The basic chemistry of nitrogen monoxide and peroxynitrite.

After a discussion of the physical chemistry of nitrogen monoxide, such as solubility (1.55 mM at 37 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.15 M) and diffusion constant (4.8 x 10(-5) cm2s(-1)), several reactions that can acts as sinks are discussed, namely the reaction with dioxygen, with thiols and with superoxide. Of these, the latter reaction leads to a powerful oxidant, peroxynitrite. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this molecule are also reviewed.