S-nitrosoglutathione Reductase Activity Research Articles

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase activity of human and yeast glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase and its nuclear and cytoplasmic localisation.

S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) formation represents a mechanism for storage and transport of nitric oxide. Analysis of human liver and Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts has revealed the presence of only one enzyme able to significantly reduce GSNO, identified as glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH). GSNO is the best substrate known for the human and yeast enzymes (kcat/Km = 444,400 and 350,000 mM(-1) min(-1), respectively). Although NADH is the preferred cofactor, some activity with NADPH (Km = 460 microM) can be predicted in vivo. The subcellular localization demonstrates a cytosolic and nuclear distribution of FALDH in living yeast cells. This agrees with previous results in rat, and suggests a role in the regulation of GSNO levels in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of the eukaryotic cell.

The gene encoding glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase/GSNO reductase is responsive to wounding, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid

It has recently been discovered that glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) exhibits a strong S-nitrosoglutathione reductase activity. Plants use NO and S-nitrosothiols as signaling molecules to activate defense mechanisms. Therefore, it is interesting to investigate the regulation of FALDH by mechanical wounding and plant hormones involved in signal transduction. Our results show that the gene encoding FALDH in Arabidopsis ( ADH2) is down-regulated by wounding and activated by salicylic acid (SA). In tobacco, FALDH levels and enzymatic activity decreased after jasmonate treatment, and increased in response to SA. This is the first time that regulation of FALDH in response to signals associated with plant defense has been demonstrated.