H₂S, Polysulfides and Antioxidases in Supporting Life: From Bacteria to Humans

Dear Colleagues,

The ancient atmosphere of Earth was still anoxic and characterized by reducing conditions when living organisms emerged approximately a billion years ago. After the evolution of cyanobacteria, the oxygen concentration of the air increased from the beginning of the Cambrian period and gradually stabilized at around 21%. Mammals emerged approximately 250 million years ago and utilized this abundant oxygen.

Therefore, oxygen concentration became a critical factor in biological evolution. Along the evolutionary journey, organisms evolved intricate defense mechanisms involving antioxidant molecules. These include sulfur-containing compounds and a diverse array of enzymes and proteins known as antioxidases. Antioxidases, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and various peroxidases, play a crucial role in combating oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals and repairing cellular damage.

In this Special Issue, we aim to further the understanding of how sulfur-containing compounds (such as H₂S and polysulfides) and antioxidases have emerged, evolved, and supported living organisms, from bacteria to humans, throughout evolution.

Prof. Dr. Noriyuki Nagahara
Guest Editor

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• H₂S
• polysulfides
• antioxidases
• bacteria
• human