It is well established that nitric oxide (•NO) reacts with cellular iron and thiols to form dinitrosyliron complexes (DNIC). Little is known, however, regarding their formation and biological fate. Our quantitative measurements reveal that cellular concentrations of DNIC are proportionally the largest of all •NO-derived adducts (900 pmol/mg protein (45–90 μM)). Using murine macrophages (RAW 264.7), we measured the amounts, and kinetics of, DNIC assembly and disappearance from endogenous and exogenous sources of •NO in relation to iron and O2 concentrations. Amounts of DNIC were equal to or greater than measured amounts of chelatable iron and depended on the dose and duration of •NO exposure. DNIC formation paralleled the upregulation of iNOS and occurred at low physiologic •NO concentrations (50–500 nM). Decreasing the O2 concentration reduced the rate of enzymatic •NO synthesis without affecting the amount of DNIC formed. Temporal measurements revealed that DNIC disappeared in an oxygen-independent manner (t½ = 80 min) and remained detectable long after the •NO source was removed (>24 h). These results demonstrate that DNIC will be formed under all cellular settings of •NO production and that the contribution of DNIC to the multitude of observed effects of •NO must always be considered.

Despite a central circadian role in Drosophila for the transcriptional regulator Timeless (dTim), the relevance of mammalian Timeless (mTim) remains equivocal. Conditional knockdown of mTim protein expression in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) disrupted SCN neuronal activity rhythms, and altered levels of known core clock elements. Full-length mTim protein (mTIM-fl) exhibited a 24-hour oscillation, where as a truncated isoform (mTIM-s) was constitutively expressed. mTIM-fl associated with the mammalian clock Period proteins (mPERs) in oscillating SCN cells. These data suggest that mTim is required for rhythmicity and is a functional homolog of dTim on the negative-feedback arm of the mammalian molecular clockwork.

The role of nitric oxide (NO·) as a mediator of cancer phenotype has led researchers to investigate strategies for manipulating in vivo production and exogenous delivery of this molecule for therapeutic gain. Unfortunately, NO· serves multiple functions in cancer physiology. In some instances, NO· or nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels correlate with tumor suppression and in other cases they are related to tumor progression and metastasis. Understanding this dichotomy has been a great challenge for researchers working in the field of NO· and cancer therapy. Due to the unique chemical and biochemical properties of NO·, it’s interactions with cellular targets and the subsequent downstream signaling events can be vastly different based upon tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment. Simple explanations for the vast range of NO-correlated behaviors will continue to produce conflicting information about the relevance of NO· and cancer. Paying considerable attention to the chemical properties of NO· and the methodologies being used will remove many of the discrepancies in the field and allow for in depth understanding of when NO-based chemotherapeutics will have beneficial outcomes.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus play an important role in reproductive function. These cells originate in the nasal compartment and migrate into the basal forebrain in association with olfactory/vomeronasal nerves in embryonic life in rodents. Here, we studied the role of neuropilins and their ligands, semaphorins, in the development of the olfactory-GnRH system. We focused on Neuropilin-2 knock-out (Npn-2 ؊/؊ ) mice, because they are known to display defasciculation of olfactory nerves and reduced fertility. We found a significant decrease in the number of GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus and a marked reduction in their gonadal size. We then observed an abnormal increase of GnRH neurons in the noses of Npn-2 ؊/؊ mice, indicating that these cells failed to migrate into the forebrain. However, because neuropilins and semaphorins are involved in events of neuronal migration in the brain, we asked whether the observed reduction in GnRH neurons was directly attributable to the action of these molecules. Using fluorescenceactivated cell sorting and reverse transcription-PCR on mRNA derived from embryonic green fluorescent protein (GFP)-GnRH transgenic mice, we found expression of class 3 semaphorins and their receptors (neuropilin-1/2 and plexin-A1) in GnRH neurons. Furthermore, double-immunofluorescence experiments showed that migrating GnRH neurons, as well as associated olfactory fibers, express Npn-2 in the nasal region. We then used a line of immortalized GnRH neurons (GN11 cells) that display the same expression patterns for semaphorins and their receptors as GFP-GnRH cells and found that class 3 semaphorins and vascular endothelial growth factors modulate their migratory activity. These studies provide support for the direct involvement of neuropilins and their ligands in the establishment of the GnRH neuroendocrine system.

Background:The methylation status of histone tails is a balance between methylation and demethylation. Results: Nitric oxide inhibits lysine demethylase 3A and alters cellular histone methylation patterns. Conclusion: Nitric oxide can significantly modify the epigenetic landscape. Significance: These results establish nitric oxide as a physiological epigenetic regulator acting through a nonclassical cell signaling mechanism.