CTH

UniProt ID: P32929
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: INITIALIZED
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Gene Description

Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH; also CSE/CGL; EC 4.4.1.1) is a cytosolic, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyses the second and final step of the transsulfuration pathway, converting the homocysteine-derived intermediate L,L-cystathionine into L-cysteine, 2-oxobutanoate and ammonia. It thereby channels methionine/homocysteine-derived sulfur into de novo L-cysteine biosynthesis, supplying cysteine for downstream metabolism including glutathione synthesis. The enzyme is a homotetramer with PLP bound covalently to Lys212 and is most highly expressed in liver. Beyond its canonical transsulfuration role, CTH is a major enzymatic source of the gaseous signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S): using L-cysteine and, at lower rates, L-homocysteine as substrates it produces H2S (together with pyruvate/2-oxobutanoate and ammonia), and in vitro also generates lanthionine and homolanthionine. Through H2S generation and by acting as a cysteine-protein sulfhydrase (persulfidating target cysteines on proteins such as GAPDH, PTP1B/PTPN1 and NF-kB RELA), CTH participates in vascular tone, smooth-muscle biology, inflammation and the ER stress response. Loss-of-function variants cause cystathioninuria, an autosomal recessive condition marked by elevated plasma/urinary cystathionine that is largely clinically benign.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic (IBA) annotation placing CTH activity in the cytoplasm. CTH is a soluble cytosolic enzyme, consistent with UniProt's subcellular location and the Reactome cytosol annotations.
Reason: CTH is a well-characterized cytosolic transsulfuration enzyme; the cytoplasmic localization is correct and consistent across sources.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0019344 L-cysteine biosynthetic process
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic annotation for L-cysteine biosynthesis. CTH catalyses the final step of the transsulfuration route that produces L-cysteine, so this is a core process.
Reason: CTH generates L-cysteine from L,L-cystathionine; this is one of its two canonical catalytic outputs and a core biological role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cystathionine to cysteine, ammonia, and 2-oxobutyrate
GO:0019346 transsulfuration
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic annotation to transsulfuration, the pathway by which methionine/ homocysteine sulfur is transferred to cysteine. CTH catalyses the second step.
Reason: CTH is a defining enzyme of the transsulfuration pathway; the term is correct and core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Catalyzes the last step in the trans-sulfuration pathway from
GO:0030170 pyridoxal phosphate binding
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic annotation for PLP binding. CTH is a PLP-dependent lyase, with PLP bound covalently at Lys212; this cofactor binding is essential for catalysis.
Reason: PLP binding is directly demonstrated for human CTH and is required for its activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
Pyridoxal 5β€²-phosphate (PLP) is a cofactor for CTH
GO:0004123 cystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetic annotation for the defining molecular function. Directly supported by biochemical characterization of recombinant human CTH.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of CTH, corroborated by IDA annotations (PMID:10212249, PMID:19019829, PMID:19428278).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10212249
While the enzyme showed high gamma-lyase activity toward
GO:0005737 cytoplasm
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic annotation of cytoplasmic localization from UniProt subcellular-location mapping. Consistent with the IBA cytoplasm and Reactome cytosol annotations.
Reason: Correct localization; a duplicate of the IBA cytoplasm annotation but from an independent (SubCell) source.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0019346 transsulfuration
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
ACCEPT
Summary: InterPro2GO electronic annotation to transsulfuration based on the Cys/Met metabolism PLP-dependent enzyme domain (IPR000277). Consistent with the core role.
Reason: Correct process; duplicate of the IBA/IDA transsulfuration annotations via a domain-based electronic method.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Belongs to the trans-sulfuration enzymes family
GO:0030170 pyridoxal phosphate binding
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
ACCEPT
Summary: InterPro2GO electronic annotation for PLP binding from the PLP-dependent enzyme domain. Consistent with experimentally demonstrated PLP dependence.
Reason: Correct cofactor binding; duplicate of the IDA/IBA PLP-binding annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
Pyridoxal 5β€²-phosphate (PLP) is a cofactor for CTH
