H <sub>2</sub> S-mediated protein persulfidation regulates redox metabolic flux underlying salt-stress resilience in rice

Z Zhengyao Lin (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University) M Mingjian Zhou (Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University) X Xiaoyun Ma (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University) M Miaomiao Li L Ling Fu H Hongfei Li (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University) Y Yinggao Liu (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University) F Fu-Yuan Zhu (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University) M Marc Van Montagu F Frank Van Breusegem (Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University) J Jingjing Huang (College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University) Y Yanjie Xie (State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University)

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) functions as a gaseous signaling molecule in plant stress responses through the persulfidation of protein cysteine (Cys) residues. A comprehensive, Cys site-specific map of the plant persulfidome has been lacking, despite its importance for achieving a systems-level understanding of the biological roles of Cys persulfidation. Using a state-of-the-art N -ethylmaleimide-biotin-based proteomics strategy, we generate a dynamic map of 1,691 persulfidated Cys sites in the rice ( Oryza sativa ) leaf proteome. Our results reveal a global dynamic changes in protein persulfidation during prolonged salt stress, with notable impacts on proteins involved in metal-dependent catalysis, redox metabolism, and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Based on these patterns, we investigated the functional relevance of persulfidation within the nonoxidative PPP. H 2 S-mediated persulfidation decreased the activity of the representative nonoxidative PPP enzyme ribose-5-phosphate isomerase, leading to increased NADPH production and subsequent activation of NADPH-dependent redox enzymes, including monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) isoforms of the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle. Persulfidation protected MDHAR3/5 from oxidative inhibition and degradation, thereby sustaining AsA-GSH cycle capacity and supporting reactive oxygen species scavenging. This site-specific persulfidome provides a valuable resource for exploring plant redox regulation, and our functional analyses offer mechanistic insight into how H 2 S-dependent protein persulfidation modulates redox metabolic fluxes to bolster NADPH availability and maintain redox homeostasis during salt-stress adaptation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 30
Published July 28, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (12)

Z

Zhengyao Lin

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University

M

Mingjian Zhou

Laboratory Center of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University

X

Xiaoyun Ma

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University

M

Miaomiao Li

L

Ling Fu

H

Hongfei Li

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University

Y

Yinggao Liu

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University

F

Fu-Yuan Zhu

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University

M

Marc Van Montagu

F

Frank Van Breusegem

Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University

J

Jingjing Huang

College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University

Y

Yanjie Xie

State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University