Effects of sulfane sulfur content in benzyl polysulfides on thiol-triggered H2S release and cell proliferation

Hydrogen sulfide and sulfaceutic or sulfanutraceutic agents: Classification, differences and relevance in preclinical and clinical studies

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been extensively studied as a signal molecule in the body for the past 30 years. Researchers have conducted studies using both natural and synthetic sources of H2S, known as H2S donors, which have different characteristics in terms of how they release H2S. These donors can be inorganic salts or have various organic structures. In recent years, certain types of sulfur compounds found naturally in foods have been characterized as H2S donors and explored for their potential health benefits. These compounds are referred to as "sulfanutraceuticals," a term that combines "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical". It is used to describe products derived from food sources that offer additional health advantages. By introducing the terms "sulfaceuticals" and "sulfanutraceuticals," we categorize sulfur-containing substances based on their origin and their use in both preclinical and clinical research, as well as in dietary supplements.

Targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in triple-negative breast cancer by benzylic organotrisulfides: Contribution of the released hydrogen sulfide towards potent anti-cancer activity

The potent anti-cancer activity of naturally occurring organopolysulfides has attracted wide research attention over the last two decades. Sustained donation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from organopolysulfides is found to be beneficial for the treatment of several organ-specific cancers. In the present study, for the first time, the mechanism of action for the potent anti-cancer activity of bis(3,5-dimethoxybenzyl) trisulfide 4 against highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) is described. Preliminary in vitro studies revealed potent anti-proliferative activity of the trisulfide 4 against triple-negative breast cancer cells with an IC₅₀ value of 1.0 μM. Mechanistic studies reveal that the compound exhibited anti-cancer activity, primarily by targeting and suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The inactivation of the β-catenin level was associated with the cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and the significant down-regulation of downstream signaling genes such as Cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression. Several control experiments with analogous organosulfur compounds and the key enzyme inhibitors reveal that the presence of a trisulfide unit in the compound is crucial for the desired inactivation of β-catenin expression, which is promoted by GSK-3β-induced phosphorylation of β-catenin and its proteasomal degradation. Moreover, the trisulfide unit or the released H₂S induced down-regulation of the p53 expression with the possible S-sulfhydration process led to p53-independent up-regulation of p21 expression. Therefore, the key results of this study highlighting the potency of synthetic benzylic organotrisulfide and the released H₂S towards the growth inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway would certainly be helpful for further studies and developing small-molecule anti-cancer therapeutics in future.

Tris(methylthio)methane produced by Mortierella hyalina affects sulfur homeostasis in Arabidopsis

Microbial volatiles are important factors in symbiotic interactions with plants. Mortierella hyalina is a beneficial root-colonizing fungus with a garlic-like smell, and promotes growth of Arabidopsis seedlings. GC–MS analysis of the M. hyalina headspace and NMR analysis of the extracted essential oil identified the sulfur-containing volatile tris(methylthio)methane (TMTM) as the major compound. Incorporation of the sulfur from the fungal volatile into plant metabolism was shown by ³⁴S labeling experiments. Under sulfur deficiency, TMTM down-regulated sulfur deficiency-responsive genes, prevented glucosinolate (GSL) and glutathione (GSH) diminishment, and sustained plant growth. However, excess TMTM led to accumulation of GSH and GSL and reduced plant growth. Since TMTM is not directly incorporated into cysteine, we propose that the volatile from M. hyalina influences the plant sulfur metabolism by interfering with the GSH metabolism, and alleviates sulfur imbalances under sulfur stress.

Progress and perspective on hydrogen sulfide donors and their biomedical applications

Following the discovery of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) has been identified as the third gasotransmitter in humans. Increasing evidence have shown that H₂ S is of preventive or therapeutic effects on diverse pathological complications. As a consequence, it is of great significance to develop suitable approaches of H₂ S-based therapeutics for biomedical applications. H₂ S-releasing agents (H₂ S donors) play important roles in exploring and understanding the physiological functions of H₂ S. More importantly, accumulating studies have validated the theranostic potential of H₂ S donors in extensive repertoires of in vitro and in vivo disease models. Thus, it is imperative to summarize and update the literatures in this field. In this review, first, the background of H₂ S on its chemical and biological aspects is concisely introduced. Second, the studies regarding the H₂ S-releasing compounds are categorized and described, and accordingly, their H₂ S-donating mechanisms, biological applications, and therapeutic values are also comprehensively delineated and discussed. Necessary comparisons between related H₂ S donors are presented, and the drawbacks of many typical H₂ S donors are analyzed and revealed. Finally, several critical challenges encountered in the development of multifunctional H₂ S donors are discussed, and the direction of their future development as well as their biomedical applications is proposed. We expect that this review will reach extensive audiences across multiple disciplines and promote the innovation of H₂ S biomedicine.

