Chemical tools for decoding redox signaling at the host–microbe interface

What is it about?

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a type of free radical produced at the host-microbe interface that oxidize host cysteine residues. Cysteine oxidation can alter protein function and behavior, which has been shown to directly contribute to disease. However, comprehensively identifying cysteines that are oxidized during infection is challenging. This review discusses recent advancements in chemical proteomics that enable broad identification of oxidized cysteine residues and highlights how these techniques have been used to describe the effects of ROS at the host-microbe interface.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Because ROS production and subsequent cysteine oxidation influence both disease progression and bacterial physiology, it is important to identify cysteines targeted by ROS so that we can dissect their contribution to health and disease.