Tag Archives: nitric oxide
Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms of mitochondria-targeted calix[4]arene C-772 effect on uterine smooth muscle contractile activity
I. S. Forys1 (https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8958-8244)
O. V. Tsymbalyuk2 (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4524-7627)
Yu. V. Danylovych1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3526-7085)
H. V. Danylovych1* (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0571-4494)
M. V. Rudnytska1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7766-3900)
R. V. Rodik3 (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2258-6957)
S. O. Kosterin1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2961-5554)
1Department of Muscle Biochemistry, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Educational Scientific Institute
of High Technologies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
3Department of Chemistry of Macrocyclic Compounds, Institute of Organic Chemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: danylovychanna@ukr.net
Received: 06 April 2026; Revised: 06 May 2026;
Accepted: 29 May 2026; Available on-line: June 2026
Background. Identification of non-toxic exogenous compounds capable of selectively influencing intracellular Ca2+-dependent processes and smooth muscle contractility remains an important task of molecular biotechnology. Calix[4]arenes are considered promising modulators of cellular functions, and calix[4]arene C-772 is suggested to selectively effect mitochondrial Ca2+ handling. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calix[4]arene C-772 on Ca2+ transport in mitochondria of uterine smooth muscle, nitric oxide production in myocytes, and the contractile activity of myometrial strips. Methods. Non-pregnant Wistar rats were used in experiments, confocal microscopy, spectrofluorimetry, flow cytometry, and mechanokinetic analysis were applied. Results. Mitochondrial localization of calix[4]arenes in myocytes was confirmed by colocalization of the сalix[4]arene–FITC conjugate C-1308 with Mitotracker Orange CM-H2TMRos. Calix[4]arene C-772 (10 μM) interacted with cardiolipin in mitochondrial membranes, inhibited nitric oxide synthesis, reduced Ca2+ accumulation in isolated mitochondria and increased the amplitude of rat myometrial smooth muscle spontaneous contractions. Mechanokinetic analysis demonstrated increased force, velocity, and impulse parameters of contraction–relaxation cycles. Conclusions. These findings indicate that calix[4]arene C-772 at micromolar concentrations can serve as an effective modulator of mitochondrial functional activity and uterine smooth muscle contractility.
Nitric oxide in plants under abiotic stress: involvement in signaling networks
Yu. E. Kolupaev1,2* (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7151-906X)
L. I. Relina1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2833-5841)
V. P. Kolomatska1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5408-4244)
M. Popirny3 (https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0651-9324)
I. V. Shakhov1 (https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6378-9866)
T. O. Yastreb1 (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3604-9028)
1Yuriev Plant Production Institute, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkiv;
2Poltava State Agrarian University, Poltava, Ukraine;
3National Scientific Center “Institute for Soil Science and
Agrochemistry Research named after O. N. Sokolovsky”, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: plant_biology@ukr.net
Received: 01 April 2026; Revised: 04 May 2026;
Accepted: 29 June 2026; Available on-line: June 2026
Background. Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as one of the most vital signaling molecules in plants, involved in the control of most physiological processes under normal and, especially, stress conditions. Objective. This review provides data on the primary and recently discovered minor pathways of nitric oxide synthesis in plants, NO-induced protein post-translational modifications, NO involvement in a general signaling network, interaction with individual nucleotides, stress-protective action of different NO donors and metabolic precursors of nitric oxide, along with the potential applications of these compounds in phytobiotechnologies. Conclusions. Despite numerous unresolved questions regarding nitric oxide synthesis and signaling in plants, current evidence highlights its central role in plant adaptation and stress responses, as well as the considerable potential of NO donors and related compounds for phytobiotechnological applications.
