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PubMed2005

Protective effect of s-allyl cysteine and s-propyl cysteine on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

In vivo protective effects of s-allyl cysteine (SAC) and s-propyl cysteine (SPC) against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Balb/cA mice were studied. SAC and SPC at 1g/L were added into drinking water for four weeks and followed by acetaminophen treatment. Acetaminophen treatment significantly depleted glutathione content, increased oxidation stress and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities (P < 0.05); however, the intake of SAC or SPC significantly alleviated glutathione depletion and the elevation of ALT and AST, enhanced glutathione peroxidase activity, and lowered malondialdehyde formation (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were significantly increased by acetaminophen treatment (P < 0.05); and SAC or SPC intake significantly suppressed acetaminophen-induced elevation of CRP, vWF and the three cytokines (P < 0.05). Acetaminophen treatment also significantly increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and plasma fibrinogen level, and decreased antithrombin III (AT-III) and protein C activities (P < 0.05). SAC or SPC intake alleviated AT-III and protein C reduction (P < 0.05); but did not affect PAI-1 activity and plasma fibrinogen level (P > 0.05). These data suggest that SAC and SPC are potential multiple-protective agents against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2005

The role of hydrogen bonding in the selectivity of L-cysteine methyl ester (CYSM) and L-cysteine ethyl ester (CYSE) for chloride ion.

The interaction of cysteamine (CY), L-cysteine methyl ester (CYSM), and L-cysteine ethyl ester (CYSE) with nitrate, sulfate, perchlorate, dihydrogen phosphate, and chloride ions was investigated using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). CYSM and CYSE are chemical derivatives of CY. These thiols have a quaternary ammonium group to attract the anions to the SERS surface. Dihydrogen phosphate did not interact with these cationic thiols. The CY interaction with perchlorate, nitrate, and sulfate is stronger than the interaction with chloride. However, replacing a hydrogen on the carbon adjacent to the quaternary ammonium group with either a methyl or ethyl ester group results in stronger complexation with chloride ion than with either sulfate or nitrate ion. In the case of CYSM, the chloride interaction is five times stronger than the interaction with perchlorate. Molecular modeling indicates that the high selectivity of CYSM/CYSE for chloride is due to hydrogen bonding between the chloride ion and the hydrogen of the CH3 moeities of adjacent ester groups.

Chlorides↗
PubMed1986

Metabolism of S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine to hydrogen sulfide and the role of hydrogen sulfide in S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine-induced mitochondrial toxicity.

The nephrotoxic cysteine S-conjugate S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine (CTFC) is metabolized by kidney homogenates and subcellular fractions to pyruvate and a reactive thiol, which is cytotoxic and partially decomposes to yield hydrogen sulfide and thiosulfate. Although hydrogen sulfide is a potent mitochondrial poison, the mitochondrial toxicity of CTFC is not attributable to hydrogen sulfide formation, as shown by different sites of inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by CTFC and hydrogen sulfide. The efficient mitochondrial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide apparently serves to protect mitochondria against the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide generated from CTFC.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Palmitoylation occurs at cysteine 347 and cysteine 351 of the dopamine D(1) receptor.

To determine the palmitoylation sites in the human dopamine D(1) receptor, we expressed wild type and mutant receptors in which candidate cysteines in the carboxyl tail were substituted by alanines both individually (A347, A351) and together (AA). Our results showed that palmitoylation levels of A347 and A351 were reduced substantially and that AA had no detectable signal of palmitoylation. These data indicate that cysteines 347 and 351 were both palmitoylated and that they were the only sites of palmitoylation. We introduced a cAMP-dependent protein kinase site encompassing the position 351. We predicted that a functional cAMP-dependent protein kinase site would impair receptor-G protein coupling if it is not occluded by palmitoylation. Our results demonstrated that indeed, the introduction of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase site caused reduced potency of dopamine stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, and thus confirmed that when unoccluded, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase site introduced to position 351 of dopamine D(1) receptor could confer constitutive desensitization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Excretion of N-acetyl-S-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-cysteine and N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-cysteine in workers exposed to styrene.

