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1,4-naphthoquinones (NQs) catalytically oxidize H2S to per- and polysufides and sulfoxides, reduce oxygen to superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and can form NQ-SH adducts through Michael addition. Here, we measured oxygen consumption and used sulfur-specific fluorophores, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and UV-Vis spectrometry to examine H2S oxidation by NQs with various substituent groups. In general, the order of H2S oxidization was DCNQ ~ juglone > 1,4-NQ > plumbagin >DMNQ ~ 2-MNQ > menadione, although this order varied somewhat depending on the experimental conditions. DMNQ does not form adducts with GSH or cysteine (Cys), yet it readily oxidizes H2S to polysulfides and sulfoxides. This suggests that H2S oxidation occurs at the carbonyl moiety and not at the quinoid 2 or 3 carbons, although the latter cannot be ruled out. We found little evidence from oxygen consumption studies or LC-MS/MS that NQs directly oxidize H2S2–4, and we propose that apparent reactions of NQs with inorganic polysulfides are due to H2S impurities in the polysulfides or an equilibrium between H2S and H2Sn. Collectively, NQ oxidation of H2S forms a variety of products that include hydropersulfides, hydropolysulfides, sulfenylpolysulfides, sulfite, and thiosulfate, and some of these reactions may proceed until an insoluble S8 colloid is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) and its derivatives (NQs, juglone, plumbagin, 2-methoxy-1,4-NQ, and menadione) have a variety of therapeutic applications, many of which are attributed to redox cycling and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously demonstrated that NQs also oxidize hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to reactive sulfur species (RSS), potentially conveying identical benefits. Here we use RSS-specific fluorophores, mass spectroscopy, EPR and UV-Vis spectrometry, and oxygen-sensitive optodes to examine the effects of thiols and thiol-NQ adducts on H2S-NQ reactions. In the presence of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys), 1,4-NQ oxidizes H2S to both inorganic and organic hydroper-/hydropolysulfides (R2Sn, R=H, Cys, GSH; n = 2–4) and organic sulfoxides (GSnOH, n = 1, 2). These reactions reduce NQs and consume oxygen via a semiquinone intermediate. NQs are also reduced as they form adducts with GSH, Cys, protein thiols, and amines. Thiol, but not amine, adducts may increase or decrease H2S oxidation in reactions that are both NQ- and thiol-specific. Amine adducts also inhibit the formation of thiol adducts. These results suggest that NQs may react with endogenous thiols, including GSH, Cys, and protein Cys, and that these adducts may affect both thiol reactions as well as RSS production from H2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,4-Napththoquinones (NQs) are clinically relevant therapeutics that affect cell function through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and formation of adducts with regulatory protein thiols. Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are chemically and biologically similar to ROS and here we examine RSS production by NQ oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using RSS-specific fluorophores, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, UV-Vis absorption spectrometry, oxygen-sensitive optodes, thiosulfate-specific nanoparticles, HPLC-monobromobimane derivatization, and ion chromatographic assays. We show that NQs, catalytically oxidize H2S to per- and polysulfides (H2Sn, n = 2–6), thiosulfate, sulfite and sulfate in reactions that consume oxygen and are accelerated by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inhibited by catalase. The approximate efficacy of NQs (in decreasing order) is, 1,4-NQ ≈ juglone ≈ plumbagin > 2-methoxy-1,4-NQ ≈ menadione >> phylloquinone ≈ anthraquinone ≈ menaquinone ≈ lawsone. We propose that the most probable reactions are an initial two-electron oxidation of H2S to S0 and reduction of NQ to NQH2. S0 may react with H2S or elongate H2Sn in variety of reactions. Reoxidation of NQH2 likely involves a semiquinone radical (NQ·−) intermediate via several mechanisms involving oxygen and comproportionation to produce NQ and superoxide. Dismutation of the latter forms hydrogen peroxide which then further oxidizes RSS to sulfoxides. These findings provide the chemical background for novel sulfur-based approaches to naphthoquinone-directed therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents results of two studies examining individual differences in self-presentation style. Identifies three major groups among subjects: consistents, flexible impression managers, and rigid impression managers. Reports differences in self-evaluations among the groups with consistents rating themselves most favorably. Concludes that individuals' behavior corresponded to their reported styles. (DK)