Reparative osteogenesis markers during bone defects substitution with germanium-doped ceramics under experimental osteoporosis
T. Todosiuk1*, V. Chemerovskiy1, А. Rublenko2,
N. Ulianchych3, V. Kolomiiets3, S. Firstov3
1Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University, Bila Tserkva, Ukraine;
2Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine;
3Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: tatyana.todosyuk@gmail.com
Received: 04 June 2025; Revised: 05 August 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
Osteoporosis, as a systemic skeletal disease, is characterized by the loss of bone mass, decreased mineral density, and microarchitecture changes. In cases of traumatic fractures and critical-size bone defects osteoporosis can lead to spontaneous fractures, impair regeneration and complication when using bone substituting materials. Ceramic implants, doped with germanium to impart osteoinductive properties, are among promising bone substituting materials. In this study we aimed to assess biochemical markers of reparative osteogenesis at bone defects substitution with germanium-doped ceramics in rabbits under osteoporosis. The study was conducted on California White rabbits with osteoporosis, induced by administration of 0.4% dexamethasone solution. The model defects were created in trabecular and cortical bones, following the exposure of the periosteum with drills of 3 and 4.2 mm diameters, respectively, in compliance with the anesthetic regimen and antiseptic rules. Calcium phosphate ceramic granules with a size of 700 μm, synthesized from hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate and doped with 0.8 mass.% germanium (CPC-Ge) were used for healing. In the control group of animals (n = 9) bone defects were healed under a blood clot. In the experimental group (n = 9), the defects were replaced with CPC-Ge granules. Blood samples for biochemical studies were collected before modeling the bone defect and on the 7th, 14th, 30th, and 60th days of reparative osteogenesis. The activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and its bone isoenzyme, as well as circulating immune complexes, protein C and NO serum levels were determined. It was shown that substitution of both trabecular and cortical bones defects with CPC-Ge, as compared to healing under a blood clot, leads to reduced inflammatory and immune responses, prevented the depletion of protein C and promotes a more dynamic course of reparative osteogenesis in animals with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.
The level of nitric oxide and arginase activity in patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus during COVID-19
O. Y. Sklyarova1, S. R. Mahiiovych2, N. V. Denysenko3,
L. I. Kobylinska3*, Y. Y. Sklyarov2
1Department of Family Medicine FPGE, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine;
2Department of Therapy No 1 and Medical Diagnostics FPGE, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine;
3Department of Biological Chemistry, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Ukraine;
*e-mail: lesyaivanivna.biochemistry@gmail.com
Received: 28 September 2022; Revised: 06 November 2022;
Accepted: 11 November 2022; Available on-line: 19 December 2022
The aim of this study was to assess the level of nitric oxide production and arginase activity in patients with arterial hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus during infection with SARS-CoV-2. The study groups included patients with arterial hypertension, patients with arterial hypertension combined with a severe course of COVID-19 and patients who, in addition to arterial hypertension and COVID-19, were suffering from type II diabetes mellitus. The volunteers without any clinical signs of diseases and normal blood pressure formed the control group. It has been established that arterial hypertension, combined with COVID-19 occurs along with reduced L-arginine, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase activity and increased arginase activity. At the same time, the presence of arterial hypertension in patients with diabetes and coronavirus disease is accompanied by a decline in the content of L-arginine and arginase activity. Our study’s results may help scientists find new pharmacological targets in the future treatment of coronavirus disease and comorbid disorders.
Involvement of Cu-containing amine oxidases in the development of lung pathology in ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthma in guinea pigs
O. Hudkova1*, S. Luhovskyi2, L. Drobot1, N. Latyshko1
1Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sсiences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
2Dmitry F. Chebotarev Institute of Gerontology, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: ogudkova@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 03 August 2022; Revised: 15 September 2022;
Accepted: 29 September 2022; Available on-line: 06 October 2022
Bronchial asthma is developed as an immune response to allergen challenges accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis implicated in airway remodeling. To reveal the causative implication of Cu-containing amine oxidases, semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), diamine oxidase (DAO), and lysyl oxidase (LOX), in bronchial asthma development we used their irreversible inhibitor, semicarbazide, and ovalbumin-induced pathology in guinea pigs. Semicarbazide was introduced to asthmatic animals via drink or inhalation. At the 16th week after disease induction, the increase in the activity of pro-inflammatory SSAO and DAO in plasma (1.6 and 2 times, respectively) was observed. The introduction of semicarbazide to asthmatic animals via drink or inhalation significantly decreased activities of these enzymes compared to the untreated asthmatic animals. A considerable increase in IL-13 content and LOX activity in the lung tissue of asthmatic animals were observed that evidenced airway inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis development. The uptake of semicarbazide by guinea pigs with bronchial asthma led to normalization of LOX activity. Histological studies confirmed that semicarbazide attenuated morphopathological changes in the lungs of asthmatic animals. Thus, the data obtained indicate the direct participation of the studied enzymes in the progression of pathological processes in atopic bronchial asthma as well as the potential use of semicarbazide as a drug in complex anti-asthmatic therapy.
