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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Imaging and Quantifying Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans During Aging
Published on: January 17, 2025
Mitochondrial protein sulfenation during aging in the rat brain
Xiaorong Yang1,2, Jinzi Wu1, Siqun Jing1,3
11Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNT System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA.
Abstract:
There is accumulating evidence that cysteine sulfenation (cys-SOH) in proteins plays an important role in cellular response to oxidative stress. The purpose of the present study was to identify mitochondrial proteins that undergo changes in cys-SOH during aging. Studies were conducted in rats when they were 5 or 30 months of age. Following blocking of free protein thiols with N-ethylmaleimide, protein sulfenic acids were reduced by arsenite to free thiol groups that were subsequently labeled with biotin-maleimide. Samples were then comparatively analyzed by two-dimensional Western blots, and proteins showing changes in sulfenation were selectively identified by mass spectrometry peptide sequencing. As a result, five proteins were identified. Proteins showing an age-related decrease in sulfenation include pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase; while those showing an age-related increase in sulfenation include aconitase, mitofilin, and tubulin (α-1). Results of the present study provide a general picture of mitochondrial protein sulfenation in brain oxidative stress and implicate the involvement of protein sulfenation in overall decline of mitochondrial function during brain aging.
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