The objective of our concise review is to elaborate an evidence-based integrative medicine model that incorporates functional linkages of key aspects of cortically-driven mind-body training procedures to biochemical and molecular processes driving enhanced cellular bioenergetics and whole-body metabolic advantage. This entails the adoption of a unified biological systems approach to selectively elucidate basic biochemical and molecular events responsible for achieving physiological relaxation of complex cellular structures. We provide accumulated evidence in support of the potential synergy of voluntary breathing exercises in combination with meditation and/or complementary cognitive tasks to promote medically beneficial enhancements in whole-body relaxation, anti-stress mechanisms, and restorative sleep. Accordingly, we propose that the widespread metabolic and physiological advantages emanating from a sustained series of complementary mind-body exercises will ultimately engender enhanced functional integration of cortical and limbic areas controlling voluntary respiratory processes with autonomic brainstem neural pattern generators. Finally, a unified mechanism is proposed that links behaviorally-mediated enhancements of whole-body metabolic advantage to optimization of synchronous regulation of mitochondrial oxygen utilization via recycling of nitrite and nitric oxide by iron-sulfur centers of coupled respiratory complexes and nitrite reductases.
- MeSH
- Breathing Exercises methods psychology MeSH
- Respiration MeSH
- Energy Metabolism physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Meditation methods psychology MeSH
- Mitochondria metabolism physiology MeSH
- Nitrite Reductases metabolism MeSH
- Nitric Oxide metabolism MeSH
- Relaxation Therapy methods psychology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Typical alkaloids expressed by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are small heterocyclic compounds containing weakly basic nitrogen groups that are critically important for mediating essential biological activities. The prototype opiate alkaloid morphine represents a low molecular mass heterocyclic compound that has been evolutionarily fashioned from a relatively restricted role as a secreted antimicrobial phytoalexin into a broad spectrum regulatory molecule. As an essential corollary, positive evolutionary pressure has driven the development of a cognate 6-transmembrane helical (TMH) domain μ3 opiate receptor that is exclusively responsive to morphine and related opiate alkaloids. A key aspect of "morphinergic" signaling mediated by μ3 opiate receptor activation is its functional coupling with regulatory pathways utilizing constitutive nitric oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule. Importantly, tonic and phasic intra-mitochondrial NO production exerts profound inhibitory effects on the rate of electron transport, H+ pumping, and O2 consumption. Given the pluripotent role of NO as a selective, temporally-defined chemical regulator of mitochondrial respiration and cellular bioenergetics, the expansion of prokaryotic denitrification systems into mitochondrial NO/nitrite cycling complexes represents a series of evolutionary modifications of existential proportions. Presently, our short review provides selective discussion of evolutionary development of morphine, opiate alkaloids, μ3 opiate receptors, and NO systems, within the perspectives of enhanced mitochondrial function, cellular bioenergetics, and the human microbiome.
- MeSH
- Alkaloids metabolism MeSH
- Biological Evolution * MeSH
- Energy Metabolism * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Microbiota * MeSH
- Nitrite Reductases metabolism MeSH
- Nitric Oxide metabolism MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
- MeSH
- Biological Transport MeSH
- Cell Membrane physiology drug effects MeSH
- Membrane Potentials drug effects MeSH
- Nitrite Reductases isolation & purification metabolism MeSH
- Nitric Oxide metabolism MeSH
- Oxidoreductases isolation & purification metabolism MeSH
- Paracoccus denitrificans physiology metabolism MeSH
A new method of determination of nitrate was developed, utilizing the nitrate reductase activity of Paracoccus denitrificans in which a further reduction of nitrate is blocked either by a mutation affecting formation of cytochromes c or by inhibition of the electron flow to nitrite reductase by mucidin. After deproteinization of the sample with zinc acetate the nitrite produced is determined colorimetrically.
