研究等業績 - 原著論文 - 松永 哲郎
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Kazuo Umezawa, Satomi Asai, Ryosuke Tanitsu, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Masayoshi Hashimoto, Dai Yoshizawa, Kentaro Wakamatsu, Toshio Kawahara, Takaaki Akaike, Kyoko Hayashi
All Life ( Informa UK Limited ) 18 ( 1 ) 2025年09月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
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Supersulfides contribute to joint homeostasis and bone regeneration
Maemura M.
Redox Biology ( Redox Biology ) 81 103545 - 103545 2025年04月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
The physiological functions of supersulfides, inorganic and organic sulfides with sulfur catenation, have been extensively studied. Their synthesis is mainly mediated by mitochondrial cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS2) that functions as a principal cysteine persulfide synthase. This study aimed to investigate the role of supersulfides in joint homeostasis and bone regeneration. Using Cars2AINK/+ mutant mice, in which the KIIK motif of CARS2 essential for supersulfide production was replaced with AINK, we evaluated the role of supersulfides in fracture healing and cartilage homeostasis during osteoarthritis (OA). Tibial fracture surgery was performed on the wild-type (Cars2+/+) and Cars2AINK/+ mice littermates. Bulk RNA-seq analysis for the osteochondral regeneration in the fracture model showed increased inflammatory markers and reduced osteogenic factors, indicative of impaired bone regeneration, in Cars2AINK/+ mice. Destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery was performed to produce the mouse OA model. Histological analyses with Osteoarthritis Research Society International and synovitis scores revealed accelerated OA progression in Cars2AINK/+ mice compared with that in Cars2+/+ mice. To assess the effects of supersulfides on OA progression, glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG) or saline was periodically injected into the mouse knee joints after the DMM surgery. Thus, supersulfides derived from CARS2 and GSSSG exogenously administered significantly inhibited inflammation and lipid peroxidation of the joint cartilage, possibly through suppression of ferroptosis, during OA development. This study represents a significant advancement in understanding anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant functions of supersulfides in skeletal tissues and may have a clinical relevance for the bone healing and OA therapeutics.
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Supersulfides: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Autoinflammatory Diseases
Tianli Zhang, Touya Toyomoto, Tomohiro Sawa, Takaaki Akaike, Tetsuro Matsunaga
Microbiology and Immunology 2025年02月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
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Supersulfide metabolome of exhaled breath condensate applied as diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal cancer.
Seji Asamitsu, Yohei Ozawa, Hiroshi Okamoto, Seiryo Ogata, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Jun Yoshitake, Kazuki Fusegawa, Yusuke Taniyama, Chiaki Sato, Hirotaka Ishida, Takaaki Abe, Hozumi Motohashi, Takaaki Akaike, Takashi Kamei
Cancer science - 2025年02月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Early detection of esophageal cancer is essential for esophagogastroduodenoscopy and histopathological diagnosis. However, endoscopic examinations are sometimes invasive, which limits their clinical application and compliance, and traditional blood tumor markers are unsuitable for cancer screening. The current study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of sulfur metabolites as new biomarkers for esophageal cancer using blood samples and exhaled breath condensate (EBC), which can be readily obtained and is non-invasive. We collected EBC and plasma samples from 50 patients with esophageal cancer and 30 healthy controls. Sulfur metabolome analysis using tandem mass spectrometry was performed to compare the metabolic profile between the two groups. Supersulfide metabolic profiles were different between the two cohorts. Supersulfide metabolome analysis showed that cysteine hydropersulfide (CysSSH) and homocysteine hydropersulfide (HomoCysSSH) were increased in the plasma of patients with esophageal cancer. Elevated levels of HomoCysSSH could distinguish patients with esophageal cancer from healthy subjects (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.93, sensitivity: 89%, specificity: 96%). Interestingly, we also detected an elevation of supersulfides in the EBC analysis. CysSSH levels significantly increased in the EBC recovered from patients with esophageal cancer (AUC: 0.71, sensitivity: 60%, specificity: 96%). In addition, the observed level was correlated with that of HomoCysSSH in the plasma (r = 0.27). Supersulfides, such as CysSSH and HomoCysSSH, are potential biomarkers for detecting esophageal cancer. CysSSH from EBC may serve as a valuable non-invasive biomarker with similar detection ability but with superior precision and convenience compared with the currently available blood biomarkers.