Efficient inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by sulfuration with solubilized elemental sulfur

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitric oxide (NO) have garnered increasing scientific interest in recent decades due to their classifications as members of the gasotransmitter family of signaling molecules. Due to the versatility of sulfur redox chemistry in biological systems, H₂S specifically is being studied for its ability to modulate cellular redox environments, particularly through the downstream production of oxidized sulfur species. A major mechanism of this regulation is through a posttranslational modification known as persulfidation, where oxidized sulfur atoms are appended to free cysteine in proteins. Currently, it is difficult to discern the activity of H₂S itself versus these oxidized sulfur species, particularly sulfane sulfur (S⁰). We have previously developed a method of solvating S₈, a source of pure S⁰, to more accurately study persulfidation and sulfuration in general. Here, we apply this pure S⁰ to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which has previously been shown to be inhibited by S⁰-containing polysulfides via persulfidation. Using solvated S⁰, we demonstrate that native, reduced GAPDH can be completely inhibited by sulfuration with S⁰. Further, oxidized GAPDH activity cannot be rescued using S⁰, demonstrating that it is the oxidation of reduced GAPDH by S⁰ that curtails its activity. We also compare inhibition of GAPDH by pure S⁰ to different polysulfides and demonstrate the modulating effects that pendant alkyl groups have on GAPDH inhibition. These results highlight the promise of this novel, simplified system for the study of S⁰.

Esterase-Activated Perthiocarbonate Persulfide Donors Provide Insights into Persulfide Persistence and Stability

Persulfides (RSSH) are important reactive sulfur species (RSS) that are intertwined with the biological functions of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). The direct study of persulfides is difficult, however, due to their both nucleophilic and electrophilic character, which leads to the generation of an equilibrium of different RSS. To investigate the effects of persulfides directly, especially in biological systems, persulfide donors are needed to generate persulfides in situ. Here, we report the synthesis of esterase-activated perthiocarbonate persulfide donors and investigate the effects of structural modifications on persulfide release. Although steric bulk of the ester did not significantly alter persulfide release kinetics, increased steric bulk of the thiol increased the persulfide release rate. In addition, we found that the steric bulk and identity of the thiol significantly impact persulfide persistence. Further mechanistic investigations into different competing reaction pathways from perthiocarbonates revealed that multiple RSS can be delivered (i.e., H₂S, COS, or RSSH) depending on the persulfide donor structure and activator identity.

A dual lock-and-key two photon fluorescence probe in response to hydrogen peroxide and viscosity: Application in cellular imaging and inflammation therapy

Here, a dual lock-and-key fluorescence probe was developed for visualizing the inflammatory process in myocardial H9C2 cells. The probe possessed two-photon properties, viscosity sensitivity, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) responsiveness. A thiocarbamate spacer between fluorophore and H₂O₂ responsive unit enabled the release of carbonyl sulfide (COS). This rapidly converts to the anti-inflammatory hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) by the ubiquitous enzyme carbon anhydrase. The probe displayed a dual response towards hydrogen peroxide and viscosity in vitro. No obvious fluorescence changes were observed towards either hydrogen peroxide or viscosity alone. In cellular experiments, the probe demonstrated good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and was shown responses towards exogenous and endogenous hydrogen peroxide under viscosity conditions. LPS induced cell inflammation showed it was able to effectively alleviate the inflammation-caused damage by releasing H₂S and eliminating H₂O₂. The new protocol demonstrates its promising to achieve diagnosis and treatment of cellular inflammatory process.

