Gasotransmitter Cooperation: Chemistry, Physiology and Pathology

The thirteenth biennial Nitric Oxide Gordon Research Conference will focus in interactions between Nitric Oxide and other small molecules (hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide) that are being collectively referred to as "Gasotransmitters". These molecules share many similarities: They are generated enzymatically, they are gasses in pure form at physiological temperature (and pressure), and they are biologically active and either act directly as signaling molecules and/or modulate other biological signaling processes. In addition, all exhibit pleiotropic behavior and influence a wide variety of biological processes including cell fate decisions, proliferation, metabolic flexibility, redox status, and the metabolism of oxygen (which perhaps should be regarded as the "first in class" gasotransmitter). However, chemically these molecules are streets apart. Nitric Oxide is a selectively reactive somewhat hydrophobic free radical with complex biological chemistry, hydrogen sulfide is largely present as the mono-anion HS^- nucleophile and one of a growing number of small molecule sulfur species, and the biological chemistry of CO is restricted to d-orbital coordination chemistry. More recently, it has become clear that these molecules interact at a systems, a pathway, and even a chemical level, and are able to synergistically affect each other's ability to modulate biological processes. This meeting will be thematically focused on these interactions.