Plant H2S and Transcription Factors (TFs) Interactions: Unexplored Area.

Abstract

Plant hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) metabolism has garnered noteworthy attention due to its role in regulating many plant processes. The primary mechanism by which H₂S exerts its signaling functions is through its reversible interaction with thiol groups on cysteine residues in proteins and peptides. This thiol-based oxidative post-translational modification (oxiPTM) is known as persulfidation. Transcription factors (TFs) are key proteins that control gene expression by interacting with distinguishing DNA sequences and other regulatory proteins. Their function is essential to almost all aspects of cellular biology, including development, differentiation, and responses to environmental biotic and abiotic cues. The persulfidation of TFs has emerged as an additional regulatory mechanism, linking H₂S signaling with gene regulation. Although the available information on the crosstalk between the regulatory mechanisms of H₂S metabolism and TF activity remains limited, existing data suggest that this connection influences not only H₂S metabolism itself but also other metabolic pathways involved in various physiological and stress responses. This review provides an updated overview of an emerging research area, focusing on the mutual regulation between specific TFs and H₂S metabolism, particularly in response to adverse environmental conditions.