l(—)-Cysteic acid decarboxylase

Abstract

Liver extracts of the dog, rat, pig, and guinea-pig, but not of the cat, rabbit, and cod, contained an enzyme, l([long dash])-cysteic acid decarboxylase, which formed CO2 anaerobically from l([long dash])-cysteic acid, one molecule of COa being formed from one molecule of l([long dash])-cysteic acid. The enzyme was stereospecific for the levorotatory stereo-isomeride, it was reversibly inhibited by cyanide, but insensitive to octyl alc. It differed from l([long dash])-dopa decarboxylase with which it shared common properties.