title: The role of thiols in the apparent activation of rat brain nitric oxide synthase (NOS).
abstract: The role of thiols on the activation and/or stabilization of rat brain nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has been investigated. It was found that thiols are not necessary for stabilizing or protecting the protein during purification but are required during enzyme turnover for maximum activity. In the complete absence of thiols but with added tetrahydrobiopterin, the enzyme retained a low basal activity. Thiol addition to a thiol-deplete preparation of the enzyme resulted in a 4 to 7-fold increase in activity when measured after 15 min. High concentrations of dihydropteridine reductase also caused an apparent activation of NOS and was capable of replacing thiols. The data presented is consistent with a cofactor role for thiols. The possibility that they serve as reducing agents for the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin from dihydrobiopterins is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1735, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fukuto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D004093:Dihydropteridine Reductase / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D007700:Kinetics; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D001708:Biopterins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D004093:Dihydropteridine Reductase; C003402:sapropterin