The fate of 99Mo-labelled sodium tetrathiomolybdate after duodenal administration in sheep: the effect on caeruloplasmin (EC 1.16.3.1) diamine oxidase activity and plasma copper.

1. The effect of acute duodenal infusion of 99Mo-labelled sodium tetrathiomolybdate on caeruloplasmin (ferroxidase; EC 1.16.3.1) was examined in sheep. The diamine oxidase activity of this enzyme with respect to two substrates, p-phenylenediamine and o-dianisidine (both at their apparent Km concentrations) was inhibited. 2. The 99Mo appeared rapidly in plasma and was at first present predominantly in a trichloroacetic acid insoluble form; inhibition of oxidase activity was related to the levels of TCA-insoluble Mo. The behaviour of the copper prosthetic groups of caeruloplasmin was altered since some plasma Cu precipitated with the protein fraction after TCA treatment. The appearance of TCA insoluble Cu was related to the level of TCA-insoluble 99Mo and corresponded to the inhibition of diamine oxidase activity.