An investigation of the reactions of H3O+ and O2+ with NO, NO2, N2O and HNO2 in support of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

A selected ion flow tube (SIFT) experimental investigation has been carried out of the reactions of H3O+, NO+ and O2+ with NO, NO2, N2O and HNO2, in order to obtain the essential kinetic data for the analyses of these compounds in air using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). These investigations show that NO+ ions do not react at a significant rate with any of these NOx compounds and that H3O+ ions react only with HNO2 (product ions H2NO2+ (75%) and NO+ (25%)). O2+ ions react with NO (product ion NO+), NO2 (product ion NO2+) and HNO2 (product ions NO+ (75%), NO2+ (25%)), but not with N2O. We conclude that both NO and NO2 can be accurately quantified in air using only O2+ precursor ions and SIFT-MS when HNO2 is not present. However, when HNO2 is present it invariably co-exists with both NO and NO2 and then both H3O+ and O2+ precursor ions are needed to determine the partial pressures of NO, NO2 and HNO2 in the air mixture. We also conclude that currently N2O cannot be analysed in air using SIFT-MS.     

Sensitivity to ALA-PDT of cell lines with different nitric oxide production and resistance to NO cytotoxicity

In this work, we studied the in vitro interactions between aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as the interactions between ALA, porphyrins and some NO donors and precursors. We employed three murine adenocarcinoma cell lines: LM2, which does not produce NO; LM3, which produces NO, and LM3-SNP, a variant of LM3 resistant to NO producing the same amount of NO as the parental. We did not find cross-resistance between NO-induced cytotoxicity and ALA-PDT. In spite of the lower porphyrin synthesis, LM2 cells show the highest sensitivity to ALA-PDT. However, we hypothesised that this is not related to the lack of endogenous NO production, because modulation of NO levels did not modify the response to PDT in any of the cell lines.

Two unexpected results were found: the enhancement of NO production from the donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced by ALA in both cells and medium, and the inhibition by ALA of NO production from arginine. We also found that SNP strongly protected the cells from ALA-PDT by impairing porphyrin biosynthesis as a consequence of an inhibition of the enzyme ALA dehydratase. We were not able to evaluate the action of NO derived from SNP because of the unexpected porphyrin impairment. On the other hand, impairment of NO from Arginine driven by ALA, although not modulating in vitro the ALA-PDT response, by increasing in vivo blood flow, may be contributing to the mechanism of tumour cures.     

Gating NO release from nitric oxide synthase

We have investigated the kinetics of NO escape from Geobacillus stearothermophilus nitric oxide synthase (gsNOS). Previous work indicated that NO release was gated at position 223 in mammalian enzymes; our kinetics experiments include mutants at that position along with measurements on the wild type enzyme. Employing stopped-flow UV-vis methods, reactions were triggered by mixing a reduced enzyme/N-hydroxy-l-arginine complex with an aerated buffer solution. NO release kinetics were obtained for wt NOS and three mutants (H134S, I223V, H134S/I223V). We have confirmed that wt gsNOS has the lowest NO release rate of known NOS enzymes, whether bacterial or mammalian. We also have found that steric clashes at positions 223 and 134 hinder NO escape, as judged by enhanced rates in the single mutants. The empirical rate of NO release from the gsNOS double mutant (H134/I223V) is nearly as rapid as that of the fastest mammalian enzymes, demonstrating that both positions 223 and 134 function as gates for escape of the product diatomic molecule.     

A Comparison of Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry and Nitric Oxide (NO) Electrode Techniques to Detect NO in Aqueous Solution

The NO electrode and membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) have the advantage of being sensitive, direct, and real time detectors of NO in aqueous solution. They do not require reacting NO with labels or purging of NO with an inert gas. We show that the NO electrode and MIMS are comparable in sensitivity detecting NO concentrations to 0.5 nM in aqueous solution, and both give identical results in a biological measurement, the reactions of deoxyhemoglobin with nitrite.     

Photoinduced nitric oxide release from a nitrobenzene derivative in mitochondria

We report a novel NO donor (RpNO), containing a 2,6-dimethylnitrobenzene moiety for photocontrollable NO release and a rhodamine moiety for targeting to mitochondria. Photorelease of NO from RpNO in aqueous solution was confirmed by means of ESR analysis. Cellular release of NO from RpNO was confirmed with the aid of DAF-FM DA, an NO-specific fluorescence probe. RpNO was colocalized with MitoTracker Green FM, a mitochondrial stain, in HCT116 colon cancer cells and exhibited photodependent cytotoxicity. Our results indicate that RpNO is an effective NO donor for time-controlled, mitochondria-specific NO treatment.     