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The Therapeutic Potential of Supersulfides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases
Yuexuan Pan, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Tianli Zhang, Takaaki Akaike
Biomolecules ( Biomolecules ) 15 ( 2 ) 172 - 172 2025年01月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions are fundamental to sustaining life, with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species playing pivotal roles in cellular signaling and homeostasis. However, excessive oxidative stress disrupts redox balance, contributing to a wide range of diseases, including inflammatory and pulmonary disorders, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Although numerous antioxidant therapies have been developed and tested for oxidative stress-related diseases, their clinical efficacy remains limited. Here, we introduce the emerging concept of 'supersulfides', a class of redox molecule species with unique antioxidant and nucleophilic properties, which have recently been recognized as crucial regulators of cellular redox homeostasis. Unlike traditional antioxidants, supersulfides offer novel mechanisms of action that directly target the underlying processes of oxidative stress. This review summarizes current knowledge on supersulfides, highlighting their roles in oxidative stress and associated diseases, as well as the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress-related pathology. The therapeutic potential of synthetic supersulfides for treating oxidative stress-related diseases is also discussed. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of redox biology can help to guide the development of innovative redox-based therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing and treating diseases associated with disturbed redox regulation.
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Supersulfide formation in the sinus mucosa of chronic rhinosinusitis
Suzuki J.
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology ( Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology ) 9 ( 4 ) e1261 2024年08月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
OBJECTIVES: Disruption of the oxidative stress defense system is involved in developing various diseases. Sulfur compounds such as glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (CysSH) are representative antioxidants in the body. Recently, supersulfides, including reactive persulfide and polysulfide species, have gained attention as potent antioxidants regulating oxidative stress and redox signaling. However, their involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unclear. METHODS: To clarify the changes in sulfur compounds within the sinus mucosa of each CRS subtype, we measured sulfur compound levels in the sinus mucosa of control individuals (n = 9), patients with eosinophilic CRS (ECRS) (n = 13), and those with non-ECRS (nECRS) (n = 11) who underwent sinus surgery using mass spectrometry. RESULTS: GSH and CysSH levels were significantly reduced, and the glutathione disulfide (GSSG)/GSH ratio, an oxidative stress indicator, was increased in patients with ECRS. Despite the absence of notable variations in supersulfides, patients with ECRS and nECRS exhibited a significant reduction in glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG), which serves as the precursor for supersulfides. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first quantitative assessment of supersulfides in normal and inflamed sinus mucosa, suggesting that sulfur compounds contribute to the pathogenesis of CRS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.
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2H-Thiopyran-2-thione sulfine, a compound for converting H2S to HSOH/H2S2 and increasing intracellular sulfane sulfur levels.
Qi Cui, Meg Shieh, Tony W Pan, Akiyuki Nishimura, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Shane S Kelly, Shi Xu, Minkyung Jung, Seiryo Ogata, Masanobu Morita, Jun Yoshitake, Xiaoyan Chen, Jerome R Robinson, Wei-Jun Qian, Motohiro Nishida, Takaaki Akaike, Ming Xian
Nature Communications 15 ( 1 ) 2453 - 2453 2024年03月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Reactive sulfane sulfur species such as persulfides (RSSH) and H2S2 are important redox regulators and closely linked to H2S signaling. However, the study of these species is still challenging due to their instability, high reactivity, and the lack of suitable donors to produce them. Herein we report a unique compound, 2H-thiopyran-2-thione sulfine (TTS), which can specifically convert H2S to HSOH, and then to H2S2 in the presence of excess H2S. Meanwhile, the reaction product 2H-thiopyran-2-thione (TT) can be oxidized to reform TTS by biological oxidants. The reaction mechanism of TTS is studied experimentally and computationally. TTS can be conjugated to proteins to achieve specific delivery, and the combination of TTS and H2S leads to highly efficient protein persulfidation. When TTS is applied in conjunction with established H2S donors, the corresponding donors of H2S2 (or its equivalents) are obtained. Cell-based studies reveal that TTS can effectively increase intracellular sulfane sulfur levels and compensate for certain aspects of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) deficiency. These properties make TTS a conceptually new strategy for the design of donors of reactive sulfane sulfur species.
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Longevity control by supersulfide-mediated mitochondrial respiration and regulation of protein quality.
