Mode of Action of α, β Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

The toxicity of the α, β unsaturated carbonyl compounds (α, β UCCs) (patulin, penicillic acid, parasorbic acid, tulipalin and plumbagin) towards Pythium sp. group F (Van Der Plaat-Niterinks 1981) was neutralized by the addition of an excess of cysteine. This suggests that the mode of action of these compounds could be due to a binding of the α, βi UCCs to sulphydryl groups in enzymes or other macromolecules. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), an enzyme with a sulphydryl group at the active site, was assayed spectrophotometrically and all the α, β UCCs inhibited ADH.