Decreased biosynthesis of hydrogen sulfide is found in a range of disease states. In cell based assays, hydrogen sulfide can prevent oxidant-induced cell damage. Together, these findings suggest that strategies to increase hydrogen sulfide bioavailability may have potential in the treatment of disease states such as hypertension and diabetes.
A recent article published in MedChemComm reports the synthesis of a hydrogen sulfide donor molecule coupled to a triphenylphosphonium cation (AP39).
The effects of this molecule on oxidative stress were compared against a compound with known vasodilatory activity in a cellular model. Lipophilic cation, such as the triphenylphosphonium cation, can accumulate within mitochondria (the main source of detrimental oxidant production within cells). The cytoprotective potency of the synthesised compound was greater than that of the comparator, suggesting that compounds capable of delivering hydrogen sulfide to mitochondria may have therapeutic potential.
![AP39 [(10-oxo-10-(4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5-yl)- phenoxy)decyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide] a mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide donor](http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=C3MD00323J "AP39 a novel mitochondria-targeted H2S donor molecule")
The synthesis and functional evaluation of a mitochondria-targeted hydrogen sulfide donor, (10-oxo-10-(4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5-yl)phenoxy)decyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (AP39)
Sophie Le Trionnaire, Alexis Perry, Bartosz Szczesny, Csaba Szabo, Paul G. Winyard, Jacqueline L. Whatmore, Mark E. Wood and Matthew Whiteman
Med. Chem. Commun., 2014, DOI: 10.1039/C3MD00323J, Concise Article
