PNNL

Abstract

We have identified a denitrase activity in macrophages that is upregulated following macrophage activation, which is shown by mass spectrometry to recognize nitrotyrosines in the calcium signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) and convert them to their native tyrosine structure without the formation of any aminotyrosine. Comparable extents of methionine sulfoxide reduction are also observed that are catalyzed by endogenous methionine sulfoxide reductases. Competing with repair processes, oxidized CaM is a substrate for a peptidase activity that results in the selective cleavage of the C-terminus lysine (i.e., Lys148) that is expected to diminish CaM function. Thus, competing repair and peptidase activities define the abundances and functionality of CaM to modulate cellular metabolism in response to oxidative stress, where the presence of the truncated CaM species provides a useful biomarker for the transient appearance of oxidized CaM.