Analysis of Some Enzymes Activities of Hydrogen Sulfide Metabolism in Plants

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is considered as a novel gasotransmitter after reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in plants has dual character, that is, toxicity that inhibits cytochrome oxidase at high concentration and as signal molecule which is involved in plant growth, development, and the acquisition of tolerance to adverse environments such as extreme temperature, drought, salt, and heavy metal stress at low concentration. Therefore, H2S homeostasis is very important in plant cells. The level of H2S in plant cells is regulated by its synthetic and degradative enzymes, L-/D-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-/D-DES), sulfite reductase (SiR), and cyanoalanine synthase (CAS), which are responsible for H2S synthesis, while cysteine synthase (CS) takes charge of the degradation of H2S, but its reverse reaction also can produce H2S. Here, after crude enzyme is extracted from plant tissues, the activities of L-/D-DES, SiR, CAS, and CS are measured by spectrophotometry, the aim is to further understand homeostasis of H2S in plant cells and its potential mechanisms.