Accelerative Effect of Cysteine on the Polymerization of Protein through SS Bonding during the Heating of Carp Myosin

Abstract

When carp myosin was heated at 80°C with cysteine, the polymerization of protein through SS bonding (SS polymerization) was promoted. The SS polymerization was promoted even in the presence of both EDTA and cysteine, though it was not promoted in the presence of only EDTA. Cysteine was oxidized into cystine. Cystine also accelerated the SS polymerization of myosin heavy chain during the heating, and it was reduced into cysteine.
From these results, it was suggested that acceleration of SS polymerization of myosin heavy chain by adding cysteine is due to the promotion of intermolecular SS bonding by the oxidative effect of cystine which was produced from cysteine during the heating.