Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiration by Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), the third gasotransmitter, has positive roles in animals and plants. Mitochondria are the source and the target of HS and the regulatory hub in metabolism, stress, and disease. Mitochondrial bioenergetics is a vital process that produces ATP and provides energy to support the physiological and biochemical processes. HS regulates mitochondrial bioenergetic functions and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The article summarizes the recent knowledge of the chemical and biological characteristics, the mitochondrial biosynthesis of HS, and the regulatory effects of HS on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. The roles of HS on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondrial respiratory complexes in mammals have been widely studied. The biological function of HS is now a hot topic in plants. Mitochondria are also vital organelles regulating plant processes. The regulation of HS in plant mitochondrial functions is gaining more and more attention. This paper mainly summarizes the current knowledge on the regulatory effects of HS on the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and the mitochondrial respiratory chain. A study of the roles of HS in mitochondrial respiration in plants to elucidate the botanical function of HS in plants would be highly desirable.