Further Evidence for a Role of Isozymes of P450 in the Metabolism and Toxicity of Carbon Disulfide (CS₂)

Abstract

CS₂ has been shown to undergo sequential desulfuration in the liver to form CO₂. Previous work by Neal and his colleagues^1,2 has revealed that the initial desulfuration is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme system which results in the formation of an electrophilic sulfur atom and carbonyl sulfide (COS). They have further shown³ that the second desulfuration step is catalyzed primarily by a soluble, acetazoleamideinhibitable carbonic anhydrase which results in the formation of CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) (Figure 1).