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Neuroprotective actions of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and sulfhydration in the brain
Author(s) -
Paul Bindu Diana,
Snyder Solomon H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.802.4
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , neurodegeneration , chemistry , nitric oxide , cysteine , cystathionine beta synthase , huntingtin , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , biology , enzyme , mutant , gene , disease , medicine , organic chemistry
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has emerged as an important signaling molecule joining the ranks of the gasotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Analogous to NO, H 2 S signals via a posttranslational modification termed sulfhydration, wherein H 2 S mediates the conversion of –SH groups of reactive cysteine residues on target proteins to –SSH or persulfide groups. Ever since its characterization, sulfhydration has been shown to participate in a myriad of physiological processes ranging from vasorelaxation to neuroprotection. Recently we have shown that aberrant H 2 S metabolism and sulfhydration play key roles in the progression of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). In HD, mutant huntingtin disrupts the transcriptional regulatory machinery of cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE), the biosynthetic enzyme for H 2 S as well as its precursor cysteine. mHtt affects transcription factors responsible for expression of CSE leading to its depletion in HD. H 2 S also modulates the disposition of second messengers such as cGMP which results in cognitive deficits, a feature shared by several neurodegenerative disorders including PD and HD. This presentation focuses on how H 2 S regulates redox homeostasis via gene regulatory mechanisms, the disruption of which is a contributor to disease progression in neuronal degeneration. Support or Funding Information Representative Recent Recognition/Honor ASBMB/ jbc Herbert Tabor Young Investigator Award (May 2015) at the third European Conference on the Biology of Hydrogen Sulfide at Athens, Greece.