Styrene (S) has been shown to be responsible for neurotoxic effects, including behavioural changes and neuroendocrine disturbances. The initial step of S metabolism is conversion to styrene 7,8-epoxide (SO), which is present in two enantiomeric forms [(R)(+)-SO and (S)(-)-SO]; this electrophilic intermediate is considered to be directly responsible for most toxic effects of S. The major urinary metabolites derived from the biotransformation of SO in man are mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA). In rats an alternative pathway has been demonstrated, which involves the conjugation of SO to glutathione (GSH), leading to the excretion of two specific mercapturic acids, N-acetyl-S-(-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-cysteine [M1] and N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxy-ethyl)-cysteine [M2]; a close relationship has been found between exposure to S and urinary excretion of M1 and M2 in rats. As a consequence of the chiral nature of SO, both M1 and M2 consist of two diastereoisomers (M1-'R', M1-'S', M2-'R' and M2-'S'). Early reports have shown that the conversion of S to mercapturic acids is much lower in man (below 1% of the absorbed dose) than in rats (about 10%). We propose an analytical method for the determination of urinary M1 and M2 in man, which involves a urine clean-up by a chromatographic technique with a short reversed-phase pre-column; purified samples are then deacetylated with porcine acylase and deproteinized by centrifugal ultrafiltration. A derivatization is then performed with o-phthaldialdehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol and the fluorescent derivatives are separated on a reversed-phase analytical column. The mobile phase consists of acetate buffer and methanol mixed at variable proportions, the fluorescence detector is set at 330 nm (exc.) and 440 nm (em.). M1-'S' and M1-'R' are separated (retention times = 52.8 and 73.7 min, respectively) while the diastereoisomers of M2 coelute as a single peak at 70.5 min. The detection limit is about 7 micrograms/l, the coefficients of variation are below 7% and the error percentages are less than 6%. The method was applied to 25 urine samples from workers exposed to S: significant correlations were found between mercapturic acids and MA and PGA, the best correlation being between M2 and PGA (r = 0.79). Urine samples form unexposed subjects showed no detectable amounts of the analytes. A high stereoselectivity is shown by the enzymes involved in the metabolism of S to mercapturic acids: M1-'S', which derives from (S)-SO, is excreted in much higher amounts than M1-'R', which derives from (R)-SO.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1986

A cysteine residue (cysteine-116) in the histidinol binding site of histidinol dehydrogenase.

Salmonella typhimurium L-histidinol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.23), a four-electron dehydrogenase, was inactivated by an active-site-directed modification reagent, 7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl). The inactivation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and was prevented by low concentrations of the substrate L-histidinol or by the competitive inhibitors histamine and imidazole. The observed rate saturation kinetics for inactivation suggest that NBD-Cl binds to the enzyme noncovalently before covalent inactivation occurs. The UV spectrum of the inactivated enzyme showed a peak at 420 nm, indicative of sulfhydryl modification. Stoichiometry experiments indicated that full inactivation was correlated with modification of 1.5 sulfhydryl groups per subunit of enzyme. By use of a substrate protection scheme, it was shown that 0.5 sulfhydryl per enzyme subunit was neither protected against NBD-Cl modification by L-histidinol nor essential for activity. Modification of the additional 1.0 sulfhydryl caused complete loss of enzyme activity and was prevented by L-histidinol. Pepsin digestion of NBD-modified enzyme was used to prepare labeled peptides under conditions that prevented migration of the NBD group. HPLC purification of the peptides was monitored at 420 nm, which is highly selective for NBD-labeled cysteine residues. By amino acid sequencing of the major peptides, it was shown that the reagent modified primarily Cys-116 and Cys-377 and that the presence of L-histidinol gave significant protection of Cys-116. The presence of a cysteine residue in the histidinol binding site is consistent with models in which formation and subsequent oxidation of a thiohemiacetal occurs as an intermediate step in the overall reaction.

4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan↗
PubMed1999

Effects of L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine on 4-hydroxy-2, 5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (furaneol), 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, and 5-methylfurfural formation and browning in buffer solutions containing either rhamnose or glucose and arginine.

Solutions of L-cysteine (Cys) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (AcCys), containing glucose or rhamnose, with or without arginine, were buffered to pH 3, 5, and 7 and incubated at 70 degrees C for 48 h. Cys and AcCys inhibited the formation of (hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) from glucose and methylfurfural (MF) from rhamnose under acidic conditions. AcCys inhibited the accumulation of 4-hydroxy-2, 5-dimethyl- 3(2H)-furanone (DMHF, Furaneol) from rhamnose, but Cys, under our experimental conditions, enhanced Furaneol accumulation from rhamnose. Cys and AcCys reacted directly with Furaneol but not with HMF or MF. Both Cys and AcCys inhibited nonenzymatic browning at pH 7. At pH 3, however, Cys reacted with both glucose and rhamnose to produce unidentified compounds that increased the visible absorbency.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase in rat and human liver microsomes by isothiocyanates and their glutathione, L-cysteine, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine conjugates.

Natural and synthetic isothiocyanates and their conjugates were examined for their inhibitory effects toward rat and human liver microsomal N-dimethylnitrosoamine demethylase (NDMAd) activity using a radiometric NDMAd assay. Substrate concentrations of 30 and 60 microM were used to probe the activity of cytochrome P4502E1 isozyme through the alpha-hydroxylation of NDMA. It was found that alkyl isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane and allyl isothiocyanate displayed very weak inhibition, whereas the arylalkyl isothiocyanates such as benzyl and phenethyl isothiocyanate showed significant inhibition toward rat liver NDMAd activity with IC50 values of 9.0 and 8.3 microM, respectively. More interestingly, glutathione conjugates of benzyl, phenethyl, and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanates all inhibited NDMAd at the comparable concentrations. In the phenethyl isothiocyanate conjugates series, there exist marked differences in their inhibitory activity; i.e., its conjugates with L-cysteine (IC50 = 4.3 microM) and with glutathione (IC50 = 4.0 microM) are more potent than its conjugate of N-acetylcysteine (IC50 = 24.0 microM). The same trend was also observed for the human liver microsomal NDMAd activity. The half-lives of these conjugates were determined in the presence of other free thiols from L-cysteine or glutathione using an HPLC system. It was shown that isothiocyanates are released from their conjugates and react with the free thiols present in the solution. The longer half-life of N-acetylcysteine conjugate of phenethyl isothiocyanate as compared to the other conjugates is consistent with its lower inhibitory activity. The inhibition of NDMAd, and therefore cytochrome P4502E1, by isothiocyanate conjugates is most likely due to the action of the free isothiocyanates released from the conjugates. Since cytochrome P4502E1 and other isozymes play important roles in the activation of the tobacco-specific nitrosoamines, these results provide a basis for investigating the potential of isothiocyanate conjugates as chemopreventive agents.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1998

Chlorothioketene, the ultimate reactive intermediate formed by cysteine conjugate beta-lyase-mediated cleavage of the trichloroethene metabolite S-(1,2-Dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine, forms cytosine adducts in organic solvents, but not in aqueous solution.

Chlorothioketene has been suggested as a reactive intermediate formed by the cysteine conjugate beta-lyase-mediated cleavage of S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine, a minor metabolite of trichloroethene. Halothioketenes are highly reactive, and their intermediate formation may be confirmed by reactions such as cycloadditions and thioacylations of nucleophiles. A precursor of chlorothioketene, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)thioacetate, is readly accessible by the reaction of dichloroethyne with thioacetic acid. In presence of base, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)thioacetate is cleaved to chlorothioketene. Chlorothioketene is not stable at room temperature and was characterized after transformation to stable products by reaction with compounds such as cyclopentadiene, N,N-diethylamine, and ethanol. In organic solvents, the cleavage of S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)thioacetate in the presence of cytosine results in N4-acetylcytosine, N4-(chlorothioacetyl)cytosine, and small amounts of 3-(N4-thioacetyl)cytosine. No reaction products were seen with guanosine, adenosine, and thymidine under identical conditions. When cytosine was reacted with S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)thioacetate in aqueous solutions, only N4-acetylcytosine was formed. N4-(Chlorothioacetyl)cytosine and 3-(N4-thioacetyl)cytosine were not detected even when using a very sensitive method, derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and electron capture mass spectrometry with a detection limit of 50 fmol/microliter of injection volume. Aqueous solutions of DNA cleave S-(1, 2-dichlorovinyl)thioacetate to give N4-acetyldeoxycytidine in DNA, but chlorothioketene adducts of deoxynucleosides were also not detected in these experiments. These results confirm the electrophilic reactivity of chlorothioketene toward nucleophilic groups of DNA constituents in inert solvents but also demonstrate that the formation of DNA adducts under physiological conditions likely is not efficient. Therefore, DNA adducts may not represent useful biomarkers of exposure and biochemical effects for trichloroethene.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

