Protein S-sulfhydration as a major sources of H2S bioactivity

Abstract

The physiological and biomedical importance of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has been extensively studied in our body.  H 2 S can be endogenously produced in a variety of cells and tissues by cystathionine γ-lyase, cystathionine β-synthase, and/or 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, and is involved in the regulation of vascular function, cell growth, insulin secretion, neurotransmission, myocardial contractility, inflammation, and nociception, etc.  H 2 S post-translationally modifies proteins by yielding a hydropersulfide moiety (–SSH) in specific cysteine residue(s), termed as S -sulfhydration.  It is becoming increasingly recognized that S -sulfhydration is a major sources of H 2 S bioactivity.  In this research highlight, we discuss our latest published findings which demonstrate the S -sulfhydration regulation of proteins by H 2 S and their importance in aging and cancer protection.