Detection of S-nitrosothiols

Background: S-nitrosothiols have been recognized as biologically-relevant products of nitric oxide that are involved in many of the diverse activities of this free radical.

Scope of review: This review serves to discuss current methods for the detection and analysis of protein S-nitrosothiols. The major methods of S-nitrosothiol detection include chemiluminescence-based methods and switch-based methods, each of which comes in various flavors with advantages and caveats.

Major conclusions: The detection of S-nitrosothiols is challenging and prone to many artifacts. Accurate measurements require an understanding of the underlying chemistry of the methods involved and the use of appropriate controls.

General significance: Nothing is more important to a field of research than robust methodology that is generally trusted. The field of S-nitrosation has developed such methods but, as S-nitrosothiols are easy to introduce as artifacts, it is vital that current users learn from the lessons of the past. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn.