title: Arginase activity in mitochondria--An interfering factor in nitric oxide synthase activity assays.
abstract: Previously, in tightly controlled studies, using three independent, yet complementary techniques, we refuted the claim that a mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS) isoform exists within pure, rat liver mitochondria (MT). Of those techniques, the NOS-catalyzed [(14)C]-L-arginine to [(14)C]-L-citrulline conversion assay (NOS assay) with MT samples indicated a weak, radioactive signal that was NOS-independent. Aliquots of samples from the NOS assays were then extracted with acetone, separated by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and exposed to autoradiography. Results obtained from these samples showed no radioactive band for L-citrulline. However, a fast-migrating, diffuse, radioactive band was observed in the TLC lanes loaded with MT samples. In this manuscript, we identify and confirm that this radioactive signal in MT samples is due to the arginase-catalyzed conversion of [(14)C]-L-arginine to [(14)C]-urea. The current results, in addition to reconfirming the absence of NOS activity in rat liver MT, also show the need to include arginase inhibitors in studies using MT samples in order to avoid confounding results when using NOS activity assays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venkatakrishnan
authors.forename: Ernesto S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nakayasu
authors.forename: Igor C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D001119:Arginase