All tags Cellular-and-biochemical-assays Nitric oxide donors guide

Nitric oxide donors guide

Use this guide to pick the appropriate nitric oxide (NO) donors for your experiments and say goodbye to contradictory results.

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The structural variation between NO donors has led to remarkably varied chemical reactivities and NO-release mechanisms, which has contributed to the contradictory and confusing results seen in NO literature.

In general, NO donors release NO through three kinds of mechanisms:

  1. Donating NO spontaneously, which releases NO through thermal or photochemical self-decomposition
  2. Enzymatic oxidation where NO donors need metabolic activation for NO to be released
  3. Releasing NO by chemical reaction with acids, alkalis, metals, or thiols

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Spontaneous-release

Chemical classCompounds Why choose this compound
Diazeniumdiolate*DEA NONOate (ab145197)Use for rapid release of NO. Short-acting (half-life of 2 min at pH 7.4, 37oC)
PAPA NONOate (ab145196)Half-life of 15 min at pH 7.4, 37oC.
Spermine NONOate (ab144522)Half-life of 40 min at pH 7.4, 37oC.
DPTA NONOate (ab145198)Half-life of 3 hours at pH 7.4, 37oC.
DETA NONOate (ab144627)Use for prolonged release of NO. Half-life of 20 hrs at pH 7.4, 37oC.
SyndnonimineSIN-1 (ab141525)To study peroxynitrite and other RNOS under physiological conditions. Produces both NO and superoxide spontaneously.

*NO release is pH and temperature sensitive.
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Enzymatic oxidation

Chemical classCompounds Why choose this compound
Organic nitratesNitroglycerin/GTNClinically proven vasodilator used to treat angina and acute myocardial infarction.
Inorganic nitroso compoundSodium nitroprusside (SNP, ab145732))Another clinically proven vasodilator. Caution: SNP may also release cyanide and free iron1. Using SNP to investigate NO in biological systems is problematic.


Chemical reaction

Chemical classCompounds Why choose this compound
S-nitrosothiolSNAP (ab120014)
SNAP has been extensively used in research. Note: Possibly act via RS-NO rather than NO itself. Also requires trace amount of Cu2+ to catalyse the reaction2.
S-nitrosoglutathione
(SNOG)
S-nitrosating agent that also acts as an NO donor. Has multiple therapeutic applications3.


While various NO-donors have been used extensively in NO research, many NO-donors remain uncharacterized. 

For the best results, where possible, use NO probes to check for NO release in your experimental setup. Diaminefluorescein (DAF-2) is a popular choice.

Browse DAF-2 NO probes


References

  1. Schroder, H. No nitric oxide for HO-1 from sodium nitroprusside. Mol. Pharmacol. 69, 1507–1509 (2006).

  2. McAninly, J., Williams, D. L. H., Askew, S. C., Butler, A. R. & Russell, C. Metal ion catalysis in nitrosothiol (RSNO) decomposition. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 83, 1758 (1993).

  3. Broniowska, K. A., Diers, A. R., & Hogg, N. (2013). S-NITROSOGLUTATHIONE. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1830(5), 3173–3181 (2013).