Abstract
3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) is one of the principal enzymes for the production of hydrogen sulfide and polysulfides in mammalians, and emerging evidence supports the physiological significance of MST. As a fundamental study of the physiology and pathobiology of MST, it is necessary to establish the tissue distribution of MST in mice. In the present study, the expression of MST in various organs of adult and fetal mice was analyzed by Western blotting and enzyme-immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the histology of MST gene–deficient mice was examined. Western blotting revealed that all organs examined had MST. The brain, liver, kidneys testes, and endocrine organs contained large amounts of MST, but the lungs, spleen, thymus, and small intestine did not. Immunohistochemically, the MST expression pattern varies in a cell-specific manner. In the brain, neural and glial cells are positively stained; in the lung, bronchiolar cells are preferentially stained; in the liver, hepatocytes around central veins are more strongly stained; renal convoluted cells are strongly stained; and pancreatic islets are strongly stained. Fetal tissues were studied, and MST expression was found to be similar before and after birth. Histological observation revealed no remarkable findings in MST gene–deficient mice. The present study revealed fundamental information regarding the MST expression of various organs in adult and fetal mice, and the morphological phenotype of MST gene–deficient mice.
Highlights
Over the past two decades, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) has been revealed to play important roles in a variety of physiological processes, H2 S is widely known as a toxic gas
Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) is known as a multifunctional enzyme: it is a redox-controlling agent for H2 S [15,22], polysulfide synthesis [2,13,14,15], anti-anxiety [22], and possible SOx production [15]
In this study we confirmed that MST is ubiquitously expressed in various organs, and is localized in a cell-specific and spatial manner, which suggests special functions of MST in each organ
Summary
Over the past two decades, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) has been revealed to play important roles in a variety of physiological processes, H2 S is widely known as a toxic gas. A number of studies have established that endogenous H2 S acts as a gaseous signaling transducer in mammalian neurons and other cells, similar to nitric oxide and carbon monoxide [1,2]. Other physiological roles of H2 S, including mitochondrial redox signaling, cytoprotective effects, and neutrophil apoptosis, have been reported in non-neuronal tissues [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Endogenous H2 S is reported to be synthesized by four enzymes in mammalian tissues: cystathionine g-lyase (CSE, EC 4.4.1.1) [11], cystathionine β-synthase (CBS, EC 4.2.1.22) [12], mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST, EC 2.8.1.2) [2,11,13,14], and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (rhodanese; EC 2.8.1.1) [15]. More attention has been paid to MST, because it has been reported that MST is primarily responsible for H2 S production in the central and peripheral nervous
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
