Assay of thiols and disulfides based on the reversibility of N-ethylmaleimide alkylation of thiols combined with electrolysis.

A simple and specific method for analyzing thiols and disulfides on the basis of the reversibility of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) alkylation of thiols is described. When the adduct of NEM and glutathione (GSH) was electrolyzed at neutral pH, all of the GSH was recovered. When the adduct was exposed to pH 11.0 for 15 min at 30 degrees C before electrolysis, GSH was not detected. The same behavior was observed after protein thiols reacted with NEM. This pH-dependent production of thiol from the adduct was used to assay GSH and oxidized glutathione in yeast cells, to assay sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds in authentic proteins, and to protect thiols from oxidation during enzymatic digestion of protein. This method is useful for assay of thiols and disulfides of both small and large molecules and can be used to identify labile thiols in biological samples that are oxidized during extraction procedures.     

Assay of thiols and disulfides based on the reversibility of N-ethylmaleimide alkylation of thiols combined with electrolysis

A simple and specific method for analyzing thiols and disulfides on the basis of the reversibility of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) alkylation of thiols is described. When the adduct of NEM and glutathione (GSH) was electrolyzed at neutral pH, all of the GSH was recovered. When the adduct was exposed to pH 11.0 for 15 min at 30°C before electrolysis, GSH was not detected. The same behavior was observed after protein thiols reacted with NEM. This pH-dependent production of thiol from the adduct was used to assay GSH and oxidized glutathione in yeast cells, to assay sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds in authentic proteins, and to protect thiols from oxidation during enzymatic digestion of protein. This method is useful for assay of thiols and disulfides of both small and large molecules and can be used to identify labile thiols in biological samples that are oxidized during extraction procedures.     

Essential and nonessential thiols of yeast hexokinase. Reactions with iodoacetate and iodoacetamide.

The reaction of yeast hexokinase with iodoacetate or iodoacetamide has been investigated in detail, using pure hexodinase B. Of the four thiols in each subunit of the molecule, two (the "apparently essential thiols") are alkylated rapidly at 35 degrees, and the enzymic activity is lost in parallel with their reaction. The other two thiols react subsequently to completion, but at a very much slower rate. In the conditions use, no other uptake of the reagent occurs elsewhere during these thiol alkylations. Electrophoretically homogeneous kialkylated and tetraalkylated protein species are formed, in the two stages of the reaction. The inactivating reaction at 35 degrees with the apparently essential thiols is second order. The rate constant increases with increasing pH, in the range pH 7.0-8.5, in a manner consistent with control of the reaction by a group with pKa of approximately 10. The absolute (pH independent) rate constant is of the same order as that for a normal thiol in model compounds. The availability of the apparently essential thiols appears to be associated with some conformational change in the molecule in the monomer form: it declines at high ionic strengths, is maximal at intermediate values where the dimer first dissociates, but is lowered in the dimer at very low ionic strengths. The reaction also shows a sharp temperature dependence: the dimer at 30 degrees (in constrast to 35 degrees) shows no availability of the apparently essential thiols. A similar transition to a state permitting fast inactivation is found with pH, above pH 8.5. The reaction of the two apparently essential thiols is strongly inhibited by glucose. ATP and ADP, and their Mg complexes, protect significantly, but less effectively than does glucose. The affinities of these substrates at the active site of the enzyme are measured in this protection system. These various reactions appear to be of value for identifying the cysteine-containing regions that are involved in the active center or in its maintenance in the structure.     

