title: Vascular endothelium expresses 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase and produces hydrogen sulfide.
abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been recognized as a smooth muscle relaxant. Cystathionine gamma-lyase, which is localized to smooth muscle, is thought to be the major H(2)S-producing enzyme in the thoracic aorta. Here we show that 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST) and cysteine aminotransferase (CAT) are localized to vascular endothelium in the thoracic aorta and produce H(2)S. Both 3MST and CAT were localized to endothelium. Lysates of vascular endothelial cells produced H(2)S from cysteine and alpha-ketoglutarate. The present study provides a new insight into the production and release of H(2)S as a smooth muscle relaxant from vascular endothelium.
authors: National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
authors: Norihiro
authors: N
authors: Shibuya
authors: Yoshinori
authors: Y
authors: Mikami
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Kimura
authors: Noriyuki
authors: N
authors: Nagahara
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D013466:Sulfurtransferases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013466:Sulfurtransferases; C021550:3-mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide