Transfer of persulfide sulfur from thiocystine to rhodanese

THiocystine (bis-[2-amino-2-carboxyethyl]trisulfide) is a natural substrate for rhodanese (thiosulfate:cyanide sulfurtransferase, EC 2.8.1.1). Analogs of thiocystine were prepared by eliminating the carboxyl or amino group or by lengthening the carbon chain. Of these only homothiocystine (bis-[2-amino-2-carboxypropyl]trisulfide) had appreciable activity as a substrate. At pH 8.6, the optimum for rhodanese, transfer of sulfane sulfur to cyanide in the presence of rhodanese was nonspecific. Only the sulfane sulfur of 35S-labeled thiocystine was transferred to rhodanese. Thus, thiocystine and thiosulfate both produce a rhodanese persulfide as a stable intermediate in sulfur transfer.