Reactive sulfur species may drive cellular signaling and oxidative stress regulation
In short: Researchers found that mammalian cells and tissues naturally produce high amounts of reactive persulfides and polysulfities. Using a new methodology, the study observed that these sulfur species are biosynthesized by specific enzymes and maintained at significant concentrations in the plasma and tissues of both rodents and humans.
These persulfides are highly reactive and act as potent reducing agents, interacting with molecules like hydrogen peroxide. This suggests that many biological effects previously attributed to hydrogen sulfide might actually be driven by these persulfide species, which can degrade into hydrogen sulfide.
The study quantified these species across various mammalian models, though the findings focus on their presence and reactivity rather than mapping every specific signaling pathway.
Why it matters: The biological effects we attribute to hydrogen sulfide might actually be caused by more reactive persulfide species.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Ida et al. (2014). Reactive cysteine persulfides and S-polythiolation regulate oxidative stress and redox signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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