Exercise-induced metabolic response of supersulfides in skeletal muscle

Maintaining proper redox balance is essential for maintaining skeletal muscle function. Exercise has been shown to boost the antioxidant system within skeletal muscles, yet the exact molecular mechanisms underpinning this are still uncertain. Recent research indicates that supersulfides likely play a crucial role in these antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes. This study investigated the exercise-induced metabolic changes of supersulfides in skeletal muscle tissue.

For the investigation, ten-week-old male mice were divided into sedentary and exercise groups for two sets of tests: a single bout of exercise and a four-week training regimen. The levels of supersulfide-producing enzyme CARS2 and GSSSH were greater in the single-bout exercise group than in the sedentary group, while GSSSG levels were lower in the single-bout exercise group. The training group exhibited higher CARS2 expression, sulfide ions, cysteine, and GSSG than the sedentary group.

Moreover, mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit α was discovered as a persulfidated protein, with both its persulfidation and ATP synthase activity elevated after training. Additionally, exercise interventions augmented the ability of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide to neutralize free radicals. These findings suggest that both brief exercise and consistent training affect supersulfide metabolism in skeletal muscles, potentially leading to improved antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial energy production.

The researchers acknowledge the technical contributions of their laboratory colleagues and thank several researchers for insightful discussions. This research was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research.