GO:0047982 homocysteine desulfhydrase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic (Rhea/EC) annotation for homocysteine desulfhydrase activity (EC 4.4.1.2), reflecting CTH's ability to convert L-homocysteine to 2-oxobutanoate, H2S and ammonia. This is a genuine, experimentally documented alternative activity.
Reason: UniProt records EC 4.4.1.2 and the L-homocysteine to H2S reaction (RHEA:14501) with experimental evidence (PubMed:18476726, 19261609). This is a real but secondary (H2S-generating) activity, not the primary transsulfuration function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Reaction=L-homocysteine + H2O = 2-oxobutanoate + hydrogen sulfide +
GO:0080146 L-cysteine desulfhydrase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000116
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic (Rhea) annotation for L-cysteine desulfhydrase activity (RHEA:24931), i.e. L-cysteine to H2S + pyruvate + ammonia. This underlies CTH-mediated H2S production from cysteine and is experimentally documented.
Reason: A real alternative activity of CTH (the cysteine to H2S/pyruvate reaction is in UniProt with experimental evidence), central to its gasotransmitter role but secondary to the canonical cystathionine gamma-lyase function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Reaction=L-cysteine + H2O = hydrogen sulfide + pyruvate + NH4(+) +
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:25416956
A proteome-scale map of the human interactome network.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Bare protein-binding IPI from a proteome-scale binary interactome (Y2H) screen, with IntAct-listed partners (e.g. RECK/Q6P9E2, NTAQ1/Q96HA8, GUCD1/Q96NT3). The term is uninformative about molecular function.
Reason: High-throughput 'protein binding' conveys no specific function and per curation guidelines is not a useful functional annotation. Not removed (experimental IPI), but flagged as over-annotated. UniProt does list these as corroborated interactions in its INTERACTION block.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
P32929; Q6P9E2: RECK; NbExp=6; IntAct=EBI-749763, EBI-10253121;
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:32296183
A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Bare protein-binding IPI from the HuRI reference binary interactome (Y2H). Partners listed by IntAct include RECK and a GUCD1 isoform. Uninformative molecular-function term.
Reason: Same rationale as the other HT 'protein binding' IPI: not informative about function; retained (experimental) but marked over-annotated.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
P32929; Q96NT3-2: GUCD1; NbExp=3; IntAct=EBI-749763, EBI-11978177;
GO:0042802 identical protein binding
IPI
PMID:16189514
Towards a proteome-scale map of the human protein-protein in...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Self-interaction (CTH:CTH) detected by binary interactome mapping. This is consistent with the biologically documented homotetrameric quaternary structure of the enzyme.
Reason: Identical-protein binding reflects CTH self-association into its functional homotetramer; a real structural property but not the enzyme's core catalytic function. Corroborated by the crystallographic homotetramer (PMID:19019829).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Homotetramer (PubMed:19019829)
GO:0042802 identical protein binding
IPI
PMID:25416956
A proteome-scale map of the human interactome network.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Self-interaction (CTH:CTH) from a proteome-scale interactome study, consistent with homotetramer formation.
Reason: Duplicate evidence for CTH self-association (homotetramer). Structural property, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Homotetramer (PubMed:19019829)
GO:0042802 identical protein binding
IPI
PMID:32296183
A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Self-interaction (CTH:CTH) from the HuRI binary interactome, again consistent with the homotetramer.
Reason: Duplicate evidence for CTH homo-oligomerization; structural, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Homotetramer (PubMed:19019829)
GO:0001887 selenium compound metabolic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic annotation transferred from the mouse ortholog for selenium-compound metabolism, reflecting CTH's ability to cleave selenocystathionine (a dietary selenium compound) to selenocysteine, and participation in selenoamino-acid metabolism (Reactome R-HSA-2408508).
Reason: A plausible, by-similarity secondary activity on selenium analogs of the normal substrate; not a core physiological function in humans.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Catalyzes the elimination of selenocystathionine (which can be derived
GO:0004123 cystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (Rhea/ortholog) annotation for the defining cystathionine gamma-lyase activity, duplicating the IDA/IBA annotations.
Reason: Correct core molecular function; electronic corroboration of the experimentally established activity.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Reaction=L,L-cystathionine + H2O = 2-oxobutanoate + L-cysteine +
GO:0005829 cytosol
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic annotation (from mouse ortholog) placing CTH activity in the cytosol. Consistent with the enzyme's soluble cytosolic nature.
