antioxidants Review Biosynthesis, Quantification and Genetic Diseases of the Smallest Signaling Thiol Metabolite: Hydrogen Sulfide Joanna Myszkowska 1, Ilia Derevenkov 2 , Sergei V. Makarov 2, Ute Spiekerkoetter 3 and Luciana Hannibal 1,* 1 Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism, Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
[email protected] 2 Department of Food Chemistry, Ivanovo State University of Chemistry and Technology, 153000 Ivanovo, Russia;
[email protected] (I.D.);
[email protected] (S.V.M.) 3 Department of General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter and the smallest signaling thiol metabolite with important roles in human health. The turnover of H2S in humans is mainly governed by enzymes of sulfur amino acid metabolism and also by the microbiome. As is the case with other small signaling molecules, disease-promoting effects of H2S largely depend on its concentration and compartmentalization. Genetic defects that impair the biogenesis and catabolism of H2S have been described; however, a gap in knowledge remains concerning physiological steady-state concentra- tions of H2S and their direct clinical implications. The small size and considerable reactivity of H2S Citation: Myszkowska, J.; renders its quantification in biological samples an experimental challenge. A compilation of methods Derevenkov, I.; Makarov, S.V.; currently employed to quantify H2S in biological specimens is provided in this review. Substan- Spiekerkoetter, U.; Hannibal, L.