Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling in plant development and stress responses

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was initially recognized as a toxic gas and its biological functions in mammalian cells have been gradually discovered during the past decades. In the latest decade, numerous studies have revealed that H2S has versatile functions in plants as well. In this review, we summarize H2S-mediated sulfur metabolic pathways, as well as the progress in the recognition of its biological functions in plant growth and development, particularly its physiological functions in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Besides direct chemical reactions, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have complex relationships with H2S in plant signaling, both of which mediate protein post-translational modification (PTM) to attack the cysteine residues. We also discuss recent progress in the research on the three types of PTMs and their biological functions in plants. Finally, we propose the relevant issues that need to be addressed in the future research.