Reason: Correct subcellular location; consistent with UniProt Cytoplasm and Reactome cytosol.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0043066 negative regulation of apoptotic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic annotation transferred from the mouse ortholog. Reflects reported cytoprotective/anti-apoptotic effects of CTH-derived H2S signaling in various tissues.
Reason: A downstream physiological consequence of CTH-mediated H2S production rather than a direct molecular activity; keep as non-core pending human experimental support.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
H2S has been implicated in the control of cell proliferation and survival in cardiomyocytes
GO:0043123 positive regulation of canonical NF-kappaB signal transduction
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic annotation transferred from the mouse ortholog. CTH-derived H2S sulfhydrates the NF-kB subunit RELA (p65), modulating NF-kB signaling.
Reason: A downstream H2S/sulfhydration-mediated signaling effect (UniProt notes RELA among sulfhydration targets), not a core catalytic function; keep as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
specific cysteine residues of target proteins such as GAPDH, PTPN1 and
GO:0044540 L-cystine L-cysteine-lyase (deaminating) activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic annotation (from mouse ortholog) for a cystine/cysteine-lyase activity. Related to CTH's promiscuous H2S-generating reactions on cysteine substrates.
Reason: Reflects a real but secondary/promiscuous H2S-generating lyase activity on cysteine substrates; not the core transsulfuration function. Also supported experimentally (IMP, PMID:22169477).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
In vitro, it converts two L-cysteine molecules into
GO:0098606 selenocystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Electronic (Rhea/ortholog) annotation for selenocystathionine gamma-lyase activity (RHEA:31151), the selenium analog of the canonical reaction.
Reason: By-similarity activity on the selenium analog of cystathionine; a plausible promiscuous activity, not a core human function.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Reaction=L-selenocystathionine + H2O = L-selenocysteine + 2-
GO:0019344 L-cysteine biosynthetic process
IEA
GO_REF:0000041
ACCEPT
Summary: UniPathway-based electronic annotation for L-cysteine biosynthesis (UPA00136), duplicating the IDA/IBA L-cysteine biosynthesis annotations.
Reason: Correct core process; CTH performs step 2/2 of L-cysteine biosynthesis from L-homocysteine and L-serine (UniProt PATHWAY).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
L-cysteine from L-homocysteine and L-serine: step 2/2
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-1614567
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome traceable-author-statement localizing CTH to the cytosol in the reaction 'Excess homocysteine yields homolanthionine and H2S'.
Reason: Correct cytosolic localization from a curated pathway source; consistent with all other localization evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-1614583
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome TAS localizing CTH to the cytosol for the reaction 'PXLP-K212-CTH cleaves L-Cystathionine' (the canonical cystathionine gamma-lyase step, showing PLP at Lys212).
Reason: Correct cytosolic localization from Reactome; duplicate of other cytosol annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-1614591
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome TAS localizing CTH to the cytosol for the reaction 'Excess cysteine yields lanthionine and H2S'.
Reason: Correct cytosolic localization from Reactome; duplicate of other cytosol annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-1614614
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome TAS localizing CTH to the cytosol for the reaction 'Cysteine is degraded to pyruvate and H2S'.
Reason: Correct cytosolic localization from Reactome; duplicate of other cytosol annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:0005829 cytosol
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-1614631
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome TAS localizing CTH to the cytosol for the reaction 'Homocysteine is degraded to oxobutanoate and H2S'.
Reason: Correct cytosolic localization from Reactome; duplicate of other cytosol annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cytoplasm
GO:1904831 positive regulation of aortic smooth muscle cell differentiation
IMP
PMID:21659522
Specificity protein-1 as a critical regulator of human cysta...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Experimental (IMP) annotation: in human aortic smooth muscle cells, CSE/CTH expression and CSE-derived H2S promote SMC differentiation; carotid ligation reduced CSE and increased neointima, and exogenous H2S stimulated differentiation.
Reason: A genuine, experimentally supported physiological role of CTH-derived H2S in the vasculature, but a downstream/tissue-specific effect rather than the enzyme's core molecular/metabolic function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21659522
