Converting the widely present sulfide into elemental sulfur (S⁰) holds significant environmental protection and resource recycling value. Existing biotechnologies for producing S⁰ rely on regulating the O₂/S or N O−3 /S molar ratios, which face challenges of unstable yields under varying conditions. The complexity of sulfide oxidation process, involving numerous enzymes and diverse sulfur forms and valence states, poses a significant difficulty to understanding and advancing research in bio-S⁰ production. To facilitate progress in this area, this review re-examines the sulfur oxidation pathways with a focus on the synthesis, storage, and utilization of S⁰, considering both metabolic pathways and catalytic mechanisms. Integrating insights into the enzymes involved, including their structural features, subcellular location, active sites, electron transfer processes, and inter-enzyme synergy, were provided to enhance the understanding of sulfur metabolism mechanisms at a molecular level. Furthermore, several underexplored yet crucial areas were highlighted, including the identification and characterization of sulfur transmembrane transport proteins, the discovery and enrichment of microorganisms with defects in the sulfur oxidation genome (GD-SOMs), and the potential of genetic engineering in constructing GD-SOMs. Addressing these gaps provides valuable guidance for potential S⁰ production biotechnological innovations.

中文翻译：

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元素硫的生物合成、储存和利用：酶途径、分子机制和未来展望


将广泛存在的硫化物转化为元素硫 （S⁰） 具有重要的环境保护和资源循环利用价值。现有的用于生产 S⁰ 的生物技术依赖于调节 O₂/S 或 N O-3 /S 摩尔比，这在不同条件下面临产量不稳定的挑战。硫化物氧化过程的复杂性，涉及多种酶和不同的硫形式和价态，对理解和推进 Bio-S⁰ 生产的研究构成了重大困难。为了促进这一领域的进展，本文重新研究了硫的氧化途径，重点是 S⁰ 的合成、储存和利用，同时考虑了代谢途径和催化机制。整合了对相关酶的见解，包括它们的结构特征、亚细胞位置、活性位点、电子转移过程和酶间协同作用，以增强对分子水平上硫代谢机制的理解。此外，还强调了几个未被充分探索但至关重要的领域，包括硫跨膜转运蛋白的鉴定和表征、硫氧化基因组 （GD-SOM） 缺陷微生物的发现和富集，以及基因工程在构建 GD-SOM 中的潜力。解决这些差距为潜在的 S⁰ 生产生物技术创新提供了有价值的指导。