Kinetics of the reactions of hypochlorous acid and amino acid chloramines with thiols, methionine, and ascorbate

Thiol oxidation by hypochlorous acid and chloramines is a favorable reaction and may be responsible for alterations in regulatory or signaling pathways in cells exposed to neutrophil oxidants. In order to establish the mechanism for such changes, it is necessary to appreciate whether these oxidants are selective for different thiols as compared with other scavengers. We have measured rate constants for reactions of amino acid chloramines with a range of thiols, methionine, and ascorbate, using a combination of stopped-flow and competitive kinetics. For HOCl, rate constants are too fast to measure directly by our system and values relative to reduced glutathione were determined by competition with methionine. For taurine chloramine, the rate constants for reaction with 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid, GSH, methionine, and ascorbate at pH 7.4 were 970, 115, 39, and 13 M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Values for 10 thiols varied by a factor of 20 and showed an inverse relationship to the pK(a) of the thiol group. Rate constants for chloramines of glycine and N-alpha-acetyl-lysine also showed these relationships. Rates increased with decreasing pH, suggesting a mechanism involving acid catalysis. For hypochlorous acid, rates of reaction with 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid, GSH, cysteine, and most of the other thiols were very similar. Relative reactivities varied by less than 5 and there was no dependence on thiol pK(a). Chloramines have the potential to be selective for different cellular thiols depending on their pK(a). For HOCl to be selective, other factors must be important, or its reactions could be secondary to chloramine formation.     

Regioselective reaction of thiols with catechol estrogens and estrogen-O-quinones

Incubations of [3H]estradiol and [3H]2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) with rat liver microsomes and mushroom tyrosinase were carried out in the presence of glutathione and 2-mercaptoethanol. A ratio of about 3.5:1 for the C-4 and C-1 thioether conjugates of 2-OHE2 was observed. Chemical reaction of estradiol-2, 3-O-quinone with various thiols showed that alkyl and phenyl thiols gave about a 1:1 ratio of C-4 to C-1 thioethers. However, reaction of the O-quinone with 4-nitrothiophenol gave a C-4/C-1 ratio of 0.25 while 4-bromothiophenol gave a C-4/C-1 ratio of 4.0. These studies suggest that the regioselectivity of the reaction of thiols with estrogen catechols and O-quinones may be dependent on the nature of the thiol compounds and less on steric hindrance.     

Reaction of thiols with 7-methylbenzopentathiepin

Polysulfides typically react readily with thiols, thus, reactions of endogenous cellular thiols with the polysulfide linkage in naturally-occuring pentathiepin cytotoxins are likely to be an important aspect of their biological chemistry. Here, it is reported that the reaction of thiols with the pentathiepin ring system initially produces a complex mixture of polysulfides that further decomposes in the presence of excess thiol to yield the corresponding 1,2-benzenedithiol with concomitant production of H(2)S and dimerized thiol. In this reaction, a single molecule of the pentathiepin consumes approximately six equivalents of thiol. The reaction of thiols with the pentathiepin ring system is faster than the analogous reaction involving typical di- and trisulfides.     

Therapeutic efficacy of green tea polyphenols on cellular thiols in 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced oral carcinogenesis

In cancer, a high flux of oxidants not only depletes the cellular thiols, but damages the whole cell as well. Epidemiological studies suggest green tea may mitigate cancers in human and animal models for which several mechanisms have been proposed. In the present investigation, the levels of cellular thiols such as reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), protein thiols (PSH), total thiols, lipid peroxidation product conjugated dienes and the activity of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were assessed in tongue and oral cavity. In 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide- (4-NQO) induced rats, there was a decrease in the levels of GSH, PSH and total thiols and an increase in the levels of GSSG, conjugated dienes and the activity of GGT. On supplementation of green tea polyphenols (GTP) for 30 days (200 mg/kg) for the oral cancer-induced rats, there was a moderate increase in the levels of GSH, PSH and total thiols and a decrease in the levels of GSSG, conjugated dienes and the activity of GGT. Thus, GTP reduces the oxidant production thereby maintains the endogenous low molecular weight cellular thiols in oral cancer-induced rats. From the results, it can be concluded that GTP supplementation enhances the cellular thiol status thereby mitigate oral cancer.     

