Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) for the Study of RNA-Protein Interactions: The IRE/IRP Example
Published on: December 4, 2014
Differential effects on cellular iron metabolism of the physiologically relevant diatomic effector molecules, NO and
Ralph N Watts1, Des R Richardson
1Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Iron Metabolism and Chelation Program, P.O. Box 81, High Street, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales 2031, Australia.
Abstract:
Both nitrogen monoxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) are biologically relevant diatomic effector molecules that mediate a variety of biological functions through their avid binding to iron (Fe). Previous studies showed that NO can inhibit Fe uptake from transferrin (Tf) and increase Fe mobilisation from cells [J. Biol. Chem. 276 (2001) 4724]. We used CO gas, a CO-generating agent ([Ru(CO)3Cl2]2), and cells stably transfected with the CO-producing enzyme, haem oxygenase 1 (HO1), to assess the effect of CO on Fe metabolism. These results were compared to the effects of NO produced by a variety of NO-generating agents, including S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), spermine-NONOate (SperNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Incubation of cells with CO inhibited 59Fe uptake from 59Fe-Tf by cells, and like NO, reduced ATP levels. Hence, the ability of both agents to inhibit 59Fe uptake may be partially mediated by inhibition of energy-dependent processes. These results showing a CO-mediated decrease in 59Fe uptake from 59Fe-Tf using exogenous CO were in agreement with studies implementing cells transfected with HO1. Like NO, CO markedly prevented 59Fe uptake into ferritin. In comparison to the avid ability of exogenous CO to inhibit 59Fe uptake, it had less effect on cellular 59Fe mobilisation. Experiments with HO1-transfected cells compared to control cells showed that 59Fe mobilisation was slightly enhanced. In contrast to NO, CO did not affect the RNA-binding activity of the iron regulatory protein 1 that plays an important role in Fe homeostasis. Our studies demonstrate that subtle differences in the chemistry of NO and CO results in divergence of their ability to affect Fe metabolism.
More Related Videos
04:48Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS) for Quantification of Iron Redox Species (Fe(II), Fe(III))
Published on: May 4, 2020
05:36Quantifiable and Inexpensive Cell-Free Fluorescent Method to Confirm the Ability of Novel Compounds to Chelate Iron
Published on: February 23, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Oxygen Transport in the Blood
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles