Hypoxia sensing requires H<sub>2</sub>S-dependent persulfidation of olfactory receptor 78.

Peng, Ying-Jie; Nanduri, Jayasri; Wang, Ning; Kumar, Ganesh K; Bindokas, Vytautas; Paul, Bindu D; Chen, Xuanmao; Fox, Aaron P et al. · Sci Adv · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) sensing by the carotid body is critical for maintaining cardiorespiratory homeostasis during hypoxia. Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) signaling is implicated in carotid body activation by low O<sub>2</sub>. Here, we show that persulfidation of olfactory receptor 78 (Olfr78) by H<sub>2</sub>S is an integral component of carotid body activation by hypoxia. Hypoxia and H<sub>2</sub>S increased persulfidation in carotid body glomus cells and persulfidated cysteine<sup>240</sup> in Olfr78 protein in heterologous system. <i>Olfr78</i> mutants manifest impaired carotid body sensory nerve, glomus cell, and breathing responses to H<sub>2</sub>S and hypoxia. Glomus cells are positive for G<sub>Olf,</sub> adenylate cyclase 3 (Adcy3) and cyclic nucleotide-gated channel alpha 2 (Cnga2), key molecules of odorant receptor signaling. <i>Adcy3</i> or <i>Cnga2</i> mutants exhibited impaired carotid body and glomus cell responses to H<sub>2</sub>S and breathing responses to hypoxia. These results suggest that H<sub>2</sub>S through redox modification of Olfr78 participates in carotid body activation by hypoxia to regulate breathing.

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