An Updated Insight Into Molecular Mechanism of Hydrogen Sulfide in Cardiomyopathy and Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Under Diabetes

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common complications of diabetes, and diabetic cardiomyopathy is a major cause of people death in diabetes. Molecular, transcriptional, animal, and clinical studies have discovered numerous therapeutic targets or drugs for diabetic cardiomyopathy. Within this, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), an endogenous gasotransmitter alongside with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), is found to play a critical role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Recently, the protective roles of H₂S in diabetic cardiomyopathy have attracted enormous attention. In addition, H₂S donors confer favorable effects in myocardial infarction, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure under diabetic conditions. Further studies have disclosed that multiplex molecular mechanisms are responsible for the protective effects of H₂S against diabetes-elicited cardiac injury, such as anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-necrotic properties. In this review, we will summarize the current findings on H₂S biology and pharmacology, especially focusing on the novel mechanisms of H₂S-based protection against diabetic cardiomyopathy. Also, the potential roles of H₂S in diabetes-aggravated ischaemia-reperfusion injury are discussed.

Photo-Polymerization Damage Protection by Hydrogen Sulfide Donors for 3D-Cell Culture Systems Optimization

Photo-polymerized hydrogels are ideally suited for stem-cell based tissue regeneration and three dimensional (3D) bioprinting because they can be highly biocompatible, injectable, easy to use, and their mechanical and physical properties can be controlled. However, photo-polymerization involves the use of potentially toxic photo-initiators, exposure to ultraviolet light radiation, formation of free radicals that trigger the cross-linking reaction, and other events whose effects on cells are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in mitigating cellular toxicity of photo-polymerization caused to resident cells during the process of hydrogel formation. H₂S, which is the latest discovered member of the gasotransmitter family of gaseous signalling molecules, has a number of established beneficial properties, including cell protection from oxidative damage both directly (by acting as a scavenger molecule) and indirectly (by inducing the expression of anti-oxidant proteins in the cell). Cells were exposed to slow release H₂S treatment using pre-conditioning with glutathione-conjugated-garlic extract in order to mitigate toxicity during the photo-polymerization process of hydrogel formation. The protective effects of the H₂S treatment were evaluated in both an enzymatic model and a 3D cell culture system using cell viability as a quantitative indicator. The protective effect of H₂S treatment of cells is a promising approach to enhance cell survival in tissue engineering applications requiring photo-polymerized hydrogel scaffolds.

A Review of Heterolytic Synthesis Methodologies for Organotri- and Organotetrasulfane Synthesis

It has been ten years since the last comprehensive review on polysulfanes, and during the intervening period, organodi-, organotri- and organotetrasulfanes have featured prominently in both the chemistry and biology literature. This timely update presents both a mechanistic and historical account of synthesis methodology available for organotri- and organotetrasulfanes involving heterolytic S–S bond formation.

A Dinuclear Persulfide-Bridged Ruthenium Compound is a Hypoxia-Selective Hydrogen Sulfide (H2 S) Donor

Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is a gaseous molecule that has received attention for its role in biological processes and therapeutic potential in diseases, such as ischemic reperfusion injury. Despite its clinical relevance, delivery of H2 S to biological systems is hampered by its toxicity at high concentrations. Herein, we report the first metal-based H2 S donor that delivers this gas selectively to hypoxic cells. We further show that H2 S release from this compound protects H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts from an in vitro model of ischemic reperfusion injury. These results validate the utility of redox-activated metal complexes as hypoxia-selective H2 S-releasing agents for use as tools to study the role of this gaseous molecule in complex biological systems.

Polysulfide-mediated sulfhydration of SIRT1 prevents diabetic nephropathy by suppressing phosphorylation and acetylation of p65 NF-κB and STAT3

Diabetic kidney disease is known as a major cause of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. Polysulfides, a class of chemical agents with a chain of sulfur atoms, are found to confer renal protective effects in acute kidney injury. However, whether a polysulfide donor, sodium tetrasulfide (Na₂S₄), confers protective effects against diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. Our results showed that Na₂S₄ treatment ameliorated renal dysfunctional and histological damage in diabetic kidneys through inhibiting the overproduction of inflammation cytokine and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as attenuating renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis. Additionally, the upregulated phosphorylation and acetylation levels of p65 nuclear factor κB (p65 NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in diabetic nephropathy were abrogated by Na₂S₄ in a sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)-dependent manner. In renal tubular epithelial cells, Na₂S₄ directly sulfhydrated SIRT1 at two conserved CXXC domains (Cys371/374; Cys395/398), then induced dephosphorylation and deacetylation of its targeted proteins including p65 NF-κB and STAT3, thereby reducing high glucose (HG)-caused oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, inflammation response and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression. Most importantly, inactivation of SIRT1 by a specific inhibitor EX-527, small interfering RNA (siRNA), a de-sulfhydration reagent dithiothreitol (DTT), or mutation of Cys371/374 and Cys395/398 sites at SIRT1 abolished the protective effects of Na₂S₄ on diabetic kidney insulting. These results reveal that polysulfides may attenuate diabetic renal lesions via inactivation of p65 NF-κB and STAT3 phosphorylation/acetylation through sulfhydrating SIRT1.

