Introduction
The modification of tyrosine residues in proteins to 3-nitrotyrosine by peroxynitrite (Figure 1) or other potential nitrating agents has been detected in biological systems that are subject to oxidative stress. Detection of nitrotyrosine-containing proteins has been reported in many human and animal diseases or cellular models of disease. While all tyrosine residues in proteins may theoretically be targets for nitration, presumably the efficiency of tyrosine nitration is dependent on various biological conditions such as the local production and concentration of the reactive species, the existence and availability of antioxidants and scavengers, the accumulation of inflammatory cell and the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the proximity and compartmentation of these components.