Cellular thiols in rat liver cell lines possessing different growth characteristics

Thiol levels were measured in three cell lines derived from rat hepatocytes with different growth rates and degrees of tumorigenicity: IAR20 having normal epithelial morphology and no tumour forming ability; IAR6.1 being a chemically-transformed malignant cell line; and IAR6.1RT7 derived from an epithelial tumour obtained after injection of IAR6.1 cells into a syngenic animal. The mean levels of GSH, GSSG, low molecular weight thiols (LMWT), macromolecular thiols (MT) and total reactive protein sulphur (TRPS), expressed as nmoles-SH mg-1 protein, were found to be 25.5, 7.5, 50.1, 114.5 and 143.6 respectively for IAR20; 37.6, 3.9, 65.4, 126.8 and 148.4 for IAR6.1; 17.2, 4.4, 52.3, 141.0 and 168.2 for IAR6.1RT7. Cultures were treated with D,L-buthionine-S,R-sulphoximine (BSO) to cause greater than 70 per cent depletion of GSH and the measurements of cellular thiols repeated. Although treatment with BSO caused a substantive decrease in the LMWT fraction, there were no major changes in macromolecular thiols or in total reactive protein sulphur. The respective mean values for LMWT, MT and TRPS (expressed as nmoles-SH mg-1 protein) were 19.4, 109.8, 136.3 for IAR20; 17.2, 119.3, 143.6 for IAR6.1; 21.6, 150.7 and 163.5 for IAR6.1RT7. It is concluded that significant differences in thiol levels exist between the three rat liver cell lines studied. However, severe acute depletion of GSH is not reflected by changes in the levels of macromolecular thiols which suggests that there is only a slow equilibrium between these two major thiol pools.     

Characterisation and quantitation of a selenol intermediate in the reaction of ebselen with thiols.

The reaction of ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) with thiols was investigated with particular attention to the formation of an ebselen selenol intermediate. The selenol intermediate could be trapped in a mixture of ebselen and thiols with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and the resulting product displayed unique spectral characteristics. The reaction of authentic, synthesised ebselen selenol with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was shown to give rise to the same compound (2,4-dinitrophenyl (N-phenyl-2-carboxamido phenyl) selenide as characterized by light spectroscopy, NMR, IR and elemental analysis. The determination of the absorbtion coefficient at 400 nm (E = 7.5 mM-1 cm-1) and the initial rate constant of the reaction (1.4 +/- 0.3 mM-1 min-1) allows for the convenient quantification of ebselen selenol concentrations by initial rate measurements after addition of CDNB. The choice of 400 nm to monitor the reaction excludes the interference of other intermediates in the reaction of ebselen with thiols as well as the reaction of the thiols with CDNB. When the assay is applied to typical incubation conditions used for investigating the glutathione peroxidase-like activity of ebselen it was shown that as much as 10-20% of ebselen is in the selenol form. If a stronger reductant (dithiothreitol) is used 60% is in the selenol form. These data could also be confirmed by the direct determination of ebselen selenol by UV spectroscopy, due to its peak absorption at 370 nm (E = 2 mM-1 cm-1). In conclusion, this investigation demonstrates, for the first time, the identity and quantity of ebselen selenol in the reaction of ebselen with thiols and also describes a convenient assay for its quantification. These observations allow further possibilities for investigation of the molecular species responsible for the antioxidant and peroxidase activities of ebselen.     

Inhibition of protein hydroperoxide formation by protein thiols

Studies on plasma and cells exposed to hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals have indicated that there are few inhibitors of protein hydroperoxide formation. We have, however, observed a small variable lag period during bovine serum albumin (BSA) oxidation by 2-2' azo-bis-(2-methyl-propionamidine) HCl (AAPH) generated peroxyl radicals, where no protein hydroperoxide was formed. The addition of free cysteine to BSA during AAPH oxidation also produced a lag phase suggesting protein thiols could inhibit protein hydroperoxide formation. The selective reduction of thiols on BSA by beta-mercaptoethanol treatment caused the appearance of a lag period where no protein hydroperoxide was formed during the AAPH mediated oxidation. Increasing free thiol concentration on the BSA increased the lag period. Protein hydroperoxide formation began when the protein thiol concentration dropped below one thiol per BSA molecule. It is unlikely that the lag period is due to gross structural alteration of the reduced protein since blocking the free thiols with N-ethyl maleimide eliminated the lag in protein hydroperoxide formation. Protein thiols were found to be ineffective in inhibiting hydroxyl radical-mediated protein hydroperoxide formation during X-ray radiolysis. Evidence is given for protein thiol oxidation occurring via a free radical mediated chain reaction with both free cysteine and protein bound thiol. The data suggest that reduced protein thiol groups can inhibit protein hydroperoxide formation by scavenging peroxyl radicals.     