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 298: R51-R60, 2010. First published November 4, 2009; doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00576.2009.--Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HVC), an intrinsic and assumed ubiquitous response of mammalian pulmonary blood vessels, matches regional ventilation to perfusion via an unknown O2-sensing mechanism. Global pulmonary hypoxia experienced by individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or numerous hypoventilation syndromes, including sleep apnea, often produces maladaptive pulmonary hypertension, but pulmonary hypertension is not observed in diving mammals, where profound hypoxia is routine. Here we examined the response of cow and sea lion pulmonary arteries (PA) to hypoxia and observed the expected HVC in the former and a unique hypoxic vasodilation in resistance vessels in the latter. We then used this disparate response to examine the [O.sub.2]-sensing mechanism. In both animals, exogenous [H.sub.2]S mimicked the vasoactive effects of hypoxia in isolated PA. [H.sub.2]S-synthesizing enzymes, cystathionine [beta]-synthase, cystathionine [gamma]-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase, were identified in lung tissue from both animals by one-dimensional Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between [H.sub.2]S production/consumption and [O.sub.2] was examined in real time by use of amperometric [H.sub.2]S and [O.sub.2] sensors. H2S was produced by sea lion and cow lung homogenate in the absence of [O.sub.2], but it was rapidly consumed when [O.sub.2] was present. Furthermore, consumption of exogenous [H.sub.2]S by cow lung homogenate, PA smooth muscle cells, and heart mitochondria was [O.sub.2] dependent and exhibited maximal sensitivity at physiologically relevant [Po.sub.2] levels. These studies show that HVC is not an intrinsic property of PA and provide further evidence for [O.sub.2]-dependent [H.sub.2]S metabolism in [O.sub.2] sensing. hypoxic vasoconstriction; pinniped; pulmonary hypertension

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are evolutionarily conserved hormones that affect blood pressure and fluid volume through membrane-bound guanylate cyclase (GC)-linked natriuretic peptide receptors-A and -B (NPR-A and NPR-B, respectively) in a variety of vascular, renal, and other tissues. The principal physiological stimulus for cardiac NPs in fish is somewhat debated between two prominent theories: regulation of salt balance (osmoregulatory hypothesis) or prevention of volume expansion (cardioprotective hypothesis). In the present study, we examined atrial and ventricular expression of trout NPs, atrial (ANP), brain (BNP), and ventricular (VNP) using Northern (mRNA), Western (NP pro-hormone), and qPCR (GC-NPR-A and -B mRNA) blot analysis following independent manipulation of plasma salt and volume levels after chronic exposure to freshwater (FW; volume loaded, salt depleted), saltwater (SW; volume depleted, salt loaded), or freshwater trout fed a high-salt diet (FW-HSD; volume and salt loaded). We also measured NP transcriptional response to acute (2 h) volume expansion with dialyzed plasma (VE; 80% blood vol) or volume depletion by hemorrhage (VD, 20% blood volume every 30 min for 2 h) with real-time PCR. In essentially all instances, increased expression of the NP system was associated with FW-HSD or plasma expansion. There were no differences in NP expression between chronically adapted FW and SW fish, and hemorrhage decreased atrial ANP and VNP mRNA. These results indicate that rainbow trout cardiac NPs and cardiovascular GC-NPRs respond principally to volume, not salt overload, and this suggests that the primary function of trout cardiac NP system is to protect the heart. natriuretic peptide receptors; hypervolemia; hypervolemia; osmoregulation; cardioprotection

Carbon monoxide (CO) is endogenously produced by heme oxygenase (HO) and is involved in vascular, neural, and inflammatory responses in mammals. However, the biological activities of CO in nonmammalian vertebrates is unknown. To this extent, we used smooth muscle myography to investigate the effects of exogenously applied CO (delivered via a water-soluble CO-releasing molecule, CORM-3) on isolated lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) dorsal aortas and examined its mechanisms of action on trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) efferent branchial (EBA) and celiacomesenteric (CMA) arteries. CORM-3 dose-dependently relaxed all vessels examined. Trout EBA were twofold more sensitive to CORM-3 when precontracted with norepinephrine (NE) than KC1 and CORM-3 relaxed five-fold more of the NE--than KC1-induced tension. Glybenclamide (10 [micro]M), an ATP-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor, inhibited NE-induced contraction, but did not affect CORM-3-induced relaxation. NS-2028 (10 [micro]M), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, had no effect on a NE-contraction, but inhibited a subsequent CORM-3-induced relaxation. Zinc protopophyrin-IX (ZnPP-IX, 0.3-30 [micro]M), a HO inhibitor, elicited a small, yet dose-dependent and significant, increase in baseline tension but did not have any effect on subsequent NE-induced contractions or a nitric oxide-induced relaxation (via sodium nitroprusside). [ZnPP-IX] greater than 3 [micro]M, however, significantly reduced the predominant vasodilatory response of trout EBA to hydrogen sulfide. These results implicate an active HO/CO pathway in trout vessels having an impact on resting vessel tone and CO-induced vasoactivity that is at least partially mediated by soluble guanylyl cyclase. gasotransmitters; guanylyl cyclase; hydrogen sulfide; vasodilator