Multifaceted roles for persulfide species in redox chemical biology

Abstract

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are increasingly recognized as important bioactive agents across phyla. Application of newly developed chemical tools, detection methods and multi-omics techniques has uncovered new and specific roles of endogenous RSS and revealed that a number of biological actions previously attributed to reactive oxygen species or reactive nitrogen species can also be mediated by RSS. This Review describes the versatile chemical biology of RSS with focus on persulfide formation on cysteine residues. We examine their pro-oxidant and antioxidant capacities, involvement in redox signaling and metabolic pathways, stress responses, and their role in the pathophysiology of major disease groups, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. We also provide a critical discussion of available detection methods and potential pharmacological and genetic approaches to adjusting persulfide levels. We cover current knowledge and its limitations, along with practical recommendations for advancing persulfide-based therapeutic interventions. (Figure presented.)