SG1002 and Catenated Divalent Organic Sulfur Compounds as Promising Hydrogen Sulfide Prodrugs

Significance: Sulfur has a critical role in protein structure/function and redox status/signaling in all living organisms. Although hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfane sulfur (SS) are now recognized as central players in physiology and pathophysiology, the full scope and depth of sulfur metabolome's impact on human health and healthy longevity has been vastly underestimated and is only starting to be grasped. Since many pathological conditions have been related to abnormally low levels of H2S/SS in blood and/or tissues, and are amenable to treatment by H2S supplementation, development of safe and efficacious H2S donors deserves to be undertaken with a sense of urgency; these prodrugs also hold the promise of becoming widely used for disease prevention and as antiaging agents. Recent Advances: Supramolecular tuning of the properties of well-known molecules comprising chains of sulfur atoms (diallyl trisulfide [DATS], S8) was shown to lead to improved donors such as DATS-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and SG1002. Encouraging results in animal models have been obtained with SG1002 in heart failure, atherosclerosis, ischemic damage, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy; with TC-2153 in Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, age-related memory decline, fragile X syndrome, and cocaine addiction; and with DATS in brain, colon, gastric, and breast cancer. Critical Issues: Mode-of-action studies on allyl polysulfides, benzyl polysulfides, ajoene, and 12 ring-substituted organic disulfides and thiosulfonates led several groups of researchers to conclude that the anticancer effect of these compounds is not mediated by H2S and is only modulated by reactive oxygen species, and that their central model of action is selective protein S-thiolation. Future Directions: SG1002 is likely to emerge as the H2S donor of choice for acquiring knowledge on this gasotransmitter's effects in animal models, on account of its unique ability to efficiently generate H2S without byproducts and in a slow and sustained mode that is dose independent and enzyme independent. Efficient tuning of H2S donation characteristics of DATS, dibenzyl trisulfide, and other hydrophobic H2S prodrugs for both oral and parenteral administration will be achieved not only by conventional structural modification of a lead molecule but also through the new "supramolecular tuning" paradigm.

Botanical sulfane sulfur donors inhibit ferroptotic cell death caused by the depletion of cysteine

Inhibitors against cystine-glutamate antiporter, including erastin, elicit ferroptotic cell death. The erastin-induced ferroptotic cell death appears to be caused by cysteine as well as glutathione depletion. Cysteine is an essential substrate for sulfane sulfur producing systems in cells, generating persulfides that function as intracellular antioxidants and intermediates in iron-sulfur cluster production. Therefore, we examined whether botanical sulfane sulfur donors such as diallyl trisulfide (DATS) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) prevent ferroptotic cell death in HT1080 cells treated with erastin. As a result, DMTS (20 μM) and DATS (10 μM) rescued the erastin-treated HT1080 cells by 69.6% and 91.6%, respectively. Furthermore, DMTS-containing squeeze of cabbage (2.0 g/L) and DATS-containing squeeze of garlic (0.07 g/L) rescued the erastin-treated HT1080 cells by 76.5% and almost 100%, respectively. In conclusion, the ingestion of trisulfides may bring about increased resistance to ferroptotic cell death in vivo.

