H2S: A Novel Gasotransmitter that Signals by Sulfhydration

Bindu D Paul; Solomon H Snyder

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2015.08.007

H2S: A Novel Gasotransmitter that Signals by Sulfhydration

Trends Biochem Sci. 2015 Nov;40(11):687-700. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.08.007. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Authors

Bindu D Paul¹, Solomon H Snyder²

Affiliations

¹ The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: bpaul8@jhmi.edu.
² The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: ssnyder@jhmi.edu.

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a member of the growing family of gasotransmitters. Once regarded as a noxious molecule predominantly present in the atmosphere, H2S is now known to be synthesized endogenously in mammals. H2S participates in a myriad of physiological processes ranging from regulation of blood pressure to neuroprotection. Its chemical nature precludes H2S from being stored in vesicles and acting on receptor proteins in the fashion of other chemical messengers. Thus, novel cellular mechanisms have evolved to mediate its effects. This review focuses on sulfhydration (or persulfidation), which appears to be the principal post-translational modification elicited by H2S.

Keywords: cysteine; gasotransmitter; hydrogen sulfide; sulfhydration.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Gasotransmitters / metabolism*
Hydrogen Sulfide / metabolism*
Signal Transduction

Substances

Gasotransmitters
Hydrogen Sulfide

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

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