title: Peroxynitrite causes apoptosis in rat thymocytes.
abstract: Peroxynitrite is demonstrated to cause apoptosis in freshly harvested rat thymocytes suspended in phosphate buffer, as shown by the typical ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation. This evidence suggests a new function for peroxynitrite, already known to be a strong oxidant. Peroxynitrite can nick DNA, oxidize cellular thiols and initiate the apoptotic process responsible for genomic degradation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D004247:DNA