Abstract
THE intermediate role of the persulphide analogues (R—SSH) of cysteine and cysteamine in the biological conversion of cystine and cystamine into the corresponding sulphinates and thiosulphonates has been suggested in ref. 1. This view has been emphasized by the detection of an enzyme, or enzyme system, able to convert thiocysteamine (the persulphide analogue of cysteamine: NH2—CH2—CH2—SSH) into thiotaurine (R—SO2SH) and hypotaurine (R—SO2H) in the presence of air2. Careful study of this reaction merits attention since it may throw light on the first steps of the metabolic pathway of cystine and cystamine.
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CAVALLINI, D., DE MARCO, C. & MONDOVÌ, B. Detection and Distribution of Enzymes for oxidizing Thiocysteamine. Nature 192, 557–558 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/192557a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/192557a0
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