Akira Nishimura, Sunghyeon Yoon, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Tomoaki Ida, Minkyung Jung, Seiryo Ogata, Masanobu Morita, Jun Yoshitake, Yuka Unno, Uladzimir Barayeu, Tsuyoshi Takata, Hiroshi Takagi, Hozumi Motohashi, Albert van der Vliet, Takaaki Akaike
Redox Biology 69 103018 - 103018 2024年02月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Supersulfides, which are defined as sulfur species with catenated sulfur atoms, are increasingly being investigated in biology. We recently identified pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent biosynthesis of cysteine persulfide (CysSSH) and related supersulfides by cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS). Here, we investigated the physiological role of CysSSH in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) by generating a PLP-binding site mutation K109A in CRS1 (the yeast ortholog of CARS), which decreased the synthesis of CysSSH and related supersulfides and also led to reduced chronological aging, effects that were associated with an increased endoplasmic reticulum stress response and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics. Reduced chronological aging in the K109A mutant could be rescued by using exogenous supersulfide donors. Our findings indicate important roles for CARS in the production and metabolism of supersulfides-to mediate mitochondrial function and to regulate longevity.
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Quantitative profiling of supersulfides naturally occurring in dietary meats and beans.
Shingo Kasamatsu, Ayaka Kinno, Chiharu Miura, Jun-Ichi Hishiyama, Kensuke Fukui, Shoji Kure, Kazunobu Tsumura, Tomoaki Ida, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Takaaki Akaike, Hideshi Ihara
Analytical Biochemistry 685 115392 - 115392 2024年01月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Sulfur is essential in the inception of life and crucial for maintaining human health. This mineral is primarily supplied through the intake of proteins and is used for synthesizing various sulfur-containing biomolecules. Recent research has highlighted the biological significance of endogenous supersulfides, which include reactive persulfide species and sulfur catenated residues in thiol and proteins. Ingestion of exogenous sulfur compounds is essential for endogenous supersulfide production. However, the content and composition of supersulfides in foods remain unclear. This study investigated the supersulfide profiles of protein-rich foods, including edible animal meat and beans. Quantification of the supersulfide content revealed that natto, chicken liver, and bean sprouts contained abundant supersulfides. In general, the supersulfide content in beans and their derivatives was higher than that in animal meat. The highest proportion (2.15 %) was detected in natto, a traditional Japanese fermented soybean dish. These results suggest that the abundance of supersulfides, especially in foods like natto and bean sprouts, may contribute to their health-promoting properties. Our findings may have significant biological implications and warrant developing novel dietary intervention for the human health-promoting effects of dietary supersulfides abundantly present in protein-rich foods such as natto and bean sprouts.
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Persulfide biosynthesis conserved evolutionarily in all organisms.
Seiryo Ogata, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Minkyung Jung, Uladzimir Barayeu, Masanobu Morita, Takaaki Akaike
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling ( Mary Ann Liebert Inc ) 39 ( 13-15 ) 983 - 999 2023年11月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
SIGNIFICANCE: Persulfides/polysulfides are sulfur-catenated molecular species (i.e., R-Sn-R', n > 2; R-Sn-H, n > 1, with R = cysteine, glutathione, and proteins), such as cysteine persulfide (CysSSH). These species are abundantly formed as endogenous metabolites in mammalian and human cells and tissues. However, the persulfide synthesis mechanism has yet to be thoroughly discussed. RECENT ADVANCES: We used β-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl iodoacetamide and mass spectrometry to develop sulfur metabolomics, a highly precise, quantitative analytical method for sulfur metabolites. CRITICAL ISSUES: With this method, we detected appreciable amounts of different persulfide species in biological specimens from various organisms, from the domains Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. By using our rigorously quantitative approach, we identified cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS) as a novel persulfide synthase, and we found that the CysSSH synthase activity of CARS is highly conserved from the domains Bacteria to Eukarya. Because persulfide synthesis is found not only with CARS but also with other sulfotransferase enzymes in many organisms, persulfides/polysulfides are expected to contribute as fundamental elements to substantially diverse biological phenomena. In fact, persulfide generation in higher organisms-i.e., plants and animals-demonstrated various physiological functions that are mediated by redox signaling, such as regulation of energy metabolism, infection, inflammation, and cell death including ferroptosis. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Investigating CARS-dependent persulfide production may clarify various pathways of redox signaling in physiological and pathophysiological conditions and may thereby promote the development of preventive and therapeutic measures for oxidative stress as well as different inflammatory, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Presence of Helicobacter cinaedi in atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysmal wall.
