which inhibits the induction of iNOS. The proportion of nitrate to nitrite released over the 10 day period varied greatly from approximately 1:1 on days 5 to 8 to 5:1 on day 9. However, the sum of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) as well as PGE2 remained elevated over the whole 10 day period. The formation of 6-keto PGF1 alpha peaked on days 1 and 2. 4. In freshly prepared tissue, mRNAs for eNOS, COX-1, iNOS and COX-2 were detected. After 24 h in culture, there was an apparent increase in the level of mRNAs for iNOS and COX-2 but not for eNOS or COX-1, an effect that was further enhanced when LPS was included in the culture medium. The expressions of mRNA for eNOS, COX-1, iNOS or COX-2 were not greatly different in vessels with intact or disrupted endothelium. Similarly the release of NOx or PGE2 by vessels after the 1st or 9th day in culture were not significantly different from vessels prepared with or without endothelium. 5. Thus, COX-2 and iNOS are co-induced in intact vessels in culture, with the vascular smooth muscle being the main site of mediator generation. In contrast to data from isolated cells in culture (observed usually over 1 day), both COX and NOS activities in cultured blood vessels were elevated for at least 10 days. Also, unlike isolated cells in culture, the COX and NOS pathways were active independently; L-NAME had little effect on the activity of COX and indomethacin had little effect on the activity of NOS.
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PMID:Characterization of the induction of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase in rat aorta in organ culture. 914 96

We hypothesized that induction of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2 by bacterial products in intra-amniotic infection could increase the production of proinflammatory nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cause preterm labor. Thus, we sought to determine amniotic fluid levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and PGE2 in preterm labor patients with and without intra-amniotic infection. Amniotic fluid from 13 preterm labor patients with intra-amniotic infection and 24 without intra-amniotic infection were studied. Intra-amniotic infection was defined as the presence of a positive amniotic fluid culture. Amniotic fluid was tested for NOx, PGE2, glucose, leukocyte counts, Gram stains, creatinine, pH, and specific gravity. NOx was determined using Griess reagent after reduction of nitrate to nitrite with aspergillus nitrate reductase. PGE2 was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Both amniotic fluid NOx and PGE2 were normalized by amniotic fluid creatinine. We found that amniotic fluid concentrations of NOx and PGE2 were significantly higher in preterm labor patients with intra-amniotic infection compared to those without intraamniotic infection (NOx: median 1.8 micromol/mg creatinine, range 0.7 to 6.8 vs. 1.3 micromol/mg creatinine, range 0.9 to 2.1, p=0.03; PGE2: median 33.5 ng/mg creatinine, range 0.0 to 1048.6 vs. 0.0 ng/mg creatinine, range 0.0 to 33.6, p=0.004). In addition, amniotic fluid NOx and PGE2 were positively correlated (r=0.343, p=0.0398). We conclude that there may be an interaction between the nitric oxide and prostaglandin pathways in intraamniotic infection. Increased production of amniotic fluid pro-inflammatory nitric oxide and PGE2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preterm labor in patients with intra-amniotic infection.
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PMID:Dual roles of amniotic fluid nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in preterm labor with intra-amniotic infection. 1033 95

Nitric oxide (NO) generation and its effect on mitochondrial enzymes were investigated in soybean embryonic axes at the onset of germination. NO was detected in homogenates from soybean embryonic axes by EPR. Enzymatic sources of NO, such as nitrate reductase activity and nitric oxide synthase, assessed as NADPH-diaphorase activity, were measured in homogenates incubated up to 48 h. Both NO content and the activity of the enzymes showed a similar profile as function of the imbibition time, with maximal levels at 15-24h. Total O2 consumption in enriched-mitochondrial fraction was inhibited by NO in a concentration-dependent manner. O2 consumption dependent on cytochrome oxidase activity was more sensitive than alternative oxidase pathway to NO exposure. Half maximal effects of NO at 0.3 and 3.6 microM were measured for cytochrome oxidase and alternative oxidase, respectively. Enriched-mitochondrial fractions from soybean embryonic axes treated with NO (up to 1 microM) showed increased H2O2 production. The data presented suggest that NO could modulate O2 consumption in soybean embryonic axes. This process could affect the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and the cellular energy yield in the germinating embryonic axes, and could have a role in soybean germination.
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PMID:Nitric oxide generation by soybean embryonic axes. Possible effect on mitochondrial function. 1069 61

Air pollution studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous free radical, is a potent photosynthetic inhibitor that reduces CO2 uptake activity in leaves. It is now recognized that NO is not only an air pollutant but also an endogenously produced metabolite, which may play a role in regulating plant cell functions. Although many studies have suggested the presence of mammalian-type NO synthase (NOS) in plants, the source of NO is still not clear. There has been a number of studies indicating that plant cells possess a nitrite-dependent NO production pathway which can be distinguished from the NOS-mediated reaction. Nitrate reductase (NR) has been recently found to be capable of producing NO through one-electron reduction of nitrite using NAD(P)H as an electron donor. This review focuses on current understanding of the mechanism for the nitrite-dependent NO production in plants. Impacts of NO produced by NR on photosynthesis are discussed in association with photo-oxidative stress in leaves.
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PMID:Nitrite-dependent nitric oxide production pathway: implications for involvement of active nitrogen species in photoinhibition in vivo. 1112 1

Six strains of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum were investigated for nitric oxide (NO) production. First, the potential presence of NO synthase was examined. None of the strains of L. fermentum and L. plantarum examined produced NO from L-arginine under aerobic conditions. Interestingly, all L. fermentum strains expressed strong L-arginine deiminase activity. All L. fermentum strains produced NO in MRS broth, but the NO was found to be chemically derived from nitrite, which was produced by L. fermentum from nitrate present in the medium. Indeed all L. fermentum strains express nitrate reductase under anaerobic conditions. Moreover, one strain, L. fermentum LF1, had nitrate reductase activity under aerobic conditions. It was also found that L. fermentum strains JCM1173 and LF1 possessed ammonifying nitrite reductase. The latter strain also had denitrifying nitrite reductase activity at neutral pH under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The LF1 strain is thus capable of biochemically converting nitrate to NO. NO and nitrite produced from nitrate by lactobacilli may constitute a potential antimicrobial mechanism. studied in a rat acute liver injury model (Adawi et al. 1997). The results indicate that Lactobacillus plantarum DSM 9842 may possess NOS (Adawi et al. 1997). However, NO production from L-arginine has not been investigated in pure cultures of L. plantarum. According to the results of a 15N enrichment experiment, traces of (NO2-+NO3-)-N (total oxidised nitrogen: TON), which seemed to be formed by the resting cells of Lactobacillus fermentum IFO3956, appeared to be derived from L-arginine (Morita et al. 1997). Therefore, it was suggested that L. fermentum may possess a NOS. However, NO produced from L-arginine was not directly measured and a NOS inhibitor test was not performed by Morita et al. (1997). It is known that L-arginine deiminase (ADI) in bacteria may convert L-arginine to NH4+ (Cunin et al. 1986), which may be further oxidised to TON via nitrification by bacteria. Therefore, 15N enrichment experiments could not definitely conclude that L. fermentum possess NOS to convert L-arginine directly to NO. In this study, six Lactobacillus strains belonging to L. plantarum and L. fermentum were measured for NO production in MRS broth. The metabolism of nitrate and L-arginine by the Lactobacillus cell suspensions was also studied. The possibility that NO and nitrite production by lactobacilli may be a potential probiotic trait is also discussed.
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PMID:Evaluation of nitric oxide production by lactobacilli. 1154 28


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