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What nitrates tyrosine? Is nitrotyrosine specific as a biomarker of peroxynitrite formation in vivo?
Author(s) -
Halliwell Barry
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00469-9
Subject(s) - peroxynitrite , nitrotyrosine , biomarker , in vivo , chemistry , tyrosine , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , nitric oxide synthase , microbiology and biotechnology , superoxide
Peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) is a ‘reactive nitrogen species’ that can be formed (among other reactions) by combination of superoxide (O 2 ·− ) and nitric oxide (NO · ) radicals. It is being increasingly proposed as a contributor to tissue injury in several human diseases. The evidence presented for peroxynitrite participation usually includes the demonstration of increased nitrotyrosine levels in the injured tissue. Indeed, this is often the only evidence presented: the assumption is that formation of nitrotyrosine is a biomarker specifically diagnostic of ONOO − production. The present article examines this assumption and concludes that nitrotyrosine is a biomarker for ‘nitrating species’ rather than being specific for ONOO − .