Shinichiro Horii, Hirofumi Sugawara, Hitoshi Goto, Munetaka Hashimoto, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Daijirou Akamatsu, Yuta Tajima, Michihisa Umetsu, Takaaki Akaike, Takashi Kamei
The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine 261 ( 1 ) 35 - 41 2023年09月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Recently, the relationship between Helicobacter cinaedi (H. cinaedi) infection and several diseases, including cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders, bone and soft tissue disorders, and infectious abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), has been reported. Moreover, H. cinaedi may be associated with arteriosclerosis. In the present study, we investigated the association between H. cinaedi infection and clinically uninfected AAAs. Genetic detection of H. cinaedi in the abdominal aneurysm wall was attempted in 39 patients with AAA undergoing elective open surgery between June 2019 and June 2020. DNA samples extracted from the arterial wall obtained during surgery were analyzed using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The target gene region was the H. cinaedi-specific cytolethal distending toxin subunit B (cdtB). Nine (23.1%) of 39 patients showed positive bands corresponding to H. cinaedi, and further sequencing analyses demonstrated the presence of H. cinaedi DNAs in their aneurysm walls. In contrast, all the non-aneurysm arterial walls in our patients were negative for H. cinaedi. In conclusion, this is the first report of the detection of H. cinaedi in the walls of a clinically non-infectious AAA.
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Supersulfide catalysis for nitric oxide and aldehyde metabolism.
Shingo Kasamatsu, Akira Nishimura, Md Morshedul Alam, Masanobu Morita, Kakeru Shimoda, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Minkyung Jung, Seiryo Ogata, Uladzimir Barayeu, Tomoaki Ida, Motohiro Nishida, Akiyuki Nishimura, Hozumi Motohashi, Takaaki Akaike
Science Advances ( American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) ) 9 ( 33 ) eadg8631 2023年08月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Abundant formation of endogenous supersulfides, which include reactive persulfide species and sulfur catenated residues in thiols and proteins (supersulfidation), has been observed. We found here that supersulfides catalyze S -nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) metabolism via glutathione-dependent electron transfer from aldehydes by exploiting alcohol dehydrogenase 5 (ADH5). ADH5 is a highly conserved bifunctional enzyme serving as GSNO reductase (GSNOR) that down-regulates NO signaling and formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) that detoxifies formaldehyde in the form of glutathione hemithioacetal. C174S mutation significantly reduced the supersulfidation of ADH5 and almost abolished GSNOR activity but spared FDH activity. Notably, Adh5<sup>C174S/C174S</sup> mice manifested improved cardiac functions possibly because of GSNOR elimination and consequent increased NO bioavailability. Therefore, we successfully separated dual functions (GSNOR and FDH) of ADH5 (mediated by the supersulfide catalysis) through the biochemical analysis for supersulfides in vitro and characterizing in vivo phenotypes of the GSNOR-deficient organisms that we established herein. Supersulfides in ADH5 thus constitute a substantial catalytic center for GSNO metabolism mediating electron transfer from aldehydes.
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Supersulphides provide airway protection in viral and chronic lung diseases.
Tetsuro Matsunaga, Hirohito Sano, Katsuya Takita, Masanobu Morita, Shun Yamanaka, Tomohiro Ichikawa, Tadahisa Numakura, Tomoaki Ida, Minkyung Jung, Seiryo Ogata, Sunghyeon Yoon, Naoya Fujino, Yorihiko Kyogoku, Yusaku Sasaki, Akira Koarai, Tsutomu Tamada, Atsuhiko Toyama, Takakazu Nakabayashi, Lisa Kageyama, Shigeru Kyuwa, Kenji Inaba, Satoshi Watanabe, Péter Nagy, Tomohiro Sawa, Hiroyuki Oshiumi, Masakazu Ichinose, Mitsuhiro Yamada, Hisatoshi Sugiura, Fan-Yan Wei, Hozumi Motohashi, Takaaki Akaike
Nature Communications 14 ( 1 ) 4476 - 4476 2023年07月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Supersulphides are inorganic and organic sulphides with sulphur catenation with diverse physiological functions. Their synthesis is mainly mediated by mitochondrial cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS2) that functions as a principal cysteine persulphide synthase (CPERS). Here, we identify protective functions of supersulphides in viral airway infections (influenza and COVID-19), in aged lungs and in chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We develop a method for breath supersulphur-omics and demonstrate that levels of exhaled supersulphides increase in people with COVID-19 infection and in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Lung damage and subsequent lethality that result from oxidative stress and inflammation in mouse models of COPD, IPF, and ageing were mitigated by endogenous supersulphides production by CARS2/CPERS or exogenous administration of the supersulphide donor glutathione trisulphide. We revealed a protective role of supersulphides in airways with various viral or chronic insults and demonstrated the potential of targeting supersulphides in lung disease.
