Hydrogen Sulfide: From a Toxic Molecule to a Key Molecule of Cell Life

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has always been considered toxic, but a huge number of articles published more recently showed the beneficial biochemical properties of its endogenous production throughout all regna. In this review, the participation of H2S in many physiological and pathological processes in animals is described, and its importance as a signaling molecule in plant systems is underlined from an evolutionary point of view. H2S quantification methods are summarized and persulfidation is described as the underlying mechanism of action in plants, animals and bacteria. This review aims to highlight the importance of its crosstalk with other signaling molecules and its fine regulation for the proper function of the cell and its survival.

The Versatile Roles of Sulfur-Containing Biomolecules in Plant Defense—A Road to Disease Resistance

“…In mammalian systems, the possible role of H 2 S as an endogenous neuromodulator was first described in 1996, and the molecule is now accepted as the third most prevalent gasotransmitter after nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) [204]. In plants, H 2 S also functions as an important signaling molecule, similar to NO or H 2 O 2 [7,31,205,206]. Various l-cysteine desulfhydrase enzymes are involved in the degradation of cysteine and are therefore responsible for the generation of H 2 S [21,31].…”

Role of Exogenous and Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) on Functional Traits of Plants Under Heavy Metal Stresses: A Recent Perspective

“…Given a suite of heavy metal mitigation approaches competing for an effective stress management in agriculture, it is extremely pertinent to consider only those measures that can provide plant benefits only in an eco-friendly way. Although H 2 S is toxic for many living organisms as evidenced by mitochondrion inhibition ( Wang et al, 2019 ), its central role in key plant physiological functions and therapeutic use in various human ailments have been well developed in recent times ( Aroca et al, 2020 ). The H 2 S in gaseous form is the simplest method of its usage in the laboratory; however, it is not realistic practice due to non-targeted ecotoxicological consequences both for the humans and environment ( Rubright et al, 2017 ).…”

Something smells bad to plant pathogens: Production of hydrogen sulfide in plants and its role in plant defence responses

“…It has become evident that similarly to reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, H 2 S can perform a dual role in plant pathogenesis, i.e. signalling functions and direct inhibitory or toxic actions towards penetrating pathogens [30] . Crop fertilization with sulfur has been known for long to stimulate plant resistance, which is actually known to be mediated by H 2 S. Pathogen resistance can be also potentiated by H 2 S by induced expression of salicylic acid-dependent pathogen-related genes [30] .…”

“…signalling functions and direct inhibitory or toxic actions towards penetrating pathogens [30] . Crop fertilization with sulfur has been known for long to stimulate plant resistance, which is actually known to be mediated by H 2 S. Pathogen resistance can be also potentiated by H 2 S by induced expression of salicylic acid-dependent pathogen-related genes [30] . A substantial part of available published reports comprises rather descriptive studies performed by plant or fruit treatments with exogenous sulfide that has not provided deeper mechanistic insights into H 2 S biological roles.…”