A method for detection of overoxidation of cysteines: peroxiredoxins are oxidized in vivo at the active-site cysteine during oxidative stress.

Peroxiredoxins are often encountered as double spots when analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The quantitative balance between these two spots depends on the physiological conditions, and is altered in favour of the acidic variant by oxidative stress for all the peroxiredoxins we could analyse. Using HeLa cells as a model system, we have further analysed the two protein isoforms represented by the two spots for each peroxiredoxin. The use of selected enzyme digestion and MS demonstrated that the acidic variant of all the peroxiredoxins analysed is irreversibly oxidized at the active-site cysteine into cysteine sulphinic or sulphonic acid. Thus, this acidic variant represents an inactivation form of the peroxiredoxins, and provides a useful marker of oxidative damage to the cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Copper inhibits the protease from human immunodeficiency virus 1 by both cysteine-dependent and cysteine-independent mechanisms.

The protease of the human immunodeficiency virus is essential for replication of the virus, and the enzyme is therefore an attractive target for antiviral action. We have found that the viral protease is inhibited by approximately stoichiometric concentrations of copper or mercury ions. Inactivation by Cu2+ was rapid and not reversed by subsequent exposure to EDTA or dithiothreitol. Direct inhibition by Cu2+ required the presence of cysteine residue(s) in the protease. Thus, a synthetic protease lacking cysteine residues was not inhibited by exposure to copper. However, addition of dithiothreitol as an exogenous thiol rendered even the synthetic protease susceptible to inactivation by copper. Oxygen was not required for inactivation of either the wild-type or the synthetic protease. These results provide the basis for the design of novel types of protease inhibitors.

Cations↗
PubMed1995

DsbA-DsbB interaction through their active site cysteines. Evidence from an odd cysteine mutant of DsbA.

Formation of disulfide bonds in Escherichia coli envelope proteins is facilitated by the Dsb system, which is thought to consist of at least two components, a periplasmic soluble enzyme (DsbA) and a membrane-bound factor (DsbB). Although it is believed that DsbA directly oxidizes substrate cysteines and DsbB reoxidizes DsbA to allow multiple rounds of reactions, direct evidence for the DsbA-DsbB interaction has been lacking. We examined intracellular activities of mutant forms of DsbA, DsbA30S and DsbA33S, in which one of its active site cysteines (Cys30 or Cys33, respectively) has been replaced by serine. The DsbA33S protein was found to dominantly interfere with the disulfide bonds formation and to form intermolecular disulfide bonds with numerous other proteins when cells were grown in media containing low molecular weight disulfides such as GSSG. In the absence of added GSSG, DsbA33S protein remained specifically disulfide-bonded with DsbB. These in vivo results not only confirm the previous findings that Cys30 of DsbA is hyper-reactive in vitro but provide evidence that DsbA indeed interacts selectively with DsbB. We propose that the Cys30-mediated DsbA-DsbB complex represents an intermediate state of DsbA-DsbB recycling reaction that has been fixed because of the absence of Cys33 on DsbA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Functional interaction of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase with sperm mitochondrion-associated cysteine-rich protein discloses the adjacent cysteine motif as a new substrate of the selenoperoxidase.