Unraveling the mystery of nitric oxide: Nobel prize winners Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro, and Ferid Murad
T. V. Danylova1*, S. V. Komisarenko2
1Institute for Social and Political Psychology, National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: danilova_tv@ukr.net,
2Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail:svk@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 21 February 2022; Accepted: 01 July 2022
In the 21st century, none of the scientists denies the determining role of the cardiovascular system and its central organ, the heart. The ongoing attempts to design new medications, elaborate effective trainings, heart transplant programs testify that humanity does not abandon attempts to improve and prolong human life, especially given the fact that the world’s biggest killer is ischemic heart disease. The most significant achievements in this field receive the highest rating in the scientific community – the Nobel Prize. In 1998, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Robert F. Furchgott, Louis J. Ignarro and Ferid Murad “for their discoveries concerning nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in cardiovascular system”. Their discovery triggered an international boom in research on nitric oxide. The paper aims to outline briefly the main stages of the scientific activity of R.F. Furchgott, L.J. Ignarro and F. Murad.
Biochemical and molecular-physiological aspects of the nitric oxide action in the utera
H. V. Danylovych, Yu. V. Danylovych
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail: danylovych@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 18 May 2021; Accepted: 12 November 2021
The sources of the nitric oxide (NO) formation in the uterus and the dynamics of changes in its content in different periods of organ functioning in human and animals are analyzed. The biochemical mechanisms of NO action on the myometrium contractile activity, the significance of NO in the physiological processes during pregnancy and labor, the importance of mitochondria as a reliable NO source in the smooth muscle and the possible ways of NO influence on Ca2+ transport and bioenergetic processes in mitochondria are considered. The authors’ data concerning ionic and membrane mechanisms of NO action on Ca2+-homeostasis of uterine myocytes, identification of nitric oxide in uterine smooth muscle mitochondria, biochemical characteristics of the NO-synthase reaction and the possible role of NO in the regulation of Ca2+ transport in these subcellular structures and in the electron transport chain functioning are presented and discussed.
Application of petri nets methodology to determine biophysicochemical parameters of mitochondria functioning
H. V. Danylovych*, A. Yu. Chunikhin, Yu. V. Danylovych, S. O. Kosterin
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: danylovych@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 01 Nobember 2020; Accepted: 17 May 2021
With the use of Petri net methodology a mathematical simulation model able to predict simultaneous changes in biophysicochemical parameters of mitochondria functioning was developed. The model allowed to interconnect in time the changes in mitochondria hydrodynamic diameter, electronic transport chain functioning, endogenous fluorescence of adenine nucleotides, DCF fluorescence signal of ROS production and NaN3 effects. It was shown that the calculated values of the studied biophysicalchemical parameters correspond to those obtained experimentally. The model permit to link mitochondrial functional changes and their structural representation and to optimize significantly experimental procedures.
NO-synthase activity and nitric oxide content in lymphoid cells of thymus and spleen of rats under conditions of diet-induced obesity
L. Kot*, V. Konopelnyuk, K. Dvorshchenko, V. Vereschaka
ESC “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: kot_lora@ukr.net
Received: 10 August 2020; Accepted: 17 May 2021
Metabolic disorders under conditions of obesity are known to be accompanied by systemic inflammation and immune system imbalance while nitric oxide (NO) system is one of the main key links in the immune responses regulation. The aim of the research was to evaluate NO-synthase (NOS) activity and NO content in the cells of thymus and spleen of rats with experimental obesity induced by 14 weeks of high-calorie diet. NO content in cell suspensions was determined using Griess reaction, NOS activity was estimated by NADPH++Н+ specific cleavage. It was shown that under conditions of experimental obesity NO content in cells of thymus and spleen as well as NOS activity in the spleen were decreased with simultaneous increase in both NO content and NOS activity in the serum. The obtained data testify the changes in lymphoid cells functional activity and in organism general adaptive capacity under conditions of obesity.