Nitric oxide (NO) is a major messenger molecule that plays key roles in many physiological processes. NO is produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to L-citruline and NO. At least three isoforms of NOS have been identified and characterized, namely, neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS). Recent evidence indicates that most of the cytotoxicity attributed to NO is rather due to peroxynytrite, produced from the diffusion controlled reaction betwen NO and another free radical, the suproxide anion. Peroxynitrite interacts with protein, DNAand lipids via direct oxidative reactions or via indirect radical mediated mechanisms
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