title: The nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine degrades heparan sulfate and heparin.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a powerful vascular and neural regulator. One of the breakdown products of nitric oxide is nitrite which converts to nitrous acid, a reagent routinely used for the degradation of heparin and heparan sulfate. We have recently shown that nitric oxide gas degrades heparin and heparan sulfate through a nitrous acid mechanism (Vilar et al, 1997, Biochemical Journal, 324, 473-479). The purpose of the present study is to confirm these findings using the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) under conditions that are close to those found in vivo. The results show that 2 mM SNAP releases a steady-state level of nitrite of over 200 microM. This level substantially degrades heparin and heparan sulfate at a pH of up to 5.0. This reaction may be important in breakdown of the glycosaminoglycan components of the extracellular matrix during normal and pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghael
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mileva
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Dweck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009573:Nitrites; D010396:Penicillamine; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine