Hydrogen sulfide: a multi-tasking signal molecule in the regulation of oxidative stress responses

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important signaling molecule in plant environmental interactions. The consensus view amongst plant scientists is that environmental stress leads to enhanced production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). H2S interacts with the ROS-mediated oxidative stress response network at multiple levels, including the regulation of ROS-processing systems by transcriptional or post-translational modifications. H2S–ROS crosstalk also involves other interacting factors, including nitric oxide, and can affect key cellular processes like autophagy. While H2S often functions to prevent ROS accumulation, it can also act synergistically with ROS signals in processes such as stomatal closure. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of H2S action and the multifaceted roles of this molecule in plant stress responses. Emphasis is placed on the interactions between H2S, ROS, and the redox signaling network that is crucial for plant defense against environmental threats.

The effects of seed priming with sodium hydrosulphide on drought tolerance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in germination and early growth

“…H 2 S application can elicit antioxidative mechanisms in drought/osmotic‐stressed plants. NaHS treatment may alleviate the reactive oxygen species burst and cell damage induced by abiotic stress, through the influence on metabolisms of several antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase, as well as through stimulation of nonenzymatic glutathione pool and redox state regulation (Chen et al, 2020; Shi et al, 2013). In our study, on average for both stress treatments, 1 mM NaHS seed treatment significantly reduced CAT activity in sunflower plants (Table 3).…”

“…Moreover, recent research shows that exogenous H 2 S application enhances the plant tolerance to abiotic stress conditions, such as drought, salinity, high heavy metal concentrations and temperature extremes (Calderwood & Kopriva, 2014; Fotopoulos et al, 2013; Hancock, 2019; Li et al, 2017; Singh et al, 2020). H 2 S interacts with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) ‐mediated oxidative stress response network at multiple levels, including the regulation of ROS‐processing systems by transcriptional or posttranslational modifications (Chen, Tian, & Han, 2020). Apart from certain specific responses, in most cases, the application of exogenous H 2 S appears to improve the expression of genes encoding resistance‐related enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes, as well as enzymatic and nonenzymatic components of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, which reduce H 2 O 2 levels and lipid peroxidation rates in stressed plants (Corpas & Palma, 2020; Xuan, Li, Wang, & Wang, 2020).…”

“…It was established that treatment with H 2 S increases the availability of reduced sulphur for synthesis of glutathione, the major player in defence against a wide range of stresses (Calderwood & Kopriva, 2014). Also, it is commonly accepted that this volatile molecule has an important signalling role in various cellular events, and plant environmental interactions (Chen et al, 2020; Jin & Pei, 2016; Zulfiqar & Hancock, 2020). This gasotransmitter has been deeply studied in recent years and the emerging data has changed the concept of H 2 S from toxic molecule to crucial signalling molecule as comparable to H 2 O 2 and NO (Hancock, Lisjak, Teklić, Wilson, & Whiteman, 2011; Lisjak, Teklic, Wilson, Whiteman, & Hancock, 2013; Pandey & Gautam, 2020).…”

Role of Exogenous and Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) on Functional Traits of Plants Under Heavy Metal Stresses: A Recent Perspective

“…However, mechanistic understanding of H 2 S generation in plants and its interaction with other cellular components remains elusive. In higher plants, H 2 S biosynthesis pathway emerges in different subcellular compartments, where main enzymes linked to sulfur metabolism have the potential to initiate H 2 S biogenesis (Corpas et al, 2019b;Chen et al, 2020). In plants, most common enzymes involved in the H 2 S biosynthesis enzymes include LCD, D-Cys desulfhydrase (DCD), l-3-cyanoalaninesynthase, sulfite reductase, and Cys synthase (Yamasaki and Cohen, 2016).…”

Hydrogen sulfide: An emerging signaling molecule regulating drought stress response in plants

“…The detailed pathway for the production of H 2 S via the sulfur assimilation pathway in chloroplasts is represented in Figure 4 Chen, Tian, et al, 2020) reduced to sulfite by the enzyme APS reductase (APR). Ferredoxin dependent sulfite reductase (SiR) further reduce sulfite to sulfide (Garcia et al, 2015), followed by its incorporation to O-acetylserine (OAS) to form cysteine which acts as a precursor of all organic compounds containing sulfur in reduced form in plants or animals, for example, proteins, cofactors, vitamins, and glutathione (Takahashi et al, 2011).…”