Cysteine sulfoxide

Nishimura and coworkers57-59 studied the y-radiolysis of aqueous solutions of sulfoxide amino acids. Sulfoxide amino acids are the precursors of the flavors of onions (S-propyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide and S-(l-propenyl)-L-cysteine sulfoxide) and garlic (S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide). In studies on sprout inhibition of onion by /-irradiation it was found that the characteristic flavor of onions became milder. In the y-radiolysis of an aqueous solution of S-propyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (PCSO)57,58 they identified as the main products alanine, cysteic acid, dipropyl disulfide and dipropyl sulfide. In the radiolysis of S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (ACSO) they found that the main products are S-allyl-L-cysteine, cysteic acid, cystine, allyl alcohol, propyl allyl sulfide and diallyl sulfide. The mechanisms of formation of the products were partly elucidated by the study of the radiolysis in the presence of N20 and Br- as eaq - and OH radicals scavengers, respectively. 

FIGURE 7. The reactions of OH radical with alkyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide. 

For DMS and DMTS, S-mothyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide is a precursor action of a C-S lyase enzyme yields methanesulfenic acid, CH3-S-OH, and hence methyl methanethiosulfinate, CH3-SO-S-CH3. Disproportionation reactions yield polysulfides such as DMS.56... 

Naturally occurring alliin, the major precursor to the garlic aroma, is (RcSs)-( I )-,S -allyl-[.-cysteine sulfoxide 26 (Scheme 10) with both a chiral carbon and chiral sulfur - probably the first such compound (note that sulforaphene - see earlier - was isolated more or less simultaneously with alliin). Hence there are four possible stereoisomers. The alliin level in garlic is significant 5-14 mg g 1 fresh weight. 

Methyl L-cysteine sulfoxide 5 Chem. Ind. (London) I9S6,1428 Acta Oystallogr. 1962,15. 635... 

This enzyme [EC 4.4.1.4], also known as alliinase and cysteine sulfoxide lyase, catalyzes the conversion of an 5-alkyl-L-cysteine 5-oxide to an alkyl sulfenate and 2-aminoacrylate. The enzyme requires pyridoxal phosphate. 

This pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent enzyme [EC 4.4.1.13] catalyzes the conversion of an 5-substituted cysteine (that is, RS-CH2-CH(NH3")C00 ) to RSH, ammonia, and pyruvate. See also S-Substituted Cysteine Sulfoxide Lyase... 

As in the case of propachlor mercapturic acid sulfoxide, the biological significance of xenobiotic mercapturic acids that contain oxidized sulfur is not known. Casida et al. (39) have reported that sulfoxidation of some thiocarbamate herbicides is a beneficial step in the detoxication process. However, cysteine conjugates can exhibit adverse biological activities. Smith (40) has reviewed work on the metabolism of the toxic principle in kale and has shown that C-S lyase action on S-methylcysteine sulfoxide produces the toxic principle. Virtanen ( ) has reviewed the processes in other plants that lead to the production of compounds with biological activity from -substituted cysteine sulfoxides. 

Site-Directed Interchain Disulfide Formation with Cysteine-Sulfoxide by... 

A further development of the DMSO/H+ method for oxidation of cysteine peptides led to the cysteine-sulfoxide acid-catalyzed intermolecular disulfide formation with a second S-unprotected or acid-labile protected cysteine component as shown in Scheme 19. 1471 The protonation of the sulfoxide by TfOH in the case of 5(0)-Mob or TFA in the case of 5(0)-Acm derivatives provides electrophilicity to the sulfur atom to allow attack by the second S-unprotected cysteine component (formed by the fast deprotection of the 5-Mob group with TfOH in presence of dimethylsulfide) to generate in a site-directed manner the interchain disulfide bond. Although extensive experience with this method has not been accumulated for interchain disulfide bridging, it has been successfully applied for intrachain site-directed disulfide bond formation in chicken calcitonin-gene-related peptide.1 79 ... 

Scheme 7.3 Enzymatic production of sulfur-containing flavour compounds in Allium species from amino acid flavour precursors, a S-Alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxides and b (+)-S-l-propenyl cysteine sulfoxide (isoalliin) P-5 -Ppyridoxal-5 -phosphate...

When garlic is cut and the parenchyma is destroyed, alliin is the major cysteine sulfoxide liberated. Alliin is acted upon by the enzyme allinase (alliin lyase) to produce allicin. Allicin [S-(2-... 

Garlic oil and S-allyl-cysteine sulfoxide (Alliin), a garlic compound, exhibited similar antioxidant properties. Aged garlic extract prevents ischemia and reperfusion injuries to the heart and brain. 

Alline S-Propenyl-cysteine sulfoxide 7-L-Glutamyl-S-allyl-cysteine... 

Allylcatechol methylene ether 12. Ip Allyl cysteine sulfoxide 14.6o... 

Members of the allium family (onions, garlic, and leeks) contain cysteine sulfoxide derivatives (allyl sulfur compounds), such as allicin and alliin (see Figure 14.9). When the plant cells are damaged, the enzyme alliinase is released from vacuoles and catalyzes the formation of thiosulfinates and thiols, including the lachrymator thiopropanal S-oxide. Their function in the plant is presumably to provide protection against attack by pests. 

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