Abstract
Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is an antiapoptotic transcription factor. We show that the antiapoptotic actions of NF-κB are mediated by hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) synthesized by cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). TNF-α treatment triples H 2S generation by stimulating binding of SP1 to the CSE promoter. H 2S generated by CSE stimulates DNA binding and gene activation of NF-κB, processes that are abolished in CSE-deleted mice. As CSE deletion leads to decreased glutathione levels, resultant oxidative stress may contribute to alterations in CSE mutant mice. H 2S acts by sulfhydrating the p65 subunit of NF-κB at cysteine-38, which promotes its binding to the coactivator ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3). Sulfhydration of p65 predominates early after TNF-α treatment, then declines and is succeeded by a reciprocal enhancement of p65 nitrosylation. In CSE mutant mice, antiapoptotic influences of NF-κB are markedly diminished. Thus, sulfhydration of NF-κB appears to be a physiologic determinant of its antiapoptotic transcriptional activity.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 13-24 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Molecular Cell |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 13 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology