H2S and glucose metabolism, how does the stink regulate the sweet?

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), once regarded as a toxic gas with a very bad smell of rotten eggs, now is recognized as an important gasotransmitter and regulates numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes in our body. Recent studies have demonstrated that H 2 S is able to directly alter protein activity by modifying the free thiol groups in the target cysteine residue(s) to form persulfides, a process termed as protein S -sulfhydration, which mediates the major bioactivities of H 2 S in cellular functions. Compared with all other tissues, liver generates huge amount of H 2 S mainly from the enzyme cystathionine gamma-lyase. H 2 S participates in the regulation of liver functions and attenuates fatty liver development. In this research highlight, I discuss the latest published findings on H 2 S regulation of liver glucose generation and metabolism via posttranslational modification of gluconeogenic enzymes.