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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma
Published on: March 15, 2024
Mammals produce cyclo-octasulfur to suppress lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
Uladzimir Barayeu1,2, Seiryo Ogata1,2, Tsuyoshi Takata1
1Department of Redox Molecular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Abstract:
Elemental sulfur is an evolutionarily ancient metabolite, yet its generation, storage, and function in animals have remained unclear. We show that mammals harbor elemental sulfur in the form of its most stable allotrope, cyclo-octasulfur (S8). We found that S8 accumulates to millimolar concentrations in mitochondrial membranes and in lipid droplets in both mouse and human cells. We further identified lipid droplet-associated nitric oxide synthase as a source of S8 biosynthesis and found that S8 accumulation in lipid droplets limits lipid peroxidation and suppresses ferroptosis. Accordingly, intra-articular injection of solubilized S8 reduces lipid peroxidation in a mouse model of osteoarthritis. Together, these findings reveal an endogenous pool of S8 in mammals that may protect cells from oxidative membrane damage by modulating cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis.
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