Mercurochrom can be used for the histochemical demonstration and microphotometric quantitation of both protein thiols and protein (mixed) disulfides

 Mercurochrom [2,7-dibromo-4-(hydroxymercuri)-fluorescein disodium salt] used for staining of protein thiols in addition binds to other groups of proteins. Experimental evidence is provided that mercurochrom bound to non-thiol groups forms a 1:1 adduct with protein (mixed) disulfides. The disulfide contents of three different types of cells determined biochemically correlated with the corresponding mean integrated optical densities determined microphotometrically after mercurochrom staining of groups other than thiols. Intracellular disulfide exchange has been studied, leading to a transformation of protein mixed disulfides to protein disulfides and an equimolar loss of protein thiols. Protein mixed disulfides were generated from protein thiols using both methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) and 2,2′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dinaphthyldisulfide (DDD). Loss of thiols as well as the equimolar increase of protein mixed disulfides were followed using both mercurochrom staining for thiols and for disulfides. Generation of protein mixed disulfides due to the DDD reaction was also followed by azocoupling with Fast blue B. On the basis of the observed stoichiometry between the loss of protein thiols and the quantity, increase or conversion of protein disulfides determined microphotometrically using both mercurochrom staining and DDD Fast blue B staining, we conclude that: (1) 1 mol of mercurochrom is bound per mol of protein (mixed) disulfide; and (2) the molar absorptivity of mercurochrom bound to disulfides is ɛ₅₂₀=34940. This study demonstrates that mercurochrom can be used for the quantitative determination of the oxidative status of protein thiols in cells. Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Irreversible inactivation of soybean lipoxygenase-1 by hydrophobic thiols

Soybean lipoxygenase-1 is inactivated by micromolar concentrations of the following hydrophobic thiols: 1-octanethiol, 12(S)-mercapto-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid (S-12-HSODE), 12(R)-mercapto-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid (R-12-HSODE), and 12-mercaptooctadecanoic acid (12-HSODA). In each case, inactivation is time-dependent and not reversed by dilution or dialysis. Inactivation requires 13-hydroperoxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPOD), which suggests that it is specific for the ferric form of the enzyme. Lipoxygenase catalyzes an oxygenation reaction on each of the aforementioned thiols, as judged by the consumption of O(2). These reactions also require 13-HPOD. 1-Octanethiol is converted to 1-octanesulfonic acid, which was identified by GC/MS of its methyl ester. The rates of oxygen uptake for R- and S-12-HODE are about 5- and 2.5-fold higher than the rate with 1-octanethiol. The stoichiometries of inactivation imply that inactivation occurs on approximately 1 in 18 turnovers for 12-HSODA, 1 in 48 turnovers for 1-octanethiol, 1 in 63 turnovers for S-12-HSODE, and 1 in 240 turnovers for R-12-HSODE. These data imply that close resemblance to lipoxygenase substrates is not a crucial requirement for either oxidation or inactivation. Under the conditions of our experiments, inactivation was not observed with several more polar thiols: mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, L-cysteine, glutathione, N-acetylcysteamine, and captopril. The results imply that hydrophobic thiols irreversibly inactivate soybean lipoxygenase by a mechanism that involves oxidation at sulfur.     

