Biological Effects of Nitric Oxide and its Role in Cell Signaling

Signaling

relaxant of peripheral vascular smooth muscle.
Used by the body

as a signaling molecule.
Serves different functions depending on body system. i.e. neurotransmitter, vasodilator, bactericide.
Environmental Pollutant
First gas known to act as a biological messenger

Year” by Science magazine in 1992

Robert Furchgott, Louis J Ignore,

Ferid Murad:
Nobel Prize 1998 “Discovery of the role of nitric oxide as a signal molecule in the cardiovascular system. “”

Properties of NO:
Small water and lipid soluble gas
Gaseous free radical

Three interchangeable forms:
NO: Nitric Oxide
NO+: Nitrosonium cation
NO- : Nitroxyl Radical

diatomic free radical consisting of one atom of nitrogen and

one atom of oxygen
Lipid soluble and very small for easy passage between cell membranes
Short lived, usually degraded or reacted within a few seconds
The natural form is a gas

N

O

Neuronal signaling

Penile erection

Cardiovascular homeostasis

Decompensation in atherogenesis

of New York, studying the effects of medication on blood

vessels, first noticed that the same drugs in some cases cause enlargement, and in others - the narrowing of the same vessels.
The scientist was interested in whether the opposite results can depend on the condition of the inner surface (endothelium) of the cells inside the blood vessels.

showed that this substance dilates the blood vessels in those

cases when the wall of the vessels is not damaged.
R. Farchgotta concluded that intact endothelial cells produce an unknown signal hitherto relaxing the smooth musculature of the vessels.
This scientist called the molecule EDRF, which meant "endothelium-receiving-distributing factor." In search of an unknown signal molecule,
In search of an unknown signal molecule, independently of R. Farchgott, Dr. Louis Ignarro, a 57-year-old scientist from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), took part. In search of the chemical nature of EDRF, L. Ignarro conducted a brilliant series of studies and in 1986 came to the conclusion that EDRF is identical to nitric oxide.

Medical School in Houston analyzed the pharmacological effect of giving

nitroglycerin and other related vasodilators.
In 1977, he established that these substances release nitric oxide, which expands the smooth muscle of cells.
The idea that gas can regulate the most important cellular functions, seized him, but at that time he did not have sufficient experimental justifications to confirm this idea.

(chest pain) due to reduced blood flow
in heart arteries without

any knowledge of mechanism

Lumen diameter increases
and resistance to blood
flow decreases

Heart
("coronary")
artery

NO

as a molecule signal in the body.
It turned out

that nitric oxide protects the heart, stimulates the brain, kills bacteria, etc.
Further results confirmed that nitric oxide is a signal molecule, primarily for the cardiovascular system, as well as for a number of other functions, for example, as a signal molecule in Nervous system.

prostaglandins, mechanical damage to the vascular endothelium, hypoxia, the impact

of such endogenous vasodilator substances, such as acetylcholine, adenosine, histamine, a number of cytokines, stimulation of β-adrenoceptors or 5-HT1A-receptors in the walls of blood vessels lead to increased activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOS) and increased biosynthesis of nitric oxide (II). Thus, the vasodilatory action of acetylcholine, histamine, adenosine, prostaglandins is implemented partly via the increase in NO biosynthesis (although this is not the only mechanism of vasodilator action). In contrast, stimulation of α-adrenergic or 5-HT2-receptors of vascular walls leads to a decrease in NO biosynthesis, which is one of the mechanisms caused by catecholamines and serotonin vasoconstriction, although, again, not the only one.

Endothelial synthase of nitric oxide synthesis of nitric oxide (II) from the terminal guanidine nitrogen of L-arginine, as a by-product of the reaction is formed L-citrulline. The formation of nitrogen oxide (II) syntase endothelial nitric oxide requires the participation of tetrahydrobiopterin, NADP, calcium and calmodulin and other cofactors

diffuses through the cell membrane of smooth muscle cells of

blood vessels and interacts with the heme prosthetic group of soluble called guanylate cyclase, nitrospirae it and the resulting disconnection of the iron heme with a proximal leucine and configuration change of the enzyme, leading to its activation. Guanylate cyclase activation leads to increased formation in the secondary cell mediator cyclic GMP (cGMP) — (3’,5’-guanosine-monophosphate) from GTP (guanosine triphosphate). In addition, nitric oxide (II) is also nitrosonium group other important heme iron enzymes, in particular cytochromes and cytochromoxidase, which leads to inhibition of their activity, slowing the rate of oxidative metabolism in mitochondria and reduce oxygen consumption of the smooth muscle cell (which is important in hypoxia conditions).

