ETHE1

This gene encodes a member of the metallo beta-lactamase family of iron-containing proteins involved in the mitochondrial sulfide oxidation pathway. The encoded protein catalyzes the oxidation of a persulfide substrate to sulfite. Certain mutations in this gene cause ethylmalonic encephalopathy, an infantile metabolic disorder affecting the brain, gastrointestinal tract and peripheral vessels. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2016]

Full Name

Ethe1, Persulfide Dioxygenase

Research Area

Sulfur dioxygenase that plays an essential role in hydrogen sulfide catabolism in the mitochondrial matrix. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is first oxidized by SQRDL, giving rise to cysteine persulfide residues. ETHE1 consumes molecular oxygen to catalyze the oxidation of the persulfide, once it has been transferred to a thiophilic acceptor, such as glutathione (R-SSH). Plays an important role in metabolic homeostasis in mitochondria by metabolizing hydrogen sulfide and preventing the accumulation of supraphysiological H2S levels that have toxic effects, due to the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase. First described as a protein that can shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and suppress p53-induced apoptosis by sequestering the transcription factor RELA/NFKB3 in the cytoplasm and preventing its accumulation in the nucleus (PubMed:12398897).

Biological Process

Glutathione metabolic process Source: UniProtKB
Hydrogen sulfide metabolic process Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm; Mitochondrion matrix; Nucleus

Involvement in disease

Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE):
Autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental delay and regression, recurrent petechiae, acrocyanosis, diarrhea, leading to death in the first decade of life. It is also associated with persistent lactic acidemia and ethylmalonic and methylsuccinic aciduria.