Dinitrosyl iron complexes with thiol-containing ligands as a base for developing drugs with diverse therapeutic activities: Physicochemical and biological substantiation

Abstract

Dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with thiol-containing ligands occur in animal tissues as paramagnetic (EPR-active) mononuclear and diamagnetic (EPR-silent) binuclear species with the presence of nitric oxide. They provide stabilization and storage (within protein-bound DNICs) of nitric oxide, as well as its transport (within low-molecular-weight DNICs) to biological targets to serve as donors of not only nitric oxide itself but also of the nitrosonium ion (NO+). The latter function determines the ability of DNICs to S-nitrosylate various thiol-containing proteins. In this way, the complexes participate in a wide range of physiological and biochemical processes. With respect to the high and diverse level of biological activity and dose dependence of DNICs, they mimic the endogenous nitric oxide system. Taken together with the broad occurrence of DNICs (predominantly in the diamagnetic form) in animal tissues, this fact points to their role as an “operating form” of nitric oxide. It is thought that drugs designed on the basis of DNICs can substantially improve the efficiency of modern medical practice.