Specific association of nitric oxide synthase-2 with Rac isoforms in activated murine macrophages

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2001 Aug;281(2):F326-36. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.2001.281.2.F326.

Abstract

Nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2) is responsible for high-output nitric oxide production important in renal inflammation and injury. Using a yeast two-hybrid assay, we identified Rac2, a Rho GTPase member, as a NOS2-interacting protein. NOS2 and Rac2 proteins coimmunoprecipitated from activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The two proteins colocalized in an intracellular compartment of these cells. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays revealed that both Rac1 and Rac2 associated with GST-NOS2 and that the NOS2 oxygenase domain was necessary and sufficient for the interaction. [(35)S]methionine-labeled NOS2 interacted directly with GST-Rac2 in the absence of GTP, calmodulin, or NOS2 substrates or cofactors. Stable overexpression of Rac2 in RAW 264.7 cells augmented LPS-induced nitrite generation (~60%) and NOS2 activity (~45%) without measurably affecting NOS2 protein abundance and led to a redistribution of NOS2 to a high-speed Triton X-100-insoluble fraction. We conclude that Rac1 and Rac2 physically interact with NOS2 in activated macrophages and that the interaction with Rac2 correlates with a posttranslational stimulation of NOS2 activity and likely its spatial redistribution within the cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fractionation
  • Cell Line
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Macrophage Activation
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RAC2 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Superoxides
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein