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Title: Mechanisms of H sub 2 S production from cysteine and cystine by microorganisms isolated from soil by selective enrichment

Journal Article · · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)
OSTI ID:5273892
;  [1]
  1. Ohio State Univ., Wooster (USA)

Hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S) is a major component of biogenic gaseous sulfur emissions from terrestrial environments. However, little is known concerning the pathways for H{sub 2}S production from the likely substrates, cysteine and cystine. A mixed microbial culture obtained from Cystine-enriched soils was used in assays (50 min, 37C) with 0.05 M Tris-HCI (pH 8.5), 25 {mu}mol of L-cysteine, 25 {mu}mol of L-cystine, and 0.04 {mu}mol of pyridoxal 5 feet-phosphate. Sulfide and total pyruvate production were 17.6 and 17.2 nmol mg of protein{sup {minus}1} min{sup {minus}1}, respectively. Dithiothreitol did not alter reaction stoichiometry or the amount of H{sub 2}S and total pyruvate, whereas N-ethylmaleimide reduced both H{sub 2}S and total pyruvate production in the assay and by 15% with the addition of propargylglycine, a specific suicide inhibitor of cystathionine {gamma}-lyase. These data indicate that the substrate for the reaction was cysteine and the enzyme responsible for H{sub 2}S and pyruvate production was cysteine desulfhydrase. The enzyme had a K{sub m} of 1.32 mM and was inactivated by temperatures greater that 60C. Because cysteine is present in soil and cysteine desulfhydrase is an inducible enzyme, the potential for H{sub 2}S production by this mechanism exists in terrestrial environments.

OSTI ID:
5273892
Journal Information:
Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Vol. 57:5; ISSN 0099-2240
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English