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Qamarul Hafiz Zainol Abidin, Tomoaki Ida, Masanobu Morita, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Akira Nishimura, Minkyung Jung, Naim Hassan, Tsuyoshi Takata, Isao Ishii, Warren Kruger, Rui Wang, Hozumi Motohashi, Masato Tsutsui, Takaaki Akaike
Antioxidants 12 ( 4 ) 2023年04月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Reactive sulfur species, or persulfides and polysulfides, such as cysteine hydropersulfide and glutathione persulfide, are endogenously produced in abundance in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including mammals. Various forms of reactive persulfides occur in both low-molecular-weight and protein-bound thiols. The chemical properties and great supply of these molecular species suggest a pivotal role for reactive persulfides/polysulfides in different cellular regulatory processes (e.g., energy metabolism and redox signaling). We demonstrated earlier that cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS) is a new cysteine persulfide synthase (CPERS) and is responsible for the in vivo production of most reactive persulfides (polysulfides). Some researchers continue to suggest that 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) may also produce hydrogen sulfide and persulfides that may be generated during the transfer of sulfur from 3-mercaptopyruvate to the cysteine residues of 3-MST or direct synthesis from cysteine by CBS/CSE, respectively. We thus used integrated sulfur metabolome analysis, which we recently developed, with 3-MST knockout (KO) mice and CBS/CSE/3-MST triple-KO mice, to elucidate the possible contribution of 3-MST, CBS, and CSE to the production of reactive persulfides in vivo. We therefore quantified various sulfide metabolites in organs derived from these mutant mice and their wild-type littermates via this sulfur metabolome, which clearly revealed no significant difference between mutant mice and wild-type mice in terms of reactive persulfide production. This result indicates that 3-MST, CBS, and CSE are not major sources of endogenous reactive persulfide production; rather, CARS/CPERS is the principal enzyme that is actually involved in and even primarily responsible for the biosynthesis of reactive persulfides and polysulfides in vivo in mammals.
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Shining a light on SSP4: A comprehensive analysis and biological applications for the detection of sulfane sulfurs.
Meg Shieh, Xiang Ni, Shi Xu, Stephen P Lindahl, Moua Yang, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Robert Flaumenhaft, Takaaki Akaike, Ming Xian
Redox Biology 56 102433 - 102433 2022年10月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Fluorescent probes are useful tools for the detection of sulfane sulfurs in biological systems. In this work, we report the development of SSP4, a widely used probe generated in our laboratory. We describe its evolution, preparation, and physical/chemical properties. Fluorescence analyses of SSP4 determined its high selectivity and sensitivity to sulfane sulfurs, even with the interfering presence of other species, such as amino acids and metal ions. Protocols for using SSP4 in a relatively quick and simple manner for the detection of persulfidated proteins, including papain, BSA, and GAPDH were developed. The method was then applied to human protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), leading to the discovery that persulfidation can occur at PDI's non-active site cysteines, and that PDI reductase activity is affected by sulfane sulfur treatment. Protocols for using SSP4 for the bioimaging of exogenous and endogenous sulfane sulfurs in different -cell lines were also established. These results should guide further applications of SSP4.
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Coupled discrete phase model and Eulerian wall film model for numerical simulation of respiratory droplet generation during coughing.