The mitochondrial capsule is a selenium- and disulfide-rich structure enchasing the outer mitochondrial membrane of mammalian spermatozoa. Among the proteins solubilized from the sperm mitochondrial capsule, we confirmed, by using a proteomic approach, the presence of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) as a major component, and we also identified the sperm mitochondrion-associated cysteine-rich protein (SMCP) and fragments/aggregates of specific keratins that previously escaped detection (Ursini, F., Heim, S., Kiess, M., Maiorino, M., Roveri, A., Wissing, J., and Flohé, L. (1999) Science 285, 1393-1396). The evidence for a functional association between PHGPx, SMCP, and keratins is further supported by the identification of a sequence motif of regularly spaced Cys-Cys doublets common to SMCP and high sulfur keratin-associated proteins, involved in bundling hair shaft keratin by disulfide cross-linking. Following the oxidative polymerization of mitochondrial capsule proteins, catalyzed by PHGPx, two-dimensional redox electrophoresis analysis showed homo- and heteropolymers of SMCP and PHGPx, together with other minor components. Adjacent cysteine residues in SMCP peptides are oxidized to cystine by PHGPx. This unusual disulfide is known to drive, by reshuffling oxidative protein folding. On this basis we propose that oxidative polymerization of the mitochondrial capsule is primed by the formation of cystine on SMCP, followed by reshuffling. Occurrence of reshuffling is further supported by the calculated thermodynamic gain of the process. This study suggests a new mechanism where selenium catalysis drives the cross-linking of structural elements of the cytoskeleton via the oxidation of a keratin-associated protein.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2001

Roles of N-terminal active cysteines and C-terminal cysteine-selenocysteine in the catalytic mechanism of mammalian thioredoxin reductase.

Mammalian thioredoxin reductase [EC 1.6.4.5], a homodimeric flavoprotein, has a marked similarity to glutathione reductase. The two cysteines in the N-terminal FAD domain (-Cys59-x-x-x-x-Cys64-) and histidine (His472) are conserved between them at corresponding positions, but the mammalian thioredoxin reductase contains a C-terminal extension of selenocysteine (Sec or U) at the penultimate position and a preceding cysteine (-Gly-Cys497-Sec498-Gly). Introduction of mutations into the cloned rat thioredoxin reductase gene revealed that residues Cys59, Cys64, His472, Cys497, and Sec498, as well as the sequence of Cys497 and Sec498 were essential for thioredoxin-reducing activity. To analyze the catalytic mechanism of the mammalian thioredoxin reductase, the wild-type, U498C, U498S, C59S, and C64S were overproduced in a baculovirus/insect cell system and purified. The wild-type thioredoxin reductase produced in this system, designated as WT, was found to lack the Sec residue and to terminate at Cys497. A Sec-containing thioredoxin reductase, which was purified from COS-1 cells transfected with the wild-type cDNA, was designated as SecWT and was used as an authentic enzyme. Among mutant enzymes, only U498C retained a slight thioredoxin-reducing activity at about three orders magnitude lower than SecWT. WT, U498C, and U498S showed some 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)-reducing activity and transhydrogenase activity, and C59S and C64S had substantially no such activities. These data and spectral analyses of these enzymes suggest that Cys59 and Cys64 at the N-terminus, in conjunction with His472, function as primary acceptors for electrons from NADPH via FAD, and that the electrons are then transferred to Cys497-Sec498 at the C-terminus for the reduction of oxidized thioredoxin in the mammalian thioredoxin reductase.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Cysteine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium which grow without cysteine in a hydrogen/carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Cysteine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium mutated in cysB, cysI or cysJ grew with sulphate as a sulphur source when incubated under a hydrogen/carbon dioxide atmosphere. Yields obtained under these conditions were equivalent to those characteristic of wild-type S. typhimurium. The same mutants failed to grow with sulphate as a sulphur source when incubated aerobically. Auxotrophs mutated in cysA, cysC, cysD, cysE, cysG and cysH required cysteine for growth under both incubation conditions. The results suggest that mutations in cysB (regulation of the several cys operons) and also cysI and cysJ (sulphite reductase activity) can be circumvented during anaerobic growth under hydrogen.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of cysteine on the pharmacokinetic parameters of omeprazole in rats with protein-calorie malnutrition: partial restoration of some parameters to control levels by oral cysteine supplementation.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that omeprazole is mainly metabolized via the hepatic cytochrome (CYP) 1A1/2, 3A1/2, and 2D1, and the expressions and mRNA levels of CYP1A2, 2C11, and 3A1/2 decreased in protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) rats compared with controls. Interestingly, the decreased CYP1A2, 2C11, and 3A1/2 in PCM rats returned fully or partially to control levels by oral cysteine supplementation (PCMC rats). Hence, it could be expected that some pharmacokinetic parameters of omeprazole might change in PCM rats and partially restore to control levels in PCMC rats. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pharmacokinetic changes of omeprazole in PCM rats and restoration of the parameters in PCMC rats to control levels. METHODS: Omeprazole was administered intravenously (20 mg/kg) and orally (40 mg/kg) to control, PCM, and PCMC rats. RESULTS: The following pharmacokinetic parameters were changed in PCM rats and partially returned to control levels in PCMC rats: the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC; 387, 762, and 539 microg min/mL for control, PCM, and PCMC rats, respectively, after intravenous [IV] administration, and the corresponding values after oral administration: 115, 304, and 201 microg min/mL), total body clearance (51.7, 25.5, and 37.1 mL/min/kg, respectively), nonrenal clearance (51.5, 25.4, and 36.1 mL/min/kg, respectively), and in vitro intrinsic clearance (0.158, 0.118, and 0.138 mL/min/mg protein). CONCLUSIONS: PCM was associated with significant changes in some omeprazole pharmacokinetics and the pharmacokinetic parameters restored to control levels by oral cysteine.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteinases, acid phosphatase, and an endogenous cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin-beta, in rat osteoclasts.

