NO Metabolomics Facility
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that regulates a number of physiological processes. NO is enzymatically generated by Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), which catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. In addition to its immediate and local effects, recent data demonstrate that NO can be oxidized to the molecule nitrite (NO2-) to be transported in the vasculature, and this endocrine transport of NO allows for NO bioactivity in more distal microvasculature. NO can also be rapidly inactivated to the molecule nitrate (NO3-), through its reaction with oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood vessel or myoglobin in the heart as well as other enzymes (shown below). Dysregulation of the NO homeostasis can occur at several different points of the pathway and is a central component of a number of pathological processes.
The goal of the NO Metabolomics Facility is to assist investigators in determining changes in the NO pathway in any experimental model of interest.
The Facility is experienced in assays to measure each step in the NO pathway and currently offers the following assays:
Measurement of nitrite concentration
Measurement of nitrate concentration
Measurement of S-nitrosothiol/iron-nitrosyl concentration
Measurement of NOS expression levels
Measurement of NOS activity
Assays can be performed in a variety of experimental systems, including clinical samples as well as samples from animal or cell culture models.
For more information, please contact Sruti Shiva, Ph.D.