Modified cyclodextrins solubilize elemental sulfur in water and enable biological sulfane sulfur delivery

An important form of biological sulfur is sulfane sulfur, or S⁰, which is found in polysulfide and persulfide compounds as well as in elemental sulfur. Sulfane sulfur, often in the form of S₈, functions as a key energy source in the metabolic processes of thermophilic Archaean organisms found in sulfur-rich environments and can be metabolized both aerobically and anaerobically by different archaeons. Despite this importance, S₈ has a low solubility in water (∼19 nM), raising questions of how it can be made chemically accessible in complex environments. Motivated by prior crystallographic data showing S₈ binding to hydrophobic motifs in filamentous glycoproteins from the sulfur reducing Staphylothermus marinus anaerobe, we demonstrate that simple macrocyclic hydrophobic motifs, such as 2-hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (2HPβ), are sufficient to solubilize S₈ at concentrations up to 2.0 ± 0.2 mM in aqueous solution. We demonstrate that the solubilized S₈ can be reduced with the common reductant tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) and reacts with thiols to generate H₂S. The thiol-mediated conversion of 2HPβ/S₈ to H₂S ranges from 80% to quantitative efficiency for Cys and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, we demonstrate that 2HPβ can catalyze the Cys-mediated reduction of S₈ to H₂S in water. Adding to the biological relevance of the developed systems, we demonstrate that treatment of Raw 264.7 macrophage cells with the 2HPβ/S₈ complex prior to LPS stimulation decreases NO₂ ^- levels, which is consistent with known activities of bioavailable H₂S and sulfane sulfur. Taken together, these investigations provide a new strategy for delivering H₂S and sulfane sulfur in complex systems and more importantly provide new insights into the chemical accessibility and storage of S⁰ and S₈ in biological environments.

The biothiol-triggered organotrisulfide-based self-immolative fluorogenic donors of hydrogen sulfide enable lysosomal trafficking

Biothiol-reactive organotrisulfide-based self-immolative fluorogenic donors of H2S are rationally designed for the efficient monitoring of intracellular and lysosomal trafficking of H2S with a concomitant turn-on fluorescence. The non-toxic nature of the donors with a sustained release of H2S will certainly be helpful for their biomedical applications in the future.

Reactive Sulfur Species: A New Redox Player in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology

Hydrogen sulfide has emerged as an important gaseous signaling molecule and a regulator of critical biological processes. However, the physiological significance of hydrogen sulfide metabolites such as persulfides, polysulfides, and other reactive sulfur species (RSS) has only recently been appreciated. Emerging evidence suggests that these RSS molecules may have similar or divergent regulatory roles compared with hydrogen sulfide in various biological activities. However, the chemical nature of persulfides and polysulfides is complex and remains poorly understood within cardiovascular and other pathophysiological conditions. Recent reports suggest that RSS can be produced endogenously, with different forms having unique chemical properties and biological implications involving diverse cellular responses such as protein biosynthesis, cell-cell barrier functions, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Enzymes of the transsulfuration pathway, CBS (cystathionine beta-synthase) and CSE (cystathionine gamma-lyase), may also produce RSS metabolites besides hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, CARSs (cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase) are also able to generate protein persulfides via cysteine persulfide (CysSSH) incorporation into nascently formed polypeptides suggesting a new biologically relevant amino acid. This brief review discusses the biochemical nature and potential roles of RSS, associated oxidative stress redox signaling, and future research opportunities in cardiovascular disease.

Glutathione-Allylsulfur Conjugates as Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stimulating Agents for Potential Applications in Tissue Repair

The endogenous gasotransmitter H₂S plays an important role in the central nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Accordingly, slow-releasing H₂S donors are powerful tools for basic studies and innovative pharmaco-therapeutic agents for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Nonetheless, the effects of H₂S-releasing agents on the growth of stem cells have not been fully investigated. H₂S preconditioning can enhance mesenchymal stem cell survival after post-ischaemic myocardial implantation; therefore, stem cell therapy combined with H₂S may be relevant in cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine. Here, we studied the effects of slow-releasing H₂S agents on the cell growth and differentiation of cardiac Lin⁻ Sca1⁺ human mesenchymal stem cells (cMSC) and on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). In particular, we investigated the effects of water-soluble GSH–garlic conjugates (GSGa) on cMSC compared to other H₂S-releasing agents, such as Na₂S and GYY4137. GSGa treatment of cMSC and NHDF increased their cell proliferation and migration in a concentration dependent manner with respect to the control. GSGa treatment promoted an upregulation of the expression of proteins involved in oxidative stress protection, cell–cell adhesion and commitment to differentiation. These results highlight the effects of H₂S-natural donors as biochemical factors that promote MSC homing, increasing their safety profile and efficacy after transplantation, and the value of these donors in developing functional 3D-stem cell delivery systems for cardiac muscle tissue repair and regeneration.

