Protein S-nitrosylation and cardioprotection
Junhui Sun, Elizabeth Murphy, Junhui Sun, Elizabeth Murphy
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function. In addition to the classic NO activation of the cGMP-dependent pathway, NO can also regulate cell function through protein S-nitrosylation, a redox dependent, thiol-based, reversible posttranslational protein modification that involves attachment of an NO moiety to a nucleophilic protein sulfhydryl group. There are emerging data suggesting that S-nitrosylation of proteins plays an important role in cardioprotection. Protein S-nitrosylation not only leads to changes in protein structure and function but also prevents these thiol(s) from further irreversible oxidative/nitrosative modification. A better understanding of the mechanism regulating protein S-nitrosylation and its role in cardioprotection will provide us new therapeutic opportunities and targets for interventions in cardiovascular diseases.
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Source: PubMed