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Amino acids and gaseous signaling

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Abstract

Gases, such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are known toxic pollutants in the air. However, they are now recognized as important signaling molecules synthesized in animals and humans from arginine, glycine (heme), and cysteine, respectively. At physiological levels, NO, CO, and SO2 activate guanylyl cyclase to generate cGMP which elicits a variety of responses (including relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells, hemodynamics, neurotransmission, and cell metabolism) via cGMP-dependent protein kinases. H2S is also a crucial regulator of both neurological function and endothelium-dependent relaxation through cGMP-independent mechanisms involving stimulation of membrane KATP channels and intracellular cAMP signaling. Additionally, NO, CO, and H2S confer cytoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, NH3 is a major product of amino acid catabolism and profoundly affects the function of neurons and the vasculature through glutamine-dependent inhibition of NO synthesis. Emerging evidence shows that amino acids are not only precursors for these endogenous gases, but are also regulators of their production in a cell-specific manner. Thus, recent advances on gaseous signaling have greatly expanded our basic knowledge of amino acid biochemistry and nutrition. These exciting discoveries will aid in the design of new nutritional and pharmacological means to prevent and treat major health problems related to developmental biology and nutrient metabolism, including intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, aging, neurological disorders, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Amino acid

CBS:

Cystathionine β-synthase

CSE:

Cystathionine γ-lyase

EC:

Endothelial cells

GABA:

γ-Aminobutyrate

HO:

Heme oxygenase (HMOX)

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MPST:

β-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase

NFκB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

NAC:

N-Acetyl-cysteine

NMDA:

N-Methyl-d-aspartate

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

VSMC:

Vascular smooth muscle cells

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported, in part, by grants from National Institutes of Health (1R21 HD049449), National Research Initiative Competitive Grants (2008-35206-18764, 2008-35203-19120 and 2009-35203-05211) from the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, American Heart Association (0755024Y), and Texas AgriLife Research (H-8200). We thank Dr. Nick Flynn and Dr. Yanan Tian for helpful comments, as well as Mr. Merrick Gearing and Ms. Frances Mutscher for assistance in manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Xilong Li, Fuller W. Bazer, Haijun Gao, Wenjuan Jobgen, Peng Li, Jason R. McKnight, M. Carey Satterfield, Thomas E. Spencer & Guoyao Wu

  2. Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Gregory A. Johnson

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  1. Xilong Li
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  2. Fuller W. Bazer
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  3. Haijun Gao
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  4. Wenjuan Jobgen
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  6. Peng Li
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  9. Thomas E. Spencer
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  10. Guoyao Wu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guoyao Wu.

Additional information

Unless otherwise indicated, amino acids mentioned in this paper are l-isomers.

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Li, X., Bazer, F.W., Gao, H. et al. Amino acids and gaseous signaling. Amino Acids 37, 65–78 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0264-5

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