Albizzia lophanta

In structural terms, djenkolic has two units of L-cysteine joined through a CH2 group linked to sulfur atoms. It has also been found in seeds of Albizzia lophanta and Parkia speciosa32 and, as noted earlier, is the source of CS2 in Mimosa pudica (Section 11.1.2.2.2). An enzyme in A. lophanta seeds converted djenkolic acid to an unstable material with a leek-like odor, methylene dithiol 39.92 This was presumably an elimination of aminoacrylic acid 28 via intermediates 37 and 38 (Scheme 13). The methylene dithiol decomposed to H2S and possibly, thioformaldehyde, CH2S the latter might be a source for polysulfides. 

SCHWIMMER, S., KJAER, A., Purification and specificity of the C-S lyase of Albizzia lophanta, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1960, 42, 316-324. 

Occurs In seeds and seedlings oiAibizzia julibrissin and Albizzia lophanta... 

S-Alkylcysteine C-S Lyase (EC 4.4.1.6). The endosperm of seeds of the shrub Albizzia lophanta contains djenkolic acid (HOOCCH(NH2)-CH2SCH2SCH2CH(NH2)C00H) and an enzyme which cleaves it to pyruvate, ammonia, and highly odoriferous substances (CH2(SH)2 ) (48, 49). The enzyme has been purified 200-fold by acid and heat treatment, (NH4)2S04 precipitation, and adsorption on alumina (50). It has a broad specificity and cleaves S-derivatives of L-cysteine, its sulfoxide, and sulfone. L-Cysteine itself is cleaved to pyruvate, HjS, and ammonia. 

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