Investigation of the N-15 NMR of S-nitrosothiols showed that primary and te
rtiary RSNOs have distinct N-15 chemical shifts around 730 and 790 ppm, res
pectively. Using N-15 NMR technique, the equilibrium constant of NO transfe
r between SNAP and GSH was found to be 0.74. For primary RSNOs, linear rela
tionships exist among N-15 NMR chemical shifts, reduction potentials, and t
he pK(a)s of their parent thiols. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.