Dissociative multiphoton ionization of NO2 studied by time-resolved imaging

We have studied dissociative multiphoton ionization of NO2 by time-resolved velocity map imaging in a two-color pump-probe experiment using the 400 and 266 nm harmonics of a regeneratively amplified titanium-sapphire laser. We observe that most of the ion signal appears as NO+ with approximately 0.28 eV peak kinetic energy. Approximately 600 fs period oscillations indicative of wave packet motion are also observed in the NO+ decay. We attribute the signal to two competitive mechanisms. The first involving three-photon 400 nm absorption followed by dissociative ionization of the pumped state by a subsequent 266 nm photon. The second involving one-photon 400 nm absorption to the 2B2 state of NO2 followed by two-photon dissociative ionization at 266 nm. This interpretation is derived from the observation that the total NO+ ion signal exhibits biexponential decay, 0.72 exp(-t/90+/-10)+0.28 exp(-t/4000+/-400), where t is the 266 nm delay in femtoseconds. The fast decay of the majority of the NO+ signal suggests a direct dissociation via the bending mode of the pumped state. .     

Nitrosopeptide mapping: a novel methodology reveals s-nitrosylation of dexras1 on a single cysteine residue

S-Nitrosylation of specific cysteine residues is a reversible signaling mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) generated by NO synthase (NOS) enzymes. In some proteins, evidence has accumulated that more than one cysteine can be S-nitrosylated; however, it is difficult to distinguish S-nitrosylation on separate cysteine residues. We report a novel simple, sensitive, and specific procedure for nitrosopeptide mapping. Dexras1 is a monomeric G protein whose guanine nucleotide exchange activity is augmented by NO; the identity and number of its S-nitrosylated cysteines is unknown. We describe the radiolabeling of S-nitrosylated cysteine residues in Dexras1. A nitrosopeptide map, generated by two-dimensional peptide chromatography, reveals that only a single cysteine is S-nitrosylated following NO exposure. Mutagenesis of Cys11 abolished the effect of NO donors on Dexras1, implicating this residue in the NO-mediated activation of Dexras1.     

Hot hole-induced dissociation of NO dimers on a copper surface

We use reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) to study the photochemistry of NO on Cu(110) in the UV-visible range. We observe that the only photoactive species of NO on Cu(110) is the NO dimer, which is asymmetrically bound to the surface. RAIRS shows that photoinduced dissociation proceeds via breaking of the weak N-N bond of the dimer, photodesorbing one NO(g) to the gas phase and leaving one NO(ads) adsorbed on the surface in a metastable atop position. We model the measured wavelength-dependent cross sections assuming both electron- and hole-induced processes and find that the photochemistry can be described by either electron attachment to a level 0.3 eV above the Fermi energy E(F) or hole attachment to a level 2.2 eV below E(F). While there is no experimental or theoretical evidence for an electron attachment level so close to E(F), an occupied NO-related molecular orbital is known to exist at E(F) - 2.52 eV on the Cu(111) surface [I. Kinoshita, A. Misu, and T. Munakata, J. Chem. Phys. 102, 2970 (1995)]. We, therefore, propose that photoinduced dissociation of NO dimers on Cu(110) in the visible wavelength region proceeds by the creation of hot holes at the top of the copper d-band.     

Solid state and solution nitrate photochemistry: photochemical evolution of the solid state lattice

We examined the deep UV 229 nm photochemistry of NaNO(3) in solution and in the solid state. In aqueous solution excitation within the deep UV NO(3)ˉ strong π → π* transition causes the photochemical reaction NO(3)ˉ → NO(2)ˉ + O·. We used UV resonance Raman spectroscopy to examine the photon dose dependence of the NO(2)ˉ band intensities and measure a photochemical quantum yield of 0.04 at pH 6.5. We also examined the response of solid NaNO(3) samples to 229 nm excitation and also observe formation of NO(2)ˉ. The quantum yield is much smaller at ～10(-8). The solid state NaNO(3) photochemistry phenomena appear complex by showing a significant dependence on the UV excitation flux and dose. At low flux/dose conditions NO(2)ˉ resonance Raman bands appear, accompanied by perturbed NO(3)ˉ bands, indicating stress in the NaNO(3) lattice. Higher flux/dose conditions show less lattice perturbation but SEM shows surface eruptions that alleviate the stress induced by the photochemistry. Higher flux/dose measurements cause cratering and destruction of the NaNO(3) surface as the surface layers are converted to NO(2)ˉ. Modest laser excitation UV beams excavate surface layers in the solid NaNO(3) samples. At the lowest incident fluxes a pressure buildup competes with effusion to reach a steady state giving rise to perturbed NO(3)ˉ bands. Increased fluxes result in pressures that cause the sample to erupt, relieving the pressure.     

