Hydrogen sulfide signaling in the central nervous system -Comparison
with nitric oxide-
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) together with polysulfides (H2Sn,
n>2) are signaling molecules like nitric oxide (NO) with
various physiological roles including regulation of neuronal
transmission, vascular tone, inflammation, oxygen sensing etc. H2S and
H2Sn diffuse to the target proteins to S-sulfurate their cysteine
residues to induce the conformational changes to alter the activity. On
the other hand, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase transfers sulfur
from a substrate 3-mercaptopyruvate to the cysteine residues of acceptor
proteins. A similar mechanism has also been identified in
S-nitrosylation. S-sulfuration and S-nitrosylation by enzymes proceed
only inside the cell, while reactions induced by H2S, H2Sn and NO even
extend to the surrounding cells. Disturbance of signaling by these
molecules as well as S-sulfuration and S-nitrosylation causes many
neuronal diseases. This review focuses on the signaling by H2S and H2Sn
with S-sulfuration compared with those of NO and S-nitrosynation, and
discuss on their roles in physiology and pathophysiology.