Hitomi Anzai, Yugo Shindo, Yutaro Kohata, Masahiro Hasegawa, Hidemasa Takana, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Takaaki Akaike, Makoto Ohta
Scientific Reports ( Research Square Platform {LLC} ) 12 ( 1 ) 14849 - 14849 2022年09月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>Computational fluid dynamics is widely used to simulate droplet-spreading behavior due to respiratory events. However, droplet generation inside the body, such as the number, mass, and particle size distribution, has not been quantitatively analyzed. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative characteristics of droplet generation during coughing. Airflow simulations were performed by coupling the discrete phase model and Eulerian wall film model to reproduce shear-induced stripping of airway mucosa. An ideal airway model with symmetric bifurcations was constructed, and the wall domain was covered by a mucous liquid film. The results of the transient airflow simulation indicated that the droplets had a wide particle size distribution of 0.1–400 µm, and smaller droplets were generated in larger numbers. In addition, the total mass and number of droplets generated increased with an increasing airflow. The total mass of the droplets also increased with an increasing mucous viscosity, and the largest number and size of droplets were obtained at a viscosity of 8 mPa·s. The simulation methods used in this study can be used to quantify the particle size distribution and maximum particle diameter under various conditions.</jats:p> -
Chemical Biology of Reactive Sulfur Species: Hydrolysis-Driven Equilibrium of Polysulfides as a Determinant of Physiological Functions.
Tomohiro Sawa, Tsuyoshi Takata, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Hideshi Ihara, Hozumi Motohashi, Takaaki Akaike
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 36 ( 4-6 ) 327 - 336 2022年02月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
SIGNIFICANCE: Polysulfide species (i.e., R-Sn-R', n > 2; R-Sn-H, n > 1) exist in many organisms. Highly nucleophilic nature of hydropersulfides and hydropolysulfides contributes to the potent antioxidant activities of polysulfide species that protect organisms against oxidative and electrophilic stresses. Recent Advances: Accumulating evidence suggests that organic polysulfides (R-Sn-R') readily undergo alkaline hydrolysis, which results in formation of both nucleophilic hydrosulfide/polysulfide (R-Sn-1H) and electrophilic sulfenic acid (R'SOH) species. Polysulfides maintain a steady-state equilibrium that is driven by hydrolysis even in aqueous physiological milieus. This unique property makes polysulfide chemistry and biology more complex than previously believed. CRITICAL ISSUES: The hydrolysis equilibrium of polysulfides shifts to the right when electrophiles are present. Strong electrophilic alkylating agents (e.g., monobromobimane) greatly enhance polysulfide hydrolysis, which leads to increased polysulfide degradation and artifactual formation of bis-S-bimane adducts in the absence of free hydrogen sulfide. The finding that hydroxyl group-containing substances like tyrosine efficiently protected polysulfides from hydrolysis led to development of the new alkylating agent N-iodoacetyl L-tyrosine methyl ester (TME-IAM). TME-IAM efficiently and specifically traps and stabilizes hydropolysulfides and protects polysulfide chains from hydrolysis, and, when used with mass spectrometry, TME-IAM allows speciation of reactive sulfur metabolome. Also, the polyethylene glycol-conjugated maleimide labelling gel shift assay, which relies on unique hydrolysis equilibrium of polysulfides, will be a reliable technique for proteomics of polysulfide-containing proteins. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Using precise methodologies to achieve better understanding of the occurrence and metabolism of polysulfide species is necessary to gain insights into the undefined biology of polysulfide species.
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GRIM-19 is a target of mycobacterial Zn2+ metalloprotease 1 and indispensable for NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Tomomi Kurane, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Tomoaki Ida, Kazuko Sawada, Akira Nishimura, Masayuki Fukui, Masayuki Umemura, Masaaki Nakayama, Naoya Ohara, Sohkichi Matsumoto, Takaaki Akaike, Goro Matsuzaki, Giichi Takaesu
FASEB journal ( Wiley ) 36 ( 1 ) e22096 2022年01月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Tuberculosis is a communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis which primarily infects macrophages and establishes intracellular parasitism. A mycobacterial virulence factor Zn2+ metalloprotease 1 (Zmp1) is known to suppress interleukin (IL)-1β production by inhibiting caspase-1 resulting in phagosome maturation arrest. However, the molecular mechanism of caspase-1 inhibition by Zmp1 is still elusive. Here, we identified GRIM-19 (also known as NDUFA13), an essential subunit of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, as a novel Zmp1-binding protein. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we generated GRIM-19 knockout murine macrophage cell line J774.1 and found that GRIM-19 is essential for IL-1β production during mycobacterial infection as well as in response to NLRP3 inflammasome-activating stimuli such as extracellular ATP or nigericin. We also found that GRIM-19 is required for the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and NLRP3-dependent activation of caspase-1. Loss of GRIM-19 or forced expression of Zmp1 resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Our study revealed a previously unrecognized role of GRIM-19 as an essential regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome and a molecular mechanism underlying Zmp1-mediated suppression of IL-1β production during mycobacterial infection.