Role of vicinal protein thiols in radiation and cytotoxic responses

Glutathione (GSH) and more recently protein thiols (P-SH) have been found to play a major role in cellular radiation response. However, the effects of protein vicinal thiols, which are important for the functions of several major enzymes, on cellular responses to radiation have not been clearly delineated. Here we investigated the effects of depleting GSH and protein vicinal thiols (HS-P-SH) and P-SH on cell toxicity and radiation response. We used hydroxyethyldisulfide (HEDS, beta-mercaptoethanol-disulfide) alone and in combination with phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to alter P-SH, HS-P-SH and GSH. HEDS, a direct substrate for thioredoxin reductase and an indirect substrate for glutaredoxin (thioltransferase), did not alter protein vicinal thiols in cells. However, PAO, which specifically forms a covalent adduct with vicinal thiols, blocked bioreduction of HEDS; there was a concomitant and yet unexplained decrease in K1 cell GSH in the presence of HEDS and PAO. G6PD+ (K1) and G6PD- (E89) cells treated with L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO) for 72 h to deplete GSH followed by PAO showed an increased cytotoxic response. However, the surviving E89 cells showed a 10,000-fold greater radiation lethality than the K1 cells. The effects of rapid depletion of GSH by a combination of L-BSO and dimethyfumarate (DMF), a glutathione-S-transferase substrate, were also investigated. Under these conditions, PAO radiosensitized the E89 cells more than 1000-fold over the K1 cells. The potential mechanisms for the altered response may be related to the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and glutaredoxin. Both are key enzymes involved in DNA synthesis, protein homeostasis and cell survival. With GSH removed, vicinal thiols appear to play a critical role in determining cell survival and radiosensitivity. Decreasing P-SH and removing GSH and vicinal thiols is extremely toxic to K1 and E89 cells. We conclude that radiation sensitivity and cell survival are dependent on vicinal thiol and GSH. In the former and latter cases, the protein thiols are also important.     

Inhibition of protein hydroperoxide formation by protein thiols

Abstract

Studies on plasma and cells exposed to hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals have indicated that there are few inhibitors of protein hydroperoxide formation. We have, however, observed a small variable lag period during bovine serum albumin (BSA) oxidation by 2-2′ azo-bis-(2-methyl-propionamidine) HCl (AAPH) generated peroxyl radicals, where no protein hydroperoxide was formed. The addition of free cysteine to BSA during AAPH oxidation also produced a lag phase suggesting protein thiols could inhibit protein hydroperoxide formation. The selective reduction of thiols on BSA by β-mercaptoethanol treatment caused the appearance of a lag period where no protein hydroperoxide was formed during the AAPH mediated oxidation. Increasing free thiol concentration on the BSA increased the lag period. Protein hydroperoxide formation began when the protein thiol concentration dropped below one thiol per BSA molecule. It is unlikely that the lag period is due to gross structural alteration of the reduced protein since blocking the free thiols with N-ethyl maleimide eliminated the lag in protein hydroperoxide formation. Protein thiols were found to be ineffective in inhibiting hydroxyl radical-mediated protein hydroperoxide formation during X-ray radiolysis. Evidence is given for protein thiol oxidation occurring via a free radical mediated chain reaction with both free cysteine and protein bound thiol. The data suggest that reduced protein thiol groups can inhibit protein hydroperoxide formation by scavenging peroxyl radicals.     

Fluorometric quantitation of cellular and nonprotein thiols

A microfluorometric assay for thiols has been developed using the thiol-specific fluorochrome N-[4-(7-diethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)phenyl]maleimide (CPM). The technique may be used to quantitate either cellular or plasma thiols over a range of 0.01 to 3.0 nmol and may be used with as few as 1-3 X 10(5) cells giving highly proportional and reproducible results. Values for nonprotein thiols obtained with this assay agree well with previous reports on glutathione (GSH) levels for both lymphocytes and plasma. Readings are determined with the aid of an automated fluorescence microplate reader which allows up to 96 samples, including standards, to be read at the same time. Cellular thiols accessible after lysis were also quantitated before and after treatment of intact cells with various thiol-reactive chemicals. Interestingly, HgCl2, bromoethanesulfonic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide differentially modified protein and nonprotein thiol levels.     

