Nitric oxide (NO) inhibited the respiration rate of mitochondria isolated from rat heart at sub-micromolar concentrations of NO. The inhibition was rapidly and completely reversible, indicating that NO does not damage mitochondria. The sensitivity of respiration to NO depended on the oxygen concentration, substrate type and respiratory state of the mitochondria, consistent with NO competing with oxygen at cytochrome oxidase. Mitochondria catalysed a rapid rate of NO breakdown, which was greater in the absence of oxygen and was partly inhibited by cyanide and azide, suggesting that at least part of the NO breakdown was due to reduction of NO by cytochrome oxidase. The rapid rate of this breakdown suggests that mitochondrial breakdown of NO may be significant physiologically.
Skip Nav Destination
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 01 1996
Rapid reduction of nitric oxide by mitochondria, and reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by nitric oxide Available to Purchase
Vilmanté BORUTAITÉ;
Vilmanté BORUTAITÉ
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Guy C. BROWN
Guy C. BROWN
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 09 1995
Revision Received:
November 23 1995
Accepted:
November 29 1995
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
The Biochemical Society, London © 1996
1996
Biochem J (1996) 315 (1): 295–299.
Article history
Received:
August 09 1995
Revision Received:
November 23 1995
Accepted:
November 29 1995
Citation
Vilmanté BORUTAITÉ, Guy C. BROWN; Rapid reduction of nitric oxide by mitochondria, and reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by nitric oxide. Biochem J 1 April 1996; 315 (1): 295–299. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3150295
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() View past webinars > |