Biosynthesis of S-(2-hydroxy-2-carboxyethylthio)-L-cysteine (3-mercaptolactate-cysteine disulfide) by the rat heart.
Incubation of 3-mercaptopyruvate with rat heart homogenate resulted in the formation of S-(2-hydroxy-2-carboxy-ethylthio)-L-cysteine (HCETC, 3-mercaptolactate-cysteine disulfide), L-cysteine and 3-mercaptolactate with the concomitant decrease in glutamate and aspartate. These results indicate that a part of 3-mercaptopyruvate was converted to L-cysteine by transamination, a part was reduced to 3-mercaptolactate, and HCETC was formed from these two products. Another peak which corresponds to L-cysteine-glutathione disulfide on amino acid analysis was also produced during the incubation.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000596:Amino Acids; C001705:beta-mercaptolactate cysteine disulfide; C008366:3-mercaptopyruvic acid; D003545:Cysteine; D005998:Glycine