which oxidizes a guanidine nitrogen of L-arginine releasing nitric oxide

in the form of a free radical and citrulline.

for neuronal communication
NOS II
Most nucleated cells, particularly macrophages
Independent of intracellular

Ca+2
Inducible in presence of inflammatory cytokines
NOS III
Vascular endothelial cells
Ca+2 dependent
Vascular regulation

causing Ca influx into cell
Activation of calmodulin, which activates NOS
Mechanism

for start of synthesis dependent on body system
NO synthesis takes place in endothelial cells, lung cells, and neuronal cells

cell blood vessel wall
4) NO diffuses
across membranes
2) ACh binds

to receptors
on endothelial cells

3) Activate NO synthase

1) Stimulated nerve releases
Acetylcholine(ACh) at Nerve terminal

Nitric Oxide Signaling

in endothelial cells to relaxation of smooth muscle cells in

blood vessels.  NO synthase converts arginine to citrulline and NO.  The binding of acetylcholine causes the release of NO in vascular endothelial cells that causes the relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle (vasodialator).  1) binding of acetylcholine to G protein receptors causes InsP3 production.  2) InsP3 releases calcium ions from endoplasmic reticulum.  3) ca++ ions and calmodulin form complex which stimulates NO synthase to produce NO.  4) NO (g) diffuses from endothelial cell into adjacent smooth muscle cells.  5) In smooth muscle cell, NO activates guanylyl cyclase to make cyclic GMP (cGMP).  6) cGMP activates protein kinase G which phosphorylates several muscle proteins to induce muscle relaxation. 

nitric oxide activates the ejection process of neurotransmitters from nerve

endings during synaptic transmission.
Moreover, a molecule of nitric oxide can itself play the role of a neurotransmitter, that is, directly transmit a signal from one nerve cell to another.
Not surprisingly, nitric oxide is present in all parts of the human brain: the hypothalamus, the midbrain, the cortex, the hippocampus, the medulla oblongata, and others.

of smooth muscle vessels and the synthesis of so-called "heat

shock proteins" that "protect" the vessels in coronary heart disease.
Inhibits the aggregation (clumping) of platelets, affects the transfer of oxygen by erythrocytes, as well as reactions involving chemically active molecules (free radicals) in the blood.

involved in the immune response - macrophages and neutrophils -

is accompanied by the release of these cells by nitric oxide.

to diffuse quickly through the membrane of the cell synthesizing

it into the intercellular space (in less than 5 seconds) and easily (without the participation of the receptors) to penetrate into the target cells. Inside the cell, it activates certain enzymes and inhibits others, thus participating in the regulation of cellular functions.
In fact, nitrogen monoxide is a local tissue hormone.
NO plays a key role in suppressing the activity of bacterial and tumor cells by either blocking some of their iron-containing enzymes, or by damaging their cellular structures with nitric oxide or free radicals formed from nitric oxide.

the inflammatory focus, which causes damage to the proteins and

lipids of the cell membranes, which explains its cytotoxic effect on the target cell. Consequently, NO, accumulating excessively in a cell, can act in two ways: on the one hand, it causes DNA damage and, on the other hand, has a antiinflammatory effect.

vessels. In the case of myocardial infarction, nitric oxide plays

a positive role, as it induces a new vascular growth, but in cancer, the same process causes the development of tumors, promoting the nutrition and growth of cancer cells.
On the other hand, as a result, the delivery of nitric oxide to tumor cells is improved. DNA damage due to NO is one of the reasons for the development of apoptosis (the programmed process of cellular "suicide", aimed at removing cells that have lost their functions).
In the experiments, there was deamination of deoxynucleosides, deoxynucleotides and undamaged DNA upon exposure to a solution saturated with NO.
This process is responsible for increasing the sensitivity of cells to alkylating agents and ionizing radiation, which is used in anticancer therapy.

Conclusion

NO is a universal messenger molecule
It is involved

in a wide variety of pathophysiogical and biochemical reactions.
In summary NO is involved in regulation of B.P., prevention of aggregation and adhesion of platelets, promotion of penile erection.
Other way to increase active concentration of endogenous NO such as by prolonging its half life of duration of its actions.
NO donating compounds can be used as replacement therapy to treat its impaired production
NO also as therapeutic potential for Ischemic CVS diseases, pulmonary hypertension associated with cardiac and respiratory diseases.
They are far from ideal because of the associated side effect mainly due to the catabolism of NO into NO2
Therefore a technology to regulate in vivo synthesis of NO by genetic manipulation would be a welcome move.