Denitration of peroxynitrite-treated proteins by "protein nitratases" from dog prostate

Putative "protein nitratases," which catalyze denitration of peroxynitrite (PN)-treated, proteins, were detected in the crude extract of dog prostate. Nitratase activity was monitored by the decreased intensity of nitrotyrosine immunoreactive-bands in Western blot and increased nitrate level in dialysate of incubation mixture, which contained prostate crude extract, protease inhibitors and a PN-treated substrate, such as treated histone (III-S), BSA, invertase, or polylysine. Nitratases were activated by preincubation with m-calpain/Ca2+. Furthermore, after denitration, the activity of PN/DTT-treated invertase decreased to the similar activity level of DTT-treated invertase. At least two different types of nitratases may occur: type I, reductant-dependent, and type II, reductant-independent.