Sulfurtransferases and the content of cysteine, glutathione and sulfane sulfur in tissues of the frog Rana temporaria

Abstract

l-cysteine desulfuration was examined in tissues of Rana temporaria, in October and January. The activities of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), cystathionine γ-lyase (CST) and rhodanese were primarily concentrated in frog liver and kidney. The values of CST and rhodanese activity, as well as sulfane sulfur compounds levels fell in the range characteristic of rat. For each of the investigated tissues changes noted in the enzymatic activities and in the level of glutathione (GSH), protein-bound cysteine (PbCys) and sulfane sulfur compounds were dependent on the month in which the determination was performed, and on the character of the tissue. In such tissues as the liver or gonads, high GSH levels and high activities of MPST (in the liver) or MPST and rhodanese (in the gonads) seemed to accompany protein biosynthesis during hibernation. PbCys, the level of which was consequently diminished in all tissues in January, compensated the absence of exogenous cysteine. A significantly reduced GSH level in the brain in January seemed to be correlated with decreased requirements of the tissue for this important natural antioxidant at diminished thyroid hormones levels in the serum and minimal oxygen consumption during the hibernation. In the kidney, the possible participation of sulfane sulfur compounds in detoxification processes requires elucidation, similarly as in protection against cellular oxidative stress at extremely low levels of GSH.