suggesting an important role of CSE in SMC
PMID:21659522
Exogenously applied H(2)S at 100 ΞΌM stimulated SMC differentiation,
GO:0004123 cystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IDA
PMID:19428278
Cystathionine gamma-lyase: Clinical, metabolic, genetic, and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation of cystathionine gamma-lyase activity; the paper expressed CTH and mutant proteins and assayed CTH (cysteine-forming) activity.
Reason: Core molecular function, directly demonstrated on the human enzyme.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cystathionine to cysteine, ammonia, and 2-oxobutyrate
GO:0019344 L-cysteine biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:19428278
Cystathionine gamma-lyase: Clinical, metabolic, genetic, and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation for L-cysteine biosynthesis, based on assay of the cysteine-forming CTH reaction.
Reason: Core process; the assay directly measures cysteine formation by CTH.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
an acid ninhydrin reagent reacts specifically with cysteine, which is a product of the CTH reaction
GO:0019346 transsulfuration
IDA
PMID:19428278
Cystathionine gamma-lyase: Clinical, metabolic, genetic, and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation to transsulfuration; the study characterizes CTH, the enzyme catalysing the transsulfuration step converting cystathionine to cysteine.
Reason: Core process, directly supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19428278
is caused by mutations that decrease the activity of cystathionine Ξ³-lyase
GO:0070814 hydrogen sulfide biosynthetic process
TAS
PMID:19428278
Cystathionine gamma-lyase: Clinical, metabolic, genetic, and...
ACCEPT
Summary: Traceable-author-statement that CTH participates in H2S biosynthesis, the second major physiological function of the enzyme.
Reason: H2S generation from cysteine/homocysteine is a genuine, well-established core function of CTH (a major mammalian H2S source); supported here and by IDA (PMID:19019829).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
constitute a transulfuration pathway that provides a route for converting dietary methionine to cysteine
GO:0070062 extracellular exosome
HDA
PMID:19056867
Large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics of urinary exos...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: High-throughput mass-spectrometry detection of CTH among ~1132 proteins profiled in human urinary exosomes. This is a proteomic co-detection, not evidence of a functional extracellular/exosomal role.
Reason: CTH is a cytosolic enzyme; detection in urinary-exosome proteomics likely reflects general cytosolic protein packaging into exosomes rather than a bona fide functional localization. Flagged as over-annotated rather than removed (experimental HDA).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19056867
the analysis identified 1132 proteins unambiguously
GO:0044524 protein sulfhydration
IMP
PMID:22169477
H2S-Induced sulfhydration of the phosphatase PTP1B and its r...
ACCEPT
Summary: Experimental (IMP) annotation: CTH-derived H2S is required for sulfhydration (persulfidation) of target-protein cysteines; suppression of CSE/CTH abolished PTP1B sulfhydration in cells.
Reason: CTH functions as a cysteine-protein sulfhydrase (via H2S), a genuine second/ moonlighting function directly demonstrated by CSE knockdown. Core to CTH's signaling role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
The effects of H2S are mediated through its sulfhydration of specific Cys residues in target proteins
GO:0044540 L-cystine L-cysteine-lyase (deaminating) activity
IMP
PMID:22169477
H2S-Induced sulfhydration of the phosphatase PTP1B and its r...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Experimental (IMP) annotation of a cysteine-directed lyase (H2S-generating) activity of CTH, underlying its H2S production required for protein sulfhydration in cells.
Reason: Reflects CTH's H2S-generating lyase activity on cysteine substrates (secondary to the canonical cystathionine gamma-lyase reaction); experimentally supported, kept as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
cystathionine-Ξ³-lyase (CSE), which together constitute a transulfuration pathway
GO:0005515 protein binding
IPI
PMID:22169477
H2S-Induced sulfhydration of the phosphatase PTP1B and its r...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Protein-binding IPI recording the CTH–PTP1B(PTPN1)/interactor relationship (WITH/FROM UniProtKB:P18031) in the context of H2S-mediated PTP1B regulation.
Reason: The bare 'protein binding' term is uninformative. The functionally meaningful relationship (CTH-derived H2S sulfhydrating/regulating PTP1B) is better captured by the protein-sulfhydration annotation; retained (experimental) but marked over-annotated as a molecular-function term.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
Sulfhydration of PTP1B in cells required the
GO:0030968 endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response
TAS
PMID:22169477
