- Rhodanese
Rhodanase is a mitochondrial
enzyme which detoxifiescyanide (CN-) by converting it tothiocyanate (SCN-).This reaction takes place in two steps. The diagram on the right shows the crystallographically-determined structure of rhodanese. In the first step, thiosulfate reacts with the
thiol group onCysteine -247 1, to form adisulfide 2. In the second step, the disulfide reacts with cyanide to produce thiocyanate, itself being converted back into the "normal"thiol 1.This reaction is important for the decontamination of cyanide, since the thiocyanate formed is relatively harmless. The use of thiosulfate solution as an antidote for cyanide poisoning is based on the activation of this enzymatic cycle.
References
* cite journal
author=F. Gliubich, M. Gazerro, G. Zanotti, S. Delbono, G. Bombieri, R. Berni
title=Active Site Structural Features for Chemically Modified Forms of Rhodanese
journal=Journal of Biological Chemistry
year=1996
volume=271
pages=21054–21061
url=http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/271/35/21054
doi=10.1074/jbc.271.35.21054
* cite press release
title = Fast-acting Cyanide Antidote Discovered
publisher = University of Minnesota
date = 26 Dec 2007
url = http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/cyanide122607/home.html
accessdate = 2008-01-01
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