Bond or cage effect: how nitrophorins transport and release nitric oxide

Most blood-sucking insects possess salivary proteins which, upon injection into the victim's tissue, help them improve their feeding. One group of these salivary proteins takes advantage of the vasodilator properties of NO to perform this task. These proteins are the so-called nitrophorins (NPs). NPs are heme proteins that store and transport NO, which, when released in the victim's tissue, produces vasodilation and inhibition of blood coagulation. It has been proposed that NO binds tightly to NP at a low pH of around 5.6 and that once NPs are injected in the victims tissue, at a pH of approximately 7.4, a conformational change occurs which lowers NO affinity, allowing it to be released. In this work we have studied the NO release mechanism of NP4 at a molecular level using state of the art computer simulation techniques. We have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study NP4 conformational dynamics at both pH values 5.6 and 7.4 and computed the corresponding free energy profile for NO release using a multiple steering molecular dynamics scheme. We also have used hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques to analyze the heme-NO structure and the Fe-NO bond strength in the different NP4 conformations. Our results provide the molecular basis to explain that NO escape from NP4 is determined by differential NO migration rates and not by a difference in the Fe-NO bond strength. In contrast to most heme proteins that control ligand affinity by modulating the bond strength to the iron, NP4 has evolved a cage mechanism that traps the NO at low pH and releases it upon cage opening when the pH rises.     

Detection of the His-heme Fe2+-NO species in the reduction of NO to N2O by ba3-oxidase from thermus thermophilus

Reaction pathways in the enzymatic formation and cleavage of the N-N and N-O bonds, respectively, are difficult to verify without the structure of the intermediates, but we now have such information on the heme a(3)(2+)-NO species formed in the reaction of ba(3)-oxidase with NO from resonance Raman spectroscopy. We have identified the His-heme a(3)(2+)-NO/Cu(B)(1+) species by its characteristic Fe-NO and N-O stretching frequencies at 539 and 1620 cm(-)(1), respectively. The Fe-NO and N-O frequencies in ba(3)-oxidase are 21 and 7 cm(-)(1) lower and higher, respectively, than those observed in Mb-NO. From these results and earlier Raman and FTIR measurements, we demonstrate that the protein environment of the proximal His384 that is part of the Q-proton pathway controls the strength of the Fe-His384 bond upon ligand (CO vs NO) binding. We also show by time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy that Cu(B)(1+) has a much lower affinity for NO than for CO. We suggest that the reduction of NO to N(2)O by ba(3)-oxidase proceeds by the fast binding of the first NO molecule to heme a(3) with high-affinity, and the second NO molecule binds to Cu(B) with low-affinity, producing the temporal co-presence of two NO molecules in the heme-copper center. The low-affinity of Cu(B) for NO binding also explains the NO reductase activity of the ba(3)-oxidase as opposed to other heme-copper oxidases. With the identification of the His-heme a(3)(2+)-NO/Cu(B)(1+) species, the structure of the binuclear heme a(3)-Cu(B)(1+) center in the initial step of the NO reduction mechanism is known.     

Interplay between bonding and magnetism in the binding of NO to Rh clusters

We have studied the binding of NO to small Rh clusters, containing one to five atoms, using density functional theory in both spin-polarized and non-spin-polarized forms. We find that NO bonds more strongly to Rh clusters than it does to Rh(100) or Rh(111), suggesting that Rh clusters may be good catalysts for NO reduction. However, binding to NO also quenches the magnetism of the clusters. This (local) effect results in reducing the magnitude of the NO binding energy, and also washes out the clear size-dependent trend observed in the nonmagnetic case. Our results illustrate the competition present between the tendencies to bond and to magnetize, in small clusters.     

