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Reductive Conversion of Thiochrome to Thiamine

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Abstract

ALTHOUGH the chemistry of thiochrome was thoroughly developed during the period of thiamine exploration in the 'thirties1,2, the biochemical aspects of this pigment were neglected, mainly because of the early reports on its apparent inactivity in the carboxylase reactions3. Recent investigations by Titaev4, however, have suggested a major role for thiochrome; these reports have alleged that an enzyme, thiamine dehydrogenase, catalyses the oxidation of thiamine to thiochrome with the subsequent reduction of oxidized adrenaline. The existence of this enzyme system, however, has been both refuted5 and affirmed6 in recent years, and at the present time it is difficult to assess the biological significance of the reaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

    G. E. RISINGER, H. DUPONT DURST & H. H. HSIEH

Authors
  1. G. E. RISINGER
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  2. H. DUPONT DURST
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  3. H. H. HSIEH
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RISINGER, G., DURST, H. & HSIEH, H. Reductive Conversion of Thiochrome to Thiamine. Nature 210, 94–95 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/210094a0

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