A Tutorial on the Diffusibility and Reactivity of Free Nitric Oxide
Abstract
In this review, I consider the quantitative consequences of the diffusion of free NO in determining its biological actions. Several studies have measured the extent to which NO diffuses away from an NO-producing cell, and the distance of its diffusion is quite large, on the order of 100-200 microm. This wide diffusibility is consistent also with the high value for its diffusion constant, 3300 microm2/s. Mathematical simulations based on this wide diffusibility suggest that, within spatial limits of approximately 0.3-0.4 mm, the actions of free NO are dictated by the total number of NO-producing cells within this location as opposed to where the NO-producing cells are located within this space. These results suggest that the actions of NO are surprisingly long range and the diffusion of NO is an important determinant of its biological actions. Thus, the effects of NO on individual target cells may be determined more by each cell's preprogrammed characteristic response to NO than by proximity to an NO source. In addition, scavenging of NO by hemoglobin in blood vessels should represent a significant sink for its scavenging, posing difficulty for the postulate that only free NO functions as EDRF.
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The uncharged and hydrophobic-soluble property of NO may allow it to signal many cell diameters distant from its site of generation.
“This property may allow free diffusion across biological membranes and the potential to signal many cell diameters distant from its site of generation (18, 19).”
From What Part of NO Don't You Understand? Some Answers to the Cardinal Questions in Nitric Oxide Biology (2010) · cites this paper as [19]
The uncharged and hydrophobic-soluble property of NO may allow free diffusion across biological membranes.
“This property may allow free diffusion across biological membranes and the potential to signal many cell diameters distant from its site of generation (18, 19).”
From What Part of NO Don't You Understand? Some Answers to the Cardinal Questions in Nitric Oxide Biology (2010) · cites this paper as [19]
The presence of hemoglobin as an important intracellular sink should prevent a significant portion of NO from escaping regardless of its site of production within the cell.
“considering that the net direction of NO diffusion in space is dictated by its concentration gradient [39], then the presence of such an important intracellular sink as hemoglobin should still prevent a significant portion of NO from escaping regardless of its site of production within the cell.”
From Current perspectives and challenges in understanding the role of nitrite as an integral player in nitric oxide biology and therapy (2011) · cites this paper as [39]
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- Authors
- Lancaster, J. R.
- Affiliations
- Louisiana State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lancaster, J.R.
- Venue
- Nitric Oxide
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-02
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 18-30
- ISSN
- 1089-8603 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2030654802
- Cited by
- 495
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 9.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nitric Oxide (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK 46935, R01DK046935)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Hemoglobin structure and function
- Keywords
- diffusion, diffusion coefficient, long-distance signaling, endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide scavenging, hemoglobin
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Diffusion, Models, Biological, Models, Chemical, Nitric Oxide
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