Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation

Abstract Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator in clinical use since the late 1800s. It functions as a prodrug that is bioactivated by formation of an enzyme-based thionitrate, E–Cys–NO2. This intermediate reportedly decomposes to release NO and NO2 − but their relative yields remain controversial....

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Main Authors: Vinod Parmar, Esam A. Orabi, Ann M. English, Gilles H. Peslherbe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80230-7
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author Vinod Parmar
Esam A. Orabi
Ann M. English
Gilles H. Peslherbe
author_facet Vinod Parmar
Esam A. Orabi
Ann M. English
Gilles H. Peslherbe
author_sort Vinod Parmar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator in clinical use since the late 1800s. It functions as a prodrug that is bioactivated by formation of an enzyme-based thionitrate, E–Cys–NO2. This intermediate reportedly decomposes to release NO and NO2 − but their relative yields remain controversial. Hence, we determined barriers for NO and NO2 − production from the model thionitrate, CH3SNO2, using comprehensive high-level quantum chemistry calculations [CCSD(T)//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ]. We find that the sulfenyl nitrite, CH3SONO, readily releases NO on (S)O–N bond homolysis but CH3SONO formation from CH3SNO2 either by S–NO2 bond homolysis or concerted rearrangement faces prohibitively high barriers (ΔH calc/ΔH ‡ calc > 42 kcal/mol). Dramatically lower barriers (ΔH ‡ calc ~ 17–21 kcal/mol) control NO2 − release from CH3SNO2 by gas-phase hydrolysis or nucleophilic attack by OH− or CH3S− on the sulfur atom within the C–S–NO2 molecular plane. Moreover, attack by either anion along the S–NO2 bond results in barrierless NO2 − release (ΔH ‡ calc ~ 0 kcal/mol) since a σ-hole (i.e., area of positive electrostatic potential) extends from this bond. Consistent with our high-level calculations, ALDH2 and GAPDH, enzymes implicated in nitroglycerin bioactivation via an E–Cys–NO2 intermediate, catalyze mainly or exclusively NO2 − release from the prodrug.
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spelling doaj-art-77fb0d0ddee34363959862e4c47b67f52025-01-05T12:26:32ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-80230-7Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivationVinod Parmar0Esam A. Orabi1Ann M. English2Gilles H. Peslherbe3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM), Concordia UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM), Concordia UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM), Concordia UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling (CERMM), Concordia UniversityAbstract Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator in clinical use since the late 1800s. It functions as a prodrug that is bioactivated by formation of an enzyme-based thionitrate, E–Cys–NO2. This intermediate reportedly decomposes to release NO and NO2 − but their relative yields remain controversial. Hence, we determined barriers for NO and NO2 − production from the model thionitrate, CH3SNO2, using comprehensive high-level quantum chemistry calculations [CCSD(T)//MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ]. We find that the sulfenyl nitrite, CH3SONO, readily releases NO on (S)O–N bond homolysis but CH3SONO formation from CH3SNO2 either by S–NO2 bond homolysis or concerted rearrangement faces prohibitively high barriers (ΔH calc/ΔH ‡ calc > 42 kcal/mol). Dramatically lower barriers (ΔH ‡ calc ~ 17–21 kcal/mol) control NO2 − release from CH3SNO2 by gas-phase hydrolysis or nucleophilic attack by OH− or CH3S− on the sulfur atom within the C–S–NO2 molecular plane. Moreover, attack by either anion along the S–NO2 bond results in barrierless NO2 − release (ΔH ‡ calc ~ 0 kcal/mol) since a σ-hole (i.e., area of positive electrostatic potential) extends from this bond. Consistent with our high-level calculations, ALDH2 and GAPDH, enzymes implicated in nitroglycerin bioactivation via an E–Cys–NO2 intermediate, catalyze mainly or exclusively NO2 − release from the prodrug.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80230-7NitroglycerinNitric oxideNitriteThionitrateBioactivationVasodilation
spellingShingle Vinod Parmar
Esam A. Orabi
Ann M. English
Gilles H. Peslherbe
Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
Scientific Reports
Nitroglycerin
Nitric oxide
Nitrite
Thionitrate
Bioactivation
Vasodilation
title Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
title_full Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
title_fullStr Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
title_full_unstemmed Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
title_short Modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate CH3SNO2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
title_sort modeling predicts facile release of nitrite but not nitric oxide from the thionitrate ch3sno2 with relevance to nitroglycerin bioactivation
topic Nitroglycerin
Nitric oxide
Nitrite
Thionitrate
Bioactivation
Vasodilation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80230-7
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