Peroxynitrite causes apoptosis in rat thymocytes.
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.
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*
D009566:Nitrates; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D004247:DNA