Methionine, sulfoxide

Sulfoxides occur widely in small concentrations in plant and animal tissues, eg, aHyl vinyl sulfoxide [81898-53-5] in garlic oil and 2,2 -sulfinylbisethanol [3085-45-8] as fatty esters in the adrenal cortex (1,2). Homologous methyl sulfinyl alkyl isothiocyanates, which are represented by the formula CH3SO(CH2) NCS, where n = 3 [37791-20-1], 4 [4478-93-7], 5 [646-23-1], 8 [75272-81-0], 9 [39036-83-4], or 10 [39036-84-5], have been isolated from a number of mustard oils in which they occur as glucosides (3). Two methylsulfinyl amino acids have also been reported methionine sulfoxide [454-41-1] from cockroaches and the sulfoxide of i -methylcysteine, 3-(methylsulfinyl)alaiiine [4740-94-7]. The latter is the dominant sulfur-containing amino acid in turnips and may account in part for their characteristic odor (4). 

Methionine sulfoxide [454-41-1, 62697-73-8] M 165.2, m >240 (dec). Likely impurities are dl-methionine sulfone and dZ-methionine. Crystd from water by adding EtOH in excess. 

S-Methyl-L-methionine chloride (Vitamin U) [1115-84-0] M 199.5, [a]p +33 (0.2M pK[ 1.9, pKj 7.9. Likely impurities are methionine, methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone. from water by adding a large excess of EtOH. Stored in a cool, dry place, protected from light. 

Me2Se, HF, m-cresol, 0°, 60 min. These conditions are also excellent for reduction of methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)]. ... 

ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone Met, methionine Met(O), methionine sulfoxide DTT, dithiothreitol L7, L12, Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins Met(0)-L12, L12 containing Met(O) residues a-l-PI, a-1-proteinase inhibitor Met(0)-a-l-PI, a-l-PI... 

Unfortunately, the chapter on biochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of sulfones and sulfoxides planned for this volume did not materialize. In view of the importance and interest of methionine sulfoxide, we decided to include this chapter although, unlike the other chapters, it does not deal with the title groups in toto but only with a single representative of them. 

FIGURE 1. The chemical oxidation of the methionine to methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone. 

Biologically, the reduction of methionine sulfoxide to methionine with NADPH is catalyzed by an enzyme79. Recently, the mechanism of reduction of sulfoxides by treatment with an NADPH model has been studied80. 

Note This reagent sequence is a modiflcation of the reagent chlorine — potassium iodide — starch . Mobile phases containing ammonia must be removed completely before treatment with the reagent sequence, since otherwise the background will be colored too. Some secondary amines (e.g. diphenylamine) and some amides (e.g. 2,4-dinitrobenzamide) and methionine sulfoxide do not give reactions even in quantities of up to 1 to 2 (ig. 

Methionine sulfoxide chemistry and biochemistry TABLE 6. Requirements for the reduction of Met(0)-a-l-PI ... 

FIGURE 7. The enzymatic reduction of N-acetyl-L-methionine sulfoxide. 

---