Interaction of N-alkyl-N-nitrosourethanes with thiols

1. The interaction at room temperature of thiols (cysteine and certain of its derivatives, and glutathione) with N-alkyl-N-nitrosourethanes and with diazomethane gave complicated mixtures of products. 2. S-Methylcysteine and S-ethoxycarbonylcysteine, the main products of the reaction between cysteine and N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane, were isolated and unequivocally identified. Paper-chromatographic and other evidence was used for the identification of several other components of the mixtures of products obtained. 3. S-Methyl derivatives and their methyl esters were the common products formed from the thiol compounds with both N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane and with diazomethane. 4. The esters were unstable and hydrolysed readily. 5. S-Ethoxycarbonyl derivatives, the primary products of the reaction of the thiols with N-alkyl-N-nitrosourethanes, isomerized to the respective N-ethoxycarbonyl derivatives when the pH increased above 7.0; the migration of the ethoxycarbonyl group from S to N was particularly easy with cysteine, probably owing to the spatial proximity of the amino group. 6. It is suggested that the non-enzymic reactions in vitro of thiols with both N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane and diazomethane may represent models for events in vivo and might help in the studies of the carcinogenic process.     

Antimicrobial garlic-derived diallyl polysulfanes: Interactions with biological thiols in Bacillus subtilis

BackgroundDiallylpolysulfanes are the key constituents of garlic oils, known to exhibit broad spectrum anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Studies in vitro, and in mammalian cells, have shown they react, via thiol-polysulfane exchange, with their major low molecular weight thiol, glutathione. However, there are no detailed reports of diallylpolysulfane effects on other common thiol metabolites (cysteine and coenzyme A) or major thiol cofactors (e.g. bacillithiol) that many Gram positive bacteria produce instead of glutathione.MethodsDiallylpolysulfanes were individually purified then screened for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Their impact on thiol metabolites (bacillithiol, cysteine, coenzyme A, protein thiols allyl thiols//persulfides) in B. subtilis cultures were analysed, by HPLC.ResultsDiallylpolysulfane bioactivity increased with increasing chain length up to diallyltetrasulfane, but then plateaued. Within two minutes of treating B. subtilis with diallyltrisulfane or diallyltetrasulfane intracellular bacillithiol levels decreased by ~90%. Cysteine and CoA were also affected but to a lesser degree. This was accompanied by the accumulation of allyl thiol and allyl persulfide. A significant level of protein-S-allylation was also detected.ConclusionsIn addition to the major low molecular weight thiol, diallylpolysulfanes can also have an impact on other thiol metabolites and protein thiols.General significanceThis study shows the rapid parallel impact of polysulfanes on different biological thiols inside Bacillus subtilis alongside the concomitant generation of allyl thiols and persulfides.     

Mechanism for the interaction of thiols with methylcobalamin.

The reaction between methylcobalamin and ethane-thiol sulfonic acid (Co-enzyme M) has been studied under aerobic conditions. For this reaction evidence is presented for a catalytic cycle which promotes homolytic cleavage of the Cobalt-carbon sigma-bond to give Cob(II)alamin (B12-r) and methylcoenzyme M as the products. This reaction is especially pertinent to our understanding of the mechanism of methane-biosynthesis. In addition, we have used 220 MHZ 1H NMR and 13C NMR to show that thiols do not react with methylcorrinoids by displacing the base trans-axial to the cobalt-carbon bond. This NMR study is especially important since the co-ordination of thiols to cobalt has previously been reported to occur by a number of research groups including our own.     

Mechanism for the interaction of thiols with methylcobalamin

The reaction between methylcobalamin and ethane-thiol sulfonic acid (Coenzyme M) has been studied under aerobic conditions. For this reaction evidence is presented for a catalytic cycle which promotes homolytic cleavage of the Cobalt-carbon σ-bond to give Cob(II)alamin (B12-r) and methylcoenzyme M as the products. This reaction is especially pertinent to our understanding of the mechanism of methane-biosynthesis.In addition, we have used 220 MