Thiosulfoxide (Sulfane) Sulfur: New Chemistry and New Regulatory Roles in Biology

Molecules

John I. Toohey¹ 

[1] Cytoregulation Research, Elgin, ON K0G1E0, Canada

关键词: cystamine;    cystathionine γ-lyase (γ-cystathionase);    garlic;    glutathione persulfide;    hydrogen sulfide;    mercaptoethanol;    perseleno selenium;    persulfide;    sulfane sulfur;    thioglycerol;   

DOI  :  10.3390/molecules190812789

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The understanding of sulfur bonding is undergoing change. Old theories on hypervalency of sulfur and the nature of the chalcogen-chalcogen bond are now questioned. At the same time, there is a rapidly expanding literature on the effects of sulfur in regulating biological systems. The two fields are inter-related because the new understanding of the thiosulfoxide bond helps to explain the newfound roles of sulfur in biology. This review examines the nature of thiosulfoxide (sulfane, S⁰) sulfur, the history of its regulatory role, its generation in biological systems, and its functions in cells. The functions include synthesis of cofactors (molybdenum cofactor, iron-sulfur clusters), sulfuration of tRNA, modulation of enzyme activities, and regulating the redox environment by several mechanisms (including the enhancement of the reductive capacity of glutathione). A brief review of the analogous form of selenium suggests that the toxicity of selenium may be due to over-reduction caused by the powerful reductive activity of glutathione perselenide.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.