title: The mode of decomposition of Angeli's salt (Na2N2O3) and the effects thereon of oxygen, nitrite, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione.
abstract: The classical view of the aerobic decomposition of Angeli's salt is that it releases NO(2)(-) + NO(-)/HNO the latter then reacting with O(2) to yield ONOO(-). An alternative that has recently been proposed envisions electron transfer to O(2) followed by decomposition to NO(2)(-) + NO. The classical view is now strongly supported by the observation that the rates of decomposition of Angeli's salt under 20% O(2) or 100% O(2) were equal. Moreover, NO(2)(-), which inhibits this decomposition by favoring the back reaction, was more effective in the absence of agents that scavenge NO(-)/HNO. It is thus clear that Angeli's salt is a useful source of NO(-)/HNO for use in defined aqueous systems. The measurements made in the course of this work allowed approximation of the rate constants for the reactions of NO(-)/HNO with NO(2)(-), O(2), glutathione, or Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase. The likelihood of the formation of NO(-)/HNO in vivo is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Liochev
authors.forename: Irwin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fridovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005609:Free Radicals; D005978:Glutathione / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009573:Nitrites / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D009573:Nitrites; C021229:oxyhyponitrite; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D010100:Oxygen