The Use of ¹⁹F NMR in the Study of Protein Alkylation by Fluorinated Reactive Intermediates

Abstract

Cysteine S-conjugates are formed as a result of enzymatic conjugation of xenobiotics with the tripeptide glutathione and subsequent peptidase cleavage. Enzymatic N-acetylation of cysteine S-conjugates yields the corresponding mercapturic acids, which are excreted in the urine. Thus glutathione and cysteine S-conjugate formation are associated with detoxication and excretion of xenobiotics. However, cysteine S-conjugate β-lyase, which is identical to glutamine transaminase K, catalyzes β-elimination reactions of cysteine S-conjugates, yielding a thiolate, pyruvate, and ammonia.