Peroxinitrite (ONOO-), a potent oxidant linked to cellular oxidative damage, is an important member of the family of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, rapidly generated in vivo from nitric oxide and superoxide anion. Nitrotyrosine?is a product of tyrosine nitration, that is facilitated by reactive nitrogen species.
Peroxynitrite has been shown to promote the nitration of tyrosine residues in proteins, and oxidation of redox metal centers, DNA, lipids and cysteine and methionine residues in proteins, suggesting that it plays a major role in oxidative cellular damage. Peroxynitrite has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory, infectious and degenerative human disease, including neurological conditions such as Alzheimer′s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in the pathogenesis of asthma, atherosclerosis and a variety of conditions precipitated by endothelial injury.