Electronic spectroscopy of NO-(Rg)x complexes (Rg = Ne,Ar) via the 4s and 3d Rydberg states

We have employed (2 + 1) resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy to investigate the 3d and 4s Rydberg states of the NO molecule when bound to the surface of Rg(x) clusters (Rg = rare gas). We observe that the spectra of the NO-Ar(x) species converge in appearance as x increases, and this is discussed in terms of two Rg atoms interacting with the NO+ core, with other Rg atoms being "outside" the Rydberg orbital. We show that the interaction of each of the Rg atoms with the NO is essentially independent for the NO-Rg2 complexes: both by comparing our spectra for Rydberg states of NO-Rg and NO-Rg2, and from the results of ab initio calculations on NO+ - Rg and NO+ - Rg2. In addition, we discuss the disappearance of some electronic bands upon complexation in terms of Franck-Condon factors that are very sensitive to the angular coordinate. We relate our results to those of the bulk by comparing to the previously reported electronic spectroscopy of NO in both Rg matrices and He nanodroplets.     

NO reductase activity of the tetraheme cytochrome C554 of Nitrosomonas europaea

The tetraheme cytochrome c(554) (cyt c(554)) from Nitrosomonas europaea is believed to function as an electron-transfer protein from hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO). We show here that cyt c(554) also has significant NO reductase activity. The protein contains one high-spin and three low-spin c-type hemes. HAO catalyzed reduction of the cyt c(554), ligand binding, intermolecular electron transfer, and kinetics of NO reduction by cyt c(554) have been investigated. We detect the formation of a NO-bound ferrous heme species in cyt c(554) by EPR and M?ssbauer spectroscopies during the HAO catalyzed oxidation of hydroxylamine, indicating that N-oxide intermediates produced from HAO readily bind to cyt c(554). In the half-reduced state of cyt c(554), we detect a spin interaction between the [FeNO](7) state of heme 2 and the low-spin ferric state of heme 4. We find that ferrous cyt c(554) will reduce NO at a rate greater than 16 s(-1), which is comparable to rates of other known NO reductases. Carbon monoxide or nitrite are shown not to bind to the reduced protein, and previous results indicate the reactions with O(2) are slow and that a variety of ligands will not bind in the oxidized state. Thus, the enzymatic site is highly selective for NO. The NO reductase activity of cyt c(554) may be important during ammonia oxidation in N. europaea at low oxygen concentrations to detoxify NO produced by reduction of nitrite or incomplete oxidation of hydroxylamine.     

Car exhaust catalysis from first principles: selective NO reduction under excess O2 conditions on Ir

Combining energetic data from density functional theory with thermodynamic calculations, we have studied in detail selective NO reduction under excess O2 conditions on Ir. We show that excess O2 can readily poison the Ir catalyst for NO reduction and the poisoning starts from a low O coverage on the surface. The adsorbed O switches the reaction selectivity from reduction (N2 production) to oxidation (NO2 production). As the O coverage is built up, Ir metal can eventually be oxidized to IrO2, which is predicted to be thermodynamically possible under reaction conditions. To prevent O poisoning the surface, the presence of reductants is thus essential. We demonstrate that NO reduction is sensitive to the choice of reductant, and that alkenes are the most effective, mainly because they are able to produce surface C atoms that can selectively remove O atoms from Ir steps. On the basis of our analyses of the electronic structures, the mechanism of O-poisoning is elucidated and the reactant sensitivity in NO reduction is also discussed in terms of the bonding competition effect. We found that for different adsorbates, such as NO, O, and N, their bondings with surface d-states are remarkably similar. This gives rise to an indirect repulsion between adsorbates whenever they may bond with the same metal atoms. This energy cost can be qualitatively correlated with the valency of the adsorbate, and this is the key to understand the O-poisoning effect and the structure sensitivity in NO reduction.     

