Nitric oxide imbalance provokes a nitrosative response in plants under abiotic stress

Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical generated in plant cells, belongs to a family of related molecules designated as reactive nitrogen species (RNS). When an imbalance of RNS takes place for any adverse environmental circumstances, some of these molecules can cause direct or indirect damage at the cellular or molecular level, promoting a phenomenon of nitrosative stress. Thus, this review will emphasize the recent progress in understanding the function of NO and its production under adverse environmental conditions.

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► Nitric oxide has a family of NO-related molecules designated as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) such as S-nitrosothiols or peroxynitrite.
► RNS participate in the mechanism of response against environmental stresses and can provoke post-translational modifications.
► A rise of protein tyrosine nitration is a reliable footprint of nitrosative stress.