The role of the reactions of .NO with superoxide and oxygen in biological systems: a kinetic approach.

In this study we calculate the half-life of .NO in its reactions with superoxide and with oxygen under various conditions using the known rate constants for these reactions. The measured half-life of .NO in biological systems is 3-5 s, which agrees well with the calculated value for intracellular .NO, but not for extracellular .NO under normal physiological conditions. The autoxidation of .NO to yield NO2- as a final product cannot be responsible for such a short measured half-life under normal as well as pathologic conditions. Therefore, if there is direct evidence for the occurrence of the reaction of .NO with O2.- in the medium, one has to assume that the steady state concentrations of free .NO are much lower than those measured. The very low concentrations of free .NO in biological systems may result from its reversible strong binding to biological molecules. Simulation of the mechanism of the autoxidation of .NO indicates that the binding constants of .NO to O2 or to another .NO are too small to account for the very low concentration of free .NO in biological systems. Nevertheless, the reaction of .NO with oxygen cannot be neglected in biological systems if the intermediate ONOO. reacts rapidly with a biological target. The biological damage caused by ONOO. is expected to be due to the radical itself and to peroxynitrite, which is most probably formed via the reaction of ONOO. with the biological molecule.