The chemical biology of hydrogen sulfide and related hydropersulfides: interactions with biologically relevant metals and metalloproteins
Section snippets
Hydrogen sulfide: introduction
Recent studies indicate that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important and endogenously generated signaling molecule [1] akin to other small molecule signaling agents such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide [2]. However, the physiological targets and biochemical mechanisms associated with the biological activity of H2S (and derived species) remain to be established. As a toxic gas, environmental/industrial exposure to supraphysiological levels of H2S can be lethal. However, exposure of mice to
Hydropersulfides and related polysulfides: introduction
Recent reports indicate that hydropersulfides (RSSH) and related polysulfur compounds (RSSnR, n > 1, R = alkyl or H) are highly prevalent in biological systems [32]. RSSH can be formed via the reaction of H2S with a disulfide (RSSR) or a sulfenic acid ((1), (2), respectively) [6,33,34], or via the actions of cystathionine beta-synthase, cystathionine gamma-lyase [35], or mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase [36]. It has also been recently shown that cysteine hydropersulfide (Cys-SSH) can be made
Conclusions/future directions
It is clear that RSSH have a propensity for reacting with biological metals and metalloproteins. However, the intimate mechanistic details of these interactions and the array of possible biological targets have only begun to be elucidated. There are several biologically relevant and likely interactions that remain to be examined. For example, owing to the chemical properties of Zn2+ (a borderline ‘soft’ metal known to bind readily to thiols), it is possible that RSSH can affect Zn2+ metabolism,
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflict of interest statement
Nothing declared.
Acknowledgements
The authors want to acknowledge Takaaki Akaike, Yoshito Kumagai, and Peter Nagy for their helpful discussions regarding this topic.
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