title: Effects of thyroxine on L-cysteine desulfuration in mouse liver.
abstract: The effect of exogenous thyroxine (T4) administration on the activity of rhodanese, cystathionase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) in the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of mouse liver was investigated. Three groups of mice were treated for 6 consecutive days with subcutaneous injections of T4 (50 micrograms, 100 micrograms, and 250 micrograms per 100 g of body wt, respectively). The other 3 groups were given 100 micrograms of T4 per 100 g of body wt for 1, 2, or 3 days. The dose of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt given for 6 days exerted the strongest effect on the activity of all of the investigated enzymes. In comparison to the control, rhodanese activity diminished in the mitochondrial fraction by 40% (P < 0.05), cystathionase activity diminished in the cytosolic fraction by 15% (P < 0.05), and MPST activity in the mitochondrial fraction was reduced by 34% (P < 0.05), whereas cytosolic MPST activity was unaltered. Simultaneously, in the liver homogenate, elevated levels of ATP and sulfate were observed after 6 days of T4 administration. Thus, the present results seem to suggest that in the mouse liver, after 6 days of administration of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt, the desulfuration metabolism of L-cysteine is diminished, which is probably accompanied by an increase in oxidative L-cysteine metabolism. The dose of 100 micrograms per 100 g of body wt administered for a shorter period, and the use of a lower dosage (50 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt) for 6 days had a stimulatory effect upon MPST activity level, and an increased level of sulfane sulfur was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wróbel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ubuka
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D013466:Sulfurtransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D013884:Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C008366:3-mercaptopyruvic acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D013466:Sulfurtransferases; D013884:Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; D003545:Cysteine; D013974:Thyroxine