Transaminative pathway of cysteine metabolism in rat tissues.

Enzyme activities of the transaminative pathway of cysteine metabolism in various rat tissues were examined. Liver was found the most active tissue, followed by kidney and heart. Liver and kidney were more pronounced in mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase activity than in cysteine transaminase activity; heart was more active in the latter. Red blood cells, which have pronounced sulfurtransferase activity, exhibited no transaminase activity, indicating the pathway is negligible in this tissue.