A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria

Protein glutathionylation is defined as a reversible, ubiquitous post-translational modification, resulting in the formation of mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins’ cysteine residues. Glutathionylation has been implicated in several cellular mechanisms ranging from protection from oxid...

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Main Authors: Luca Federici, Michele Masulli, Vincenzo De Laurenzi, Nerino Allocati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/527
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author Luca Federici
Michele Masulli
Vincenzo De Laurenzi
Nerino Allocati
author_facet Luca Federici
Michele Masulli
Vincenzo De Laurenzi
Nerino Allocati
author_sort Luca Federici
collection DOAJ
description Protein glutathionylation is defined as a reversible, ubiquitous post-translational modification, resulting in the formation of mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins’ cysteine residues. Glutathionylation has been implicated in several cellular mechanisms ranging from protection from oxidative stress to the control of cellular homeostasis and the cell cycle. A significant body of research has examined the multifaceted effects of this post-translational modification under physiological conditions in eukaryotes, with a particular focus on its impact on the development of various diseases in humans. In contrast, the role of glutathionylation in prokaryotic organisms remains to be extensively investigated. However, there has been a recent increase in the number of studies investigating this issue, providing details about the role of glutathione and other related thiols as post-translational modifiers of selected bacterial proteins. It can be concluded that in addition to the classical role of such thiols in protecting against cysteine oxidation and consequent protein inactivation, many more specialized roles of glutathionylation in bacterial pathogenicity, virulence, interspecies competition and survival, and control of gene expression are emerging, and new ones may emerge in the future. In this short review, we aim to summarize the current state-of-the-art in this field of research.
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spelling doaj-art-134bbbb25855408cb4fe94b7e8801f7f2025-08-20T01:48:53ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-02-0113352710.3390/microorganisms13030527A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in BacteriaLuca Federici0Michele Masulli1Vincenzo De Laurenzi2Nerino Allocati3Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’ Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’ Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’ Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’ Annunzio”, 66100 Chieti, ItalyProtein glutathionylation is defined as a reversible, ubiquitous post-translational modification, resulting in the formation of mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins’ cysteine residues. Glutathionylation has been implicated in several cellular mechanisms ranging from protection from oxidative stress to the control of cellular homeostasis and the cell cycle. A significant body of research has examined the multifaceted effects of this post-translational modification under physiological conditions in eukaryotes, with a particular focus on its impact on the development of various diseases in humans. In contrast, the role of glutathionylation in prokaryotic organisms remains to be extensively investigated. However, there has been a recent increase in the number of studies investigating this issue, providing details about the role of glutathione and other related thiols as post-translational modifiers of selected bacterial proteins. It can be concluded that in addition to the classical role of such thiols in protecting against cysteine oxidation and consequent protein inactivation, many more specialized roles of glutathionylation in bacterial pathogenicity, virulence, interspecies competition and survival, and control of gene expression are emerging, and new ones may emerge in the future. In this short review, we aim to summarize the current state-of-the-art in this field of research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/527glutathioneGSHS-glutathionylationGS-ylationoxidative stresspost-translational modification
spellingShingle Luca Federici
Michele Masulli
Vincenzo De Laurenzi
Nerino Allocati
A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
Microorganisms
glutathione
GSH
S-glutathionylation
GS-ylation
oxidative stress
post-translational modification
title A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
title_full A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
title_fullStr A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
title_full_unstemmed A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
title_short A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria
title_sort narrative review of the role of s glutathionylation in bacteria
topic glutathione
GSH
S-glutathionylation
GS-ylation
oxidative stress
post-translational modification
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/527
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