Participation of cysteine and cystine in inactivation of tyrosine aminotransferase in rat liver homogenates.

1. Inactivation of tyrosine aminotransferase was studied in rat liver homogenates. Under an O2 atmosphere with cysteine added, inactivation was rapid after a lag period of approx. 1h, whereas a N2 atmosphere extended the lag period to approx. 3h. 2. Replacement of cysteine with cystine resulted in rapid inactivation both aerobically and anaerobically. 3. Removal of the particulate fraction by centrifuging rat liver homogenates at 13,000g for 9min resulted in an aerobic lag period of 0.5h in the presence of cystine and approx. 3h in the presence of cysteine. 4. It is proposed that the stimulatory effect of cysteine on tyrosine aminotransferase inactivation occurs largely as a result of oxidation to cystine, which appears to be a more directly effective agent.