Bacterial nitric oxide synthases: what are they good for?
Abstract
Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are heme-based monooxygenases that oxidize L-arginine to nitric oxide (NO), a signaling molecule and cytotoxic agent in higher organisms. Although NOS-like activity has been reported in many bacteria, only a few bacterial homologs of mammalian NOSs (mNOSs) have been characterized to date. In contrast to mNOSs, which possess both a catalytic and a reductase domain, the bacterial enzymes lack reductase domains and require the supply of suitable reductants to produce NO. A notable exception is a NOS from a gram-negative bacterium that contains a new type of reductase module. Remarkably, bacterial NOSs seem to have functions that differ from those of mNOSs, including nitration of different metabolites and protection against oxidative stress. Studies of bacterial NOSs will probably result in a better understanding of the mechanism of NO synthesis and unveil a variety of new functions for NO in microbes.
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Both commensal and pathogenic bacteria possess the capability to produce NO via bacterial NOS.
“Both commensal and pathogenic bacteria possess this capability, although it remains unclear how active these mechanisms are in vivo and exactly what benefit this provides to bacteria.”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [342]
Some bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Streptomyces, produce NO via a bacterial NOS oxidation of L-arginine, akin to mammalian endothelial NOS function.
“Additionally, some bacteria, such as Lactobaciilus[340] and Streptomyces[341], produce NO via a bacterial NOS oxidation of L-arginine, akin to mammalian endothelial NOS function[342].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [342]
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References 59 · Cited by 160
- Authors
- Sudhamsu, J., & Crane, B. R.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Crane, Brian R.
- Venue
- Trends in Microbiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-05
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 212-218
- ISSN
- 0966-842X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1998904566
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 1.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Hemoglobin structure and function
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Inorganic Chemistry › Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms
- Keywords
- nitric oxide production, L-arginine oxidation, heme monooxygenase, reductase domain, antioxidant defense, Gram-negative bacteria
- MeSH terms
- Arginine, Bacteria, Bacterial Proteins, Nitric Oxide, Oxidation-Reduction, Stress, Physiological, Oxidative Stress, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena, Nitric Oxide Synthase
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