title: Nitric oxide regulates mitochondrial respiration and cell functions by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) reversibly inhibits mitochondrial respiration by competing with oxygen at cytochrome oxidase. Concentrations of NO measured in a range of biological systems are similar to those shown to inhibit cytochrome oxidase and mitochondrial respiration. Inhibition of NO synthesis results in a stimulation of respiration in a number of systems. It is proposed that NO exerts some of its main physiological and pathological effects on cell functions by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase. Further NO may be a physiological regulator of the affinity of mitochondrial respiration for oxygen, enabling mitochondria to act as sensors of oxygen over the physiological range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV