title: Degradation of hyaluronan by peroxynitrite.
abstract: Treatment of high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HA) with peroxynitrite at neutral pH (ONOO-/ONOOH) results in altered mobility on agarose gel electrophoresis, as well as reduced limiting viscosity number. Both effects are consistent with a reduction in HA molecular weight. HA is protected from peroxynitrite attack to varying extents by addition of alternate target molecules. Thiourea is extremely effective as a protective agent, dimethyl sulfoxide is moderately effective, while sodium benzoate and mannitol are slightly effective. A similar pattern of protection is observed when HA is degraded by hydroxyl radical generated by a metal ion/hydrogen peroxide system. On the basis of these observations, peroxynitrite is proposed to have hydroxyl radical-like activity in degrading HA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Materials Science, Herman F. Mark Polymer Research Institute, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, New York 11201, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Vilar
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cowman
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D013890:Thiourea / Q000494:pharmacology; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D009566:Nitrates; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D008353:Mannitol; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D013890:Thiourea; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide