The reaction between nitric oxide and alpha-tocopherol: a reappraisal

Recently Gorbunov et al. reported that nitric oxide (.NO) can directly oxidize alpha-tocopherol to alpha-tocopheroxyl radical (Gorbunov et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 219, 835-841, 1996). We have reinvestigated this reaction and report that a direct reaction between .NO and alpha-tocopherol does not occur. However, the reaction between .NO and oxygen generates an oxidant which oxidizes alpha-tocopherol to alpha-tocopheryl quinone. Exposure of alpha-tocopherol to a low flux of .NO generated from spermine NONOate (100 microM) results in no consumption of alpha-tocopherol under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. A higher flux of .NO, generated from 1 mM spermine NONOate, oxidizes alpha-tocopherol only under aerobic conditions. Artifactual oxidation of alpha-tocopherol can be observed when using commercial .NO that is contaminated with higher oxides of nitrogen, such as dinitrogen trioxide and dinitrogen tetraoxide.