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Methods in sulfide and persulfide research.
Tsuyoshi Takata, Minkyung Jung, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Tomoaki Ida, Masanobu Morita, Hozumi Motohashi, Xinggui Shen, Christopher G Kevil, Jon M Fukuto, Takaaki Akaike
Nitric Oxide ( Elsevier BV ) 116 47 - 64 2021年11月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
Sulfides and persulfides/polysulfides (R-Sn-Rʹ, n > 2; R-Sn-H, n > 1) are endogenously produced metabolites that are abundant in mammalian and human cells and tissues. The most typical persulfides that are widely distributed among different organisms include various reactive persulfides—low-molecular-weight thiol compounds such as cysteine hydropersulfide, glutathione hydropersulfide, and glutathione trisulfide as well as protein-bound thiols. These species are generally more redox-active than are other simple thiols and disulfides. Although hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been suggested for years to be a small signaling molecule, it is intimately linked biochemically to persulfides and may actually be more relevant as a marker of functionally active persulfides. Reactive persulfides can act as powerful antioxidants and redox signaling species and are involved in energy metabolism. Recent evidence revealed that cysteinyl-tRNA synthetases (CARSs) act as the principal cysteine persulfide synthases in mammals and contribute significantly to endogenous persulfide/polysulfide production, in addition to being associated with a battery of enzymes including cystathionine β-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, which have been described as H2S-producing enzymes. The reactive sulfur metabolites including persulfides/polysulfides derived from CARS2, a mitochondrial isoform of CARS, also mediate not only mitochondrial biogenesis and bioenergetics but also anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. The physiological roles of persulfides, their biosynthetic pathways, and their pathophysiology in various diseases are not fully understood, however. Developing basic and high precision techniques and methods for the detection, characterization, and quantitation of sulfides and persulfides is therefore of great importance so as to thoroughly understand and clarify the exact functions and roles of these species in cells and in vivo.
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Sulfide catabolism ameliorates hypoxic brain injury.
Eizo Marutani, Masanobu Morita, Shuichi Hirai, Shinichi Kai, Robert M H Grange, Yusuke Miyazaki, Fumiaki Nagashima, Lisa Traeger, Aurora Magliocca, Tomoaki Ida, Tetsuro Matsunaga, Daniel R Flicker, Benjamin Corman, Naohiro Mori, Yumiko Yamazaki, Annabelle Batten, Rebecca Li, Tomohiro Tanaka, Takamitsu Ikeda, Akito Nakagawa, Dmitriy N Atochin, Hideshi Ihara, Benjamin A Olenchock, Xinggui Shen, Motohiro Nishida, Kenjiro Hanaoka, Christopher G Kevil, Ming Xian, Donald B Bloch, Takaaki Akaike, Allyson G Hindle, Hozumi Motohashi, Fumito Ichinose
Nature Communications 12 ( 1 ) 3108 - 3108 2021年05月 [査読有り]
研究論文（学術雑誌）
The mammalian brain is highly vulnerable to oxygen deprivation, yet the mechanism underlying the brain's sensitivity to hypoxia is incompletely understood. Hypoxia induces accumulation of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that inhibits mitochondrial respiration. Here, we show that, in mice, rats, and naturally hypoxia-tolerant ground squirrels, the sensitivity of the brain to hypoxia is inversely related to the levels of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR) and the capacity to catabolize sulfide. Silencing SQOR increased the sensitivity of the brain to hypoxia, whereas neuron-specific SQOR expression prevented hypoxia-induced sulfide accumulation, bioenergetic failure, and ischemic brain injury. Excluding SQOR from mitochondria increased sensitivity to hypoxia not only in the brain but also in heart and liver. Pharmacological scavenging of sulfide maintained mitochondrial respiration in hypoxic neurons and made mice resistant to hypoxia. These results illuminate the critical role of sulfide catabolism in energy homeostasis during hypoxia and identify a therapeutic target for ischemic brain injury.