To understand the bone resorption and lysosomal proteinases in osteoclasts, we examined by immunohistochemistry the localization of lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteinases, acid phosphatase, and cystatin-beta in the rat tibial bone. Immunoreactivity for cathepsins B, C, H, and L, cathepsin D, acid phosphatase, and cystatin-beta was demonstrated in various cells of the bone tissue; in particular, large multinucleated osteoclasts attached to the bone surface and chondroclasts in the proximal growth plate. These cells showed intense immunoreactivity for these lysosomal enzymes and cystatin-beta. Bone surface-lining osteoblasts displayed distinct immunoreactivity for cathepsins B, C, D, H, and acid phosphatase, while osteocytes often exhibited that for cathepsins D, H and acid phosphatase. Chondrocytes in the growth plate demonstrated intense immunoreactivity for cathepsins B, D, and acid phosphatase. Immunoreactivity for cystatin-beta was detected in osteoclasts and chondroclasts only. Large, round multinucleated cells free from the bone surface exhibited weak, faint, or no immunoreactivity for the lysosomal enzymes and cystatin-beta. These results suggest that lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteinases may play a role in the degradation of organic constituents of the bone matrix. Moreover, cystatin-beta can serve as an excellent marker protein for osteoclasts.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2000

Study of the effect of the administration of Cd(II), cysteine, methionine, and Cd(II) together with cysteine or methionine on the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase.

Cadmium is known as to be a potent pulmonary carcinogen to human beings and to induce prostate tumor. The sequestration of cadmium, an extremely toxic element to living cells, which is performed by biological ligands such as amino acids, peptides, proteins or enzymes is important to minimize its participation in such deleterious processes. The synthesis of metallothionein is induced by a wide range of metals, in which cadmium is a particularly potent inducer. This protein is usually associated with cadmium exposure in man. Because metallothioneins may act as a detoxification agent for cadmium and chelation involves sulfur donor atoms, we administered only cadmium, cysteine, or methionine to rats and also each of these S-amino acids together with cadmium and measured the production of superoxide radicals derived from the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase. It could be seen in this work that the presence of cadmium enhances this conversion. However, its inoculation with cysteine or methionine almost completely diminishes this effect and this can be the result of the fact that these amino acids complex Cd(II). Thus, these compounds can be a model of the action of metallothionein, removing cadmium from circulation and preventing its deleterious effect.

Animals↗