Regulation of electrophilic stress by reactive sulfur species

Abstract

Electrophiles such as MeHg modulate cellular functions by covalent modification with endogenous thiols. Recently we found that exposure of cells to MeHg elevated intracellular 8-nitro-cGMP. Exposure to MeHg also induced S-guanylation and activation of H-Ras followed by injury to neurons. The electrophile-induced activation of redox signaling and the consequent cell damage were attenuated by pretreatment with a RSS donor. Thus, exogenous electrophiles impair the redox signaling regulatory mechanism, particularly of intracellular RSS, and therefore lead to cellular pathogenesis.