FTIR investigation of the intermediates formed in the reaction of nitroprusside and thiolates

We have studied the outer-sphere reduction of [Fe(CN)5(NO)]2- by several reagents including dithionite and have for the first time measured the IR spectra of [Fe(CN)5(NO)]3- and [Fe(CN)4(NO)]2- in aqueous media. The spectra of [Fe(CN)5(NO)]3- and [Fe(CN)4(NO)]2- are consistent with bent six-coordinate {MNO}7 and linear five-coordinate {MNO}7 species, respectively. We have measured the UV-visible and IR spectra that evolve after [Fe(CN)5(NO)]2- is reacted with thiolate. These spectra permit us to assign the molecular structure of the so-called "red product" as [Fe(CN)5(eta1-N-RSNO)]3-. We have followed the decomposition of the [Fe(CN)5(eta1-N-RSNO)]3- by IR. Importantly, there is a 1:1 correspondence between the disappearance of the [Fe(CN)5(eta1-N-RSNO)]3- and the formation of [Fe(CN)5(NO)]3-. Thus, we conclude under the conditions of this study, reduction of [Fe(CN)5(NO)]2- by thiolate takes place via a (dark) inner-sphere mechanism that yields [Fe(CN)5(NO)]3- via homolytic N-S bond cleavage.     

A new paramagnetic intermediate formed during the reaction of nitrite with deoxyhemoglobin

The reduction of nitrite by deoxygenated hemoglobin chains has been implicated in red cell-induced vasodilation, although the mechanism for this process has not been established. We have previously demonstrated that the reaction of nitrite with deoxyhemoglobin produces a hybrid intermediate with properties of Hb(II)NO(+) and Hb(III)NO that builds up during the reaction retaining potential NO bioactivity. To explain the unexpected stability of this intermediate, which prevents NO release from the Hb(III)NO component, we had implicated the transfer of an electron from the β-93 thiol to NO(+) producing ·SHb(II)NO. To determine if this species is formed and to characterize its properties, we have investigated the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) changes taking place during the nitrite reaction. The EPR effects of blocking the thiol group with N-ethyl-maleimide and using carboxypeptidase-A to stabilize the R-quaternary conformation have demonstrated that ·SHb(II)NO is formed and that it has the EPR spectrum expected for NO bound to the heme in the β-chain plus that of a thiyl radical. This new NO-related paramagnetic species is in equilibrium with the hybrid intermediate "Hb(II)NO(+) ? Hb(III)NO", thereby further inhibiting the release of NO from Hb(III)NO. The formation of an NO-related paramagnetic species other than the tightly bound NO in Hb(II)NO was also confirmed by a decrease in the EPR signal by -20 °C incubation, which shifts the equilibrium back to the "Hb(II)NO(+) ? Hb(III)NO" intermediate. This previously unrecognized NO hemoglobin species explains the stability of the intermediates and the buildup of a pool of potentially bioactive NO during nitrite reduction. It also provides a pathway for the formation of β-93 cysteine S-nitrosylated hemoglobin [SNOHb:S-nitrosohemoglobin], which has been shown to induce vasodilation, by a rapid radical-radical reaction of any free NO with the thiyl radical of this new paramagnetic intermediate.     

Electronic Response of Nano-sized Cages of ZnO and MgO to Presence of Nitric Oxide

We have performed a comparative theoretical study on the adsorption of nitric oxide (NO) on Zn₁₂O₁₂ and Mg₁₂O₁₂ nanocages in terms of their energetic, geometric, and electronic properties. It has been found that NO adsorption on the MgO nanocage is energetically more favorable than that on the ZnO one. In contrast to the ZnO nanocage, HOMO-LUMO energy gap (Eg) of MgO one is dramatically decreased in the presence of NO molecule so that it is transformed from an intrinsic semiconductor (Eg≈5.00 eV) to a p-type one (Eg≈1.93 eV). We have predicted that electronic and conductance properties of the Mg₁₂O₁₂ nanocage are sensitive toward NO molecule, thus it may be potential candidate in detection of NO molecules.     

Interaction between NO and Na, O, S, Cl on Au and Pd(111) surfaces

NO co-adsorption with X (X = Na, O, S, and Cl) on Au and Pd(111) surfaces is studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to get a deeper insight into the extraordinary sulfur enhanced adsorption on the Au surface. It is found that both electronegative and electropositive adatoms can enhance NO adsorption on Au(111). In Na + NO/Au(111), the strong electrostatic attraction between Na and NO dominates and stabilizes NO adsorption, though Na-induced surface negative charging weakens NO adsorption. In (O, S, Cl) + NO/Au, the electronegative atoms would induce a slight surface distortion and enhance NO adsorption accordingly. NO adsorption on Pd(111) is enhanced by Na, but weakened by electronegative species. We suggest that the unique features of noble metals, i.e., the narrow DOS at the Fermi level (E(F)) and the deep buried d-band center, should play an important role in the promotion of NO adsorption on their surface as the CO case.