ISSN:
1438-2199
Keywords:
Amino acids
;
Cysteine
;
Copper catalysis
;
Cuprous complex
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The oxidation of cysteine (RSH) has been studied by using O2, ferricytochrome c (Cyt c) and nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) as electron acceptors. The addition of 200μM CuII to a solution of 2mM cysteine, pH 7.4, produces an absorbance with a peak at 260 nm and a shoulder at 300 nm. Generation of a cuprous bis-cysteine complex (RS-CuI-SR) is responsible for this absorbance. In the absence of O2 the absorbance is stable for long time while in the presence of air it vanishes slowly only when the cysteine excess is consumed. The neocuproine assay and the EPR analysis show that the metal remains reduced in the course of the oxidation of cysteine returning to the oxidised form at the end of reaction when all RSH has been oxidised to RSSR. Addition of CuII enhances the reduction rate of Cyt c and of NBT by cysteine also under anaerobiosis indicating the occurrence of a direct reduction of the acceptor by the complex. It is concluded that the cuprous bis-cysteine complex (RS-CuI-SR) is the catalytic species involved in the oxidation of cysteine. The novel finding of the stability of the complex together with the metal remaining in the reduced form during the oxidation suggest sulfur as the electron donor in the place of the metal ion.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01372599
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