Mechanism of intracellular formation of cysteine polysulfide and reactive oxygen species signaling

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25253020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: AKAIKE Takaaki 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (20231798)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 澤 智裕 熊本大学, 生命科学研究部, 教授 (30284756) ; 井田 智章 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (70570406)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: メタボロミクス / プロテオミクス / 活性酸素 / シグナル伝達 / レドックス / 活性イオウ分子種 / 8-ニトロ-cGMP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated physiological roles of reactive sulfur species having extra sulfur atoms in cysteine thiol moiety, such as cysteine polysulfides. Quantitation of these species indicated that high levels of glutathione persulfide (over 100 microM) and other cysteine persulfides were produced in cells and its roles in regulation of reactive oxygen species signaling and protein functions were revealed. We also found a new cysteine persulfide-producing system in cells, which is originally known as a master enzyme for protein translation, and elucidated its pivotal roles in protein polysulfidation and regulation of mitochondrial function.

Free Research Field

生化学、病態医化学