H2S-Induced sulfhydration of the phosphatase PTP1B and its r...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Traceable-author-statement linking CTH/CSE-derived H2S to the ER stress-induced unfolded protein response: CSE-dependent H2S sulfhydrates PTP1B, modulating PERK activation during ER stress.
Reason: A genuine downstream signaling role of CTH-derived H2S, but a physiological consequence rather than the enzyme's core metabolic function; keep as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:22169477
H2S production, mediated by cystathionine-Ξ³-lyase (CSE), has been linked to the ER stress-induced Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)
GO:0004123 cystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IDA
PMID:10212249
Kinetics and inhibition of recombinant human cystathionine g...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct biochemical demonstration of cystathionine gamma-lyase activity on recombinant human CTH (Km = 0.5 mM, Vmax = 2.5 units/mg for L,L-cystathionine, optimum pH 8.2), with only marginal activity toward L-cystine/L-cysteine.
Reason: Definitive experimental evidence for the core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10212249
While the enzyme showed high gamma-lyase activity toward
PMID:10212249
only marginal reactivity toward
GO:0004123 cystathionine gamma-lyase activity
IDA
PMID:19019829
Structural basis for the inhibition mechanism of human cysta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental/structural characterization of human CSE/CTH cystathionine gamma-lyase activity, with crystal structures in apo, PLP, and PLP-PAG (inhibitor) forms.
Reason: Core molecular function, directly demonstrated and structurally characterized.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19019829
an enzyme responsible for the production of H(2)S
GO:0018272 protein-pyridoxal-5-phosphate linkage via peptidyl-N6-pyridoxal phosphate-L-lysine
IDA
PMID:19019829
Structural basis for the inhibition mechanism of human cysta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct (structural) evidence for covalent PLP attachment via a Schiff base to an active-site lysine (Lys212), as seen in the PLP-bound crystal structures.
Reason: The covalent PLP-Lys212 linkage is directly observed and annotated by UniProt (MOD_RES 212, N6-(pyridoxal phosphate)lysine, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19019829).
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
N6-(pyridoxal phosphate)lysine
GO:0019344 L-cysteine biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:10212249
Kinetics and inhibition of recombinant human cystathionine g...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation for L-cysteine biosynthesis, based on the characterized cysteine-forming gamma-lyase reaction of recombinant human CTH.
Reason: Core process; the enzyme's high gamma-lyase activity on L-cystathionine yields L-cysteine.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10212249
While the enzyme showed high gamma-lyase activity toward
GO:0030170 pyridoxal phosphate binding
IDA
PMID:10212249
Kinetics and inhibition of recombinant human cystathionine g...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation for PLP binding; the enzyme is characterized as PLP-dependent, and inhibition by mechanism-based PLP-directed inactivators (propargylglycine etc.) confirms cofactor engagement.
Reason: PLP is the essential cofactor of CTH, directly supported.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:10212249
the mechanism-based inactivators propargylglycine, trifluoroalanine, and
GO:0030170 pyridoxal phosphate binding
IDA
PMID:19019829
Structural basis for the inhibition mechanism of human cysta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct structural evidence for PLP binding, from crystal structures of hCSE in complex with PLP.
Reason: PLP binding directly observed in the structures; core cofactor function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19019829
in complex with PLP and PLP.PAG
GO:0051289 protein homotetramerization
IPI
PMID:19019829
Structural basis for the inhibition mechanism of human cysta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Evidence that CTH assembles into a homotetramer, based on the crystal structure and biophysical characterization of the human enzyme (self-interaction, WITH/FROM UniProtKB:P32929).
Reason: The homotetramer is the functional quaternary structure of CTH, directly supported by structural work and recorded in UniProt SUBUNIT.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
Homotetramer (PubMed:19019829)
GO:0070814 hydrogen sulfide biosynthetic process
IDA
PMID:19019829
Structural basis for the inhibition mechanism of human cysta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct experimental annotation for H2S biosynthesis; the paper explicitly characterizes hCSE/CTH as the enzyme responsible for H2S production and studies its inhibition.
Reason: H2S production is a genuine core function of CTH; directly supported and structurally contextualized (PAG inhibition of H2S production).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19019829
an enzyme responsible for the production of H(2)S

