Enhanced electron flux and reduced calmodulin dissociation may explain 'calcium-independent' eNOS activation by phosphorylation

Timothy J. McCabe, David Fulton, Linda J. Roman, William C. Sessa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

331 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is phosphorylated directly by the protein kinase Akt at serine 1179. Mutation of this residue to the negatively charged aspartate (S1179D eNOS) increases nitric oxide (NO) production constitutively, in the absence of agonist challenge. Here, we examine the potential mechanism of how aspartate at 1179 increases eNOS activity using purified proteins. Examination of NO production and cytochrome c reduction resulted in no substantial changes in the K(m)/EC50 for L- arginine, calmodulin, and calcium, whereas there was a 2-fold increase in the rate of NO production for S1179D and a 2-4-fold increase in reductase activity (based on cytochrome c reduction). The observed increase in activity for both assays of NOS function indicates that a faster rate of electron flux through the reductase domain is likely the rate-limiting step in NO formation from eNOS. In addition, S1179D eNOS did show an increased resistance to inactivation by EGTA compared with wild type eNOS. These results suggest that a negative charge imposed at serine 1179, either by phosphorylation or by replacement with aspartate, increases eNOS catalytic activity by increasing electron flux at the reductase domain and by reducing calmodulin dissociation from activated eNOS when calcium levels are low.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6123-6128
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume275
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 3 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhanced electron flux and reduced calmodulin dissociation may explain 'calcium-independent' eNOS activation by phosphorylation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this