Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
09:34
The Lactate Dehydrogenase Sequestration Assay — A Simple and Reliable Method to Determine Bulk Autophagic Sequestration Activity in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 27, 2018
Sulfide as a signaling molecule in autophagy
Cecilia Gotor1, Irene García, José L Crespo
1Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain. gotor@ibvf.csic.es
Autophagy
|January 19, 2013
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a vital signaling molecule in plants, similar to nitric oxide. This study identifies the enzyme DES1 as crucial for H2S generation in Arabidopsis, linking H2S to autophagy regulation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an emerging signaling molecule in plants, comparable in importance to nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
- Sulfide is produced in plant organelles but requires transporters for release due to its charged form at basic pH.
- The precise roles and mechanisms of H2S signaling in plants are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cytosolic L-cysteine desulfhydrase (DES1) in hydrogen sulfide (H2S) generation in Arabidopsis.
- To explore the relationship between H2S and autophagy in plants.
- To elucidate the cellular compartment responsible for H2S production and its regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of DES1 function in Arabidopsis mutants.
- Measurement of H2S levels in different cellular compartments.
- Induction of autophagy in response to DES1 deficiency.
Main Results:
- The cytosolic enzyme DES1 is identified as responsible for generating H2S from cysteine in Arabidopsis.
- DES1 deficiency leads to the induction of autophagy.
- Sulfide negatively regulates autophagy independently of nutrient deficiency.
Conclusions:
- DES1 plays a key role in plant H2S production.
- H2S acts as a negative regulator of autophagy in plants.
- Further research is needed to identify H2S transporters and molecular targets in plants.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Autophagy
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
01:20Sulfur Assimilation
Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
01:36Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
01:18Autophagic Cell Death
Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
01:01Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine signaling is one of the many signaling mechanisms that function inside multicellular organisms to carry out intercellular communication. In this type of signaling mechanism, the same cell that secretes an extracellular signaling molecule also expresses the receptors to bind and respond to that signaling molecule.
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
01:01Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine signaling is one of the many signaling mechanisms that function inside multicellular organisms to carry out intercellular communication. In this type of signaling mechanism, the same cell that secretes an extracellular signaling molecule also expresses the receptors to bind and respond to that signaling molecule.
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...