Core Functions

Cystathionine gamma-lyase catalysing the final step of the transsulfuration pathway: PLP-dependent cleavage of L,L-cystathionine to L-cysteine, 2-oxobutanoate and ammonia, supplying de novo L-cysteine (cysteine biosynthesis from homocysteine/methionine sulfur).

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:10212249
    While the enzyme showed high gamma-lyase activity toward
  • PMID:19428278
    the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cystathionine to cysteine, ammonia, and 2-oxobutyrate
  • file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
    Catalyzes the last step in the trans-sulfuration pathway from

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) biosynthesis: using L-cysteine and (at lower rates) L-homocysteine as substrates, CTH is a major enzymatic source of the gasotransmitter H2S, generating H2S together with pyruvate/2-oxobutanoate and ammonia. This is a genuine second physiological function.

Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:19019829
    an enzyme responsible for the production of H(2)S
  • file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
    Reaction=L-cysteine + H2O = hydrogen sulfide + pyruvate + NH4(+) +

Cysteine-protein sulfhydrase / persulfidation activity: via generated H2S, CTH persulfidates target-protein cysteine residues (converting -SH to -SSH) on proteins such as GAPDH, PTP1B/PTPN1 and NF-kB RELA, contributing to redox signaling.

Directly Involved In:
Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:22169477
    The effects of H2S are mediated through its sulfhydration of specific Cys residues in target proteins
  • file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
    cysteine-protein sulfhydrase by mediating sulfhydration of target

PLP cofactor binding: CTH is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme, binding PLP covalently via a Schiff base to Lys212, which is essential for all of its catalytic activities.

Molecular Function:
pyridoxal phosphate binding
Supporting Evidence:
  • PMID:19428278
    Pyridoxal 5β€²-phosphate (PLP) is a cofactor for CTH
  • file:human/CTH/CTH-uniprot.txt
    N6-(pyridoxal phosphate)lysine

References

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Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: To what extent does CTH-derived H2S versus its canonical cysteine-biosynthetic output account for its physiological roles in different human tissues (e.g. liver vs vasculature)?

Q: Is the reported anti-apoptotic / NF-kB-activating role (currently IEA from the mouse ortholog) directly demonstrable for human CTH, and via which sulfhydration targets?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Tissue-specific conditional Cth knockout combined with H2S measurement and persulfidation (sulfhydration) proteomics to dissect the metabolic (cysteine biosynthesis) versus gasotransmitter (H2S/protein-sulfhydration) contributions.

Experiment: Quantitative substrate-preference and kinetic comparison of human CTH on L,L-cystathionine, L-cysteine and L-homocysteine at physiological substrate concentrations to establish in vivo flux toward cysteine versus H2S.

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(CTH-notes.md)

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