title: Cysteine-Zn2+ complexes: unique molecular switches for inducible nitric oxide synthase-derived NO.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) in the low nanomolar range acts as a transcellular messenger molecule to initiate regulatory and physiological responses in nearby target cells via binding to the soluble guanylate cyclase heme moiety. Higher NO concentrations, as synthesized by the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) during inflammatory processes, show additional effects: NO may react with O2, yielding nitrogen oxides like N2O3 that are able to nitrosate thiols. A variety of proteins involved in very different functions of the cell contain cysteine-Zn2+ complexes. Effects of NO on different proteins containing cysteine-Zn2+ domains and playing essential roles during transcription, protein folding, and proteolysis are discussed. It is suggested that iNOS-derived NO acts as a signal molecule targeting cysteine-Zn2+ linkages, thus enabling cells to react toward nitrosative stress.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Immunobiology, Medical Department of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. kroencke@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Kröncke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D017510:Protein Folding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D015032:Zinc; D003545:Cysteine