Mixtures of human myoglobin (Mb) (or the Y103F variant of human Mb), authentic peroxynitrite (ONOO-, ONOO-:protein 2 mol/mol), and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) gave radicals adducts at cysteine-110 (DMPO-C110) that are detected directly by electron paramagnetic magnetic spectroscopy (EPR). DMPO-C110 was detected exclusively over a range of DMPO concentrations (DMPO:protein ratios 25-100 mol/mol). Treatment of human Mb (or Y103F Mb) with the ONOO-generator 5-amino-3-(4-morpholinyl)-1,2,3-oxadiazolium (SIN-1) chloride (ONOO-: protein 5 mol/mol) yielded a cross-linked Mb dimer as judged by SDS-PAGE analyses. Addition of DMPO or carbonate effectively eliminated the cross-linked product. Mass analyses of samples containing human Mb (or Y103F Mb), carbonate, and ONOO- indicated that nitration occurs exclusively at Y103. Thus, reaction of human Mb and ONOO- yields specific products that depend on the presence or absence of physiological concentrations of carbonate. These products may serve as biomarkers for the participation of Mb-derived radicals in the oxidative damage associated with myocardial reperfusion injury.