Activatable Small-Molecule Hydrogen Sulfide Donors

Significance: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important biological signaling molecule involved in many physiological processes. These diverse roles have led researchers to develop contemporary methods to deliver H2S under physiologically relevant conditions and in response to various stimuli. Recent Advances: Different small-molecule donors have been developed that release H2S under various conditions. Key examples include donors activated in response to hydrolysis, to endogenous species, such as thiols, reactive oxygen species, and enzymes, and to external stimuli, such as photoactivation and bio-orthogonal chemistry. In addition, an alternative approach to release H2S has utilized the catalyzed hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide (COS) by carbonic anhydrase to generate libraries of activatable COS-based H2S donors. Critical Issues: Small-molecule H2S donors provide important research and pharmacological tools to perturb H2S levels. Key needs, both in the development and in the use of such donors, include access to new donors that respond to specific stimuli as well as donors with well-defined control compounds that allow for clear delineation of the impact of H2S delivery from other donor byproducts. Future Directions: The abundance of reported small-molecule H2S donors provides biologists and physiologists with a chemical toolbox to ask key biological questions and to develop H2S-related therapeutic interventions. Further investigation into different releasing efficiencies in biological contexts and a clear understanding of biological responses to donors that release H2S gradually (e.g., hours to days) versus donors that generate H2S quickly (e.g., seconds to minutes) is needed.

An Appraisal of Developments in Allium Sulfur Chemistry: Expanding the Pharmacopeia of Garlic

Alliums and allied plant species are rich sources of sulfur compounds that have effects on vascular homeostasis and the control of metabolic systems linked to nutrient metabolism in mammals. In view of the multiple biological effects ascribed to these sulfur molecules, researchers are now using these compounds as inspiration for the synthesis and development of novel sulfur-based therapeutics. This research has led to the chemical synthesis and biological assessment of a diverse array of sulfur compounds representative of derivatives of S-alkenyl-l-cysteine sulfoxides, thiosulfinates, ajoene molecules, sulfides, and S-allylcysteine. Many of these synthetic derivatives have potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties when tested in preclinical models of disease. Therefore, the current review provides an overview of advances in the development and biological assessment of synthetic analogs of allium-derived sulfur compounds.

Unsymmetrical Organotrisulfide Formation via Low-Temperature Disulfanyl Anion Transfer to an Organothiosulfonate

New methodology is presented for the formation of unsymmetrical organotrisulfides in a high yield and purity, relatively free of polysulfide byproducts. The highlight of the method is the low-temperature (-78 °C) deprotection of a disulfanyl acetate with sodium methoxide in THF to form a disulfanyl anion, which reacts rapidly in situ with an organothiosulfonate ( S-aryl or S-alkyl) within 30 seconds followed by quenching. The discovery of these new reaction conditions together with the relative greenness of the chemistry overall makes for an efficient protocol, from which a range of organotrisulfides covering aliphatic, aromatic, as well as cysteine and sugar groups can be accessed in a high yield and purity.

Hydrogen Sulfide and Persulfides Oxidation by Biologically Relevant Oxidizing Species

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S/HS^–) can be formed in mammalian tissues and exert physiological effects. It can react with metal centers and oxidized thiol products such as disulfides (RSSR) and sulfenic acids (RSOH). Reactions with oxidized thiol products form persulfides (RSSH/RSS^–). Persulfides have been proposed to transduce the signaling effects of H₂S through the modification of critical cysteines. They are more nucleophilic and acidic than thiols and, contrary to thiols, also possess electrophilic character. In this review, we summarize the biochemistry of hydrogen sulfide and persulfides, focusing on redox aspects. We describe biologically relevant one- and two-electron oxidants and their reactions with H₂S and persulfides, as well as the fates of the oxidation products. The biological implications are discussed.

Trisulfides over disulfides: highly selective synthetic strategies, anti-proliferative activities and sustained H2S release profiles

Highly selective synthesis of trisulfides over disulfides is demonstrated along with their potential as anti-proliferative agents and sustained donors of H₂S.