Spanish versión: http://sl.ugr.es/09sK
Researchers at the University of Granada prove that hydrogen sulfide at physiological concentrations helps cells produce energy
Their work has been published in the journal Embo Molecular Medicine, one of the most important journals about experimental medicine in the world
Scientists at the University of Granada have proven, for the first time, that hydrogen sulfide, also known as ‘sewage gas’ because of the rotten egg odor it causes in stagnant wastewater, is very beneficial at a physiological level since it helps cells produce energy.
The researchers, belonging to the University of Granada, Abbott laboratories and the Biomedical Research Center (Institute of Biotechnology), have proven that, in mice and humans, hydrogen sulfide produced by the cells is used by a mitochondrial enzyme called sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, which participates in energy production by the cells of each tissue.
As the lead author of this paper, Luis Carlos López García explains, hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas that can cause death of the individual at high concentrations for humans and other mammals.
A gas with important physiological functions
«In recent years there have been, however, some studies that have shown that hydrogen sulfide at physiological concentrations is a cellular marker which performs important physiological functions. In other words: at high concentrations, this ‘sewage gas’ inhibits the production of energy at a cellular level, but at low concentrations it stimulates it», says the UGR researcher.
The enzyme called sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase also uses the coenzyme Q10 (Q10) in its reaction, so that when there is a deficit in Q10 the levels of said enzyme are drastically reduced, thus limiting its activity. This defect contributes to the bioenergetic deficit associated with deficiency in Q10, but it also causes an increase in intracellular hydrogen sulfide levels, which leads to changes in the levels of glutathione and certain brain neurotransmitters, in blood pressure and in the modification of some proteins.
Therefore, the study, led by UGR researchers and published in the journal Embo Molecular Medicine, one of the most important journals about experimental medicine in the world, proves the physiological importance of hydrogen sulfide, which is produced and used by each of our cells.
«In addition, our study identifies the alteration of hydrogen sulfide metabolism as a new pathological mechanism associated with Q10 deficiency» López García explains. «Finally, this work opens the door to new studies and applications of hydrogen sulfide metabolism, both from a pathological and therapeutic point of view».
This research has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment (Regional Government of Andalusia), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – USA.
Bibliographic references:
CoQ deficiency causes disruption of mitocondrial sulfideoxidation, a new pathomechanism associated with this syndrome Marta Luna-Sánchez, Agustín Hidalgo-Gutiérrez, Tatjana Hildebrandt, Julio Chaves-Serrano, Eliana Barriocanal-Casado, Ángela Santos-Fandila, Miguel Romero, Ramy KA Sayed , Juan Duarte , Holger Prokisch , Markus Schuelke, Felix Distelmaier, Germaine Escames, Darío Acuña-Castroviejo & Luis C López.
http://embomolmed.embopress.org/content/early/2016/11/17/emmm.201606345.long
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Hydrogen sulfide is also known as ‘sewage gas’ because of the rotten egg odor it causes in stagnant wastewater
Contacto:
Luis Carlos López García
Centro de Investigación Biomédica
“Ramón y Cajal” researcher
Telephones: (+34) 958 241 000 ext. 20197
E-mail: luisca@ugr.es
Web: http://wdb.ugr.es/~luisca/
