Thionitroxides, RSNHO*: the structure of the SNO moiety in "S-Nitrosohemoglobin", a possible NO reservoir and transporter.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays important roles in many biological processes. S-Nitrosothiols have long been believed to have significant roles in NO biochemistry. The modified cysteine residue of hemoglobin was previously identified as a distorted S-nitrosothiol (RSNO) or an S-hydroxyamino radical (RSN*OH). Here we show that a thionitroxide (RSNHO*, S-aminyloxyl radical) is likely the observed species. Computational studies show that the thionitroxide is the only structure consistent with the electron density in the hemoglobin Cysbeta93-SNO structure previously reported. Although a metastable adduct, the thionitroxide in a hydrogen-bonding environment can form readily and release NO upon exposure to an aqueous environment. The thionitroxides could be responsible for the biological effects attributed to S-nitrosothiols or could serve as precursors to S-nitrosothiols in oxidative conditions.