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(+) S-Methyl-L-Cysteine Sulphoxide: an Inhibitor of Aspartic Acid Utilization in Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Abstract

THE dextro (+) form of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide has been isolated from turnips1 and from cabbages2, and its widespread occurrence in crucifers has been inferred from chromatographic evidence1,2. The next higher homologue, methionine sulphoxide, acts as an inhibitor of glutamic acid utilization by Lactobacillus arabinosus 3,4. This structural relationship suggested that S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide might act as an inhibitor of aspartic acid in an analogous manner. The two diastereoisomeric sul-phoxides of S-methyl-L-cysteine ((+) and (−) S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide) were tested as aspartic acid antimetabolites in Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The natural isomer (+) S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide inhibits the utilization of aspartic acid, but (−) S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide has no measurable activity. On several counts this system can be contrasted with the methionine sulphoxide–glutamic acid system.

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ARNOLD, W., MORRIS, C. & THOMPSON, J. (+) S-Methyl-L-Cysteine Sulphoxide: an Inhibitor of Aspartic Acid Utilization in Leuconostoc mesenteroides . Nature 186, 1051–1052 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/1861051b0

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