skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


This content will become publicly available on December 1, 2025

Title: 2H-Thiopyran-2-thione sulfine, a compound for converting H2S to HSOH/H2S2 and increasing intracellular sulfane sulfur levels
Abstract Reactive sulfane sulfur species such as persulfides (RSSH) and H2S2are 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 H2S2in the presence of excess H2S. Meanwhile, the reaction product2H-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.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2117549
PAR ID:
10557282
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Nature Publishing Group
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Volume:
15
Issue:
1
ISSN:
2041-1723
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a biologically active molecule that exhibits protective effects in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Although several H2S‐related biological effects have been discovered by using H2S donors, knowing how much H2S has been released from donors under different conditions remains challenging. Now, a series of γ‐ketothiocarbamate (γ‐KetoTCM) compounds that provide the first examples of colorimetric H2S donors and enable direct quantification of H2S release, were reported. These compounds are activated through a pH‐dependent deprotonation/β‐elimination sequence to release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is quickly converted into H2S by carbonic anhydrase. Thep‐nitroaniline released upon donor activation provides an optical readout that correlates directly to COS/H2S release, thus enabling colorimetric measurement of H2S donation. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract S/N crosstalk species derived from the interconnected reactivity of H2S and NO facilitate the transport of reactive sulfur and nitrogen species in signaling, transport, and regulatory processes. We report here that simple Fe2+ions, such as those that are bioavailable in the labile iron pool (LIP), react with thionitrite (SNO) and perthionitrite (SSNO) to yield the dinitrosyl iron complex [Fe(NO)2(S5)]. In the reaction of FeCl2with SNOwe were able to isolate the unstable intermediate hydrosulfido mononitrosyl iron complex [FeCl2(NO)(SH)], which was characterized by X‐ray crystallography. We also show that [Fe(NO)2(S5)]is a simple synthon for nitrosylated Fe−S clusters via its reduction with PPh3to yield Roussin's Red Salt ([Fe2S2(NO)4]2−), which highlights the role of S/N crosstalk species in the assembly of fundamental Fe−S motifs. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) are important gaseous biological signaling molecules that are involved in complex cellular pathways. A number of physiological processes require both H2S and NO, which has led to the proposal that different H2S/NO⋅ crosstalk species, including thionitrite (SNO) and perthionitrite (SSNO), are responsible for this observed codependence. Despite the importance of these S/N hybrid species, the reported properties and characterization, as well as the fundamental pathways of formation and subsequent reactivity, remain poorly understood. Herein we report new experimental insights into the fundamental reaction chemistry of pathways to form SNOand SSNO, including mechanisms for proton‐mediated interconversion. In addition, we demonstrate new modes of reactivity with other sulfur‐containing potential crosstalk species, including carbonyl sulfide (COS). 
    more » « less
  4. Surfactants solubilize S8 in water and promote thiol-mediated reduction to form H2S. Anionic and cationic surfactants have different impacts on the resultant reactive sulfur species distribution. 
    more » « less
  5. ABSTRACT Sulfur and oleic acid, two components of industrial waste/byproducts, were combined in an effort to prepare more sustainable polymeric materials. Zinc oxide was employed to serve the dual role of compatibilizing immiscible sulfur and oleic acid as well as to suppress evolution of toxic H2S gas during reaction at high temperature. The reaction of sulfur, oleic acid, and zinc oxide led to a series of composites,ZOSx(x= wt % sulfur, wherexis 8–99). TheZOSxmaterials ranged from sticky tars to hard solids at room temperature. TheZOSxcompositions were assessed by1H NMR spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and elemental microanalysis. CopolymersZOS59‐99, were further analyzed for thermal and mechanical properties by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Remarkably, evenZOS99, comprising only 1 wt % of zinc oxide/oleic acid (99 wt % S) exhibits at least an eightfold increase in storage modulus compared to sulfur alone. The four solid samples (59–99 wt % S) were thermally healable and readily remeltable with full retention of mechanical durability. These materials represent a valuable proof‐of‐concept for sustainably sourced, recyclable materials from unsaturated fatty acid waste products. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1704–1710 
    more » « less