Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiration by Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), the third gasotransmitter, has positive roles in animals and plants. Mitochondria are the source and the target of H₂S and the regulatory hub in metabolism, stress, and disease. Mitochondrial bioenergetics is a vital process that produces ATP and provides energy to support the physiological and biochemical processes. H₂S regulates mitochondrial bioenergetic functions and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The article summarizes the recent knowledge of the chemical and biological characteristics, the mitochondrial biosynthesis of H₂S, and the regulatory effects of H₂S on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. The roles of H₂S on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondrial respiratory complexes in mammals have been widely studied. The biological function of H₂S is now a hot topic in plants. Mitochondria are also vital organelles regulating plant processes. The regulation of H₂S in plant mitochondrial functions is gaining more and more attention. This paper mainly summarizes the current knowledge on the regulatory effects of H₂S on the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. A study of the roles of H₂S in mitochondrial respiration in plants to elucidate the botanical function of H₂S in plants would be highly desirable.