title: Peroxynitrite rapidly permeates phospholipid membranes.
abstract: Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is a potent oxidant implicated in a number of pathophysiological processes. The activity of ONOO- is related to its accessibility to biological targets before its spontaneous decomposition (t1/2 approximately 1 s at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). Using model phospholipid vesicular systems and manganese porphyrins as reporter molecules, we demonstrated that ONOO- freely crosses phospholipid membranes. The calculated permeability coefficient for ONOO- is approximately 8.0 x 10(-4) cm.s-1, which compares well with that of water and is approximately 400 times greater than that of superoxide. We suggest that ONOO- is a significant biological effector molecule not only because of its reactivity but also because of its high diffusibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Marla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Groves
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009566:Nitrates; D016877:Oxidants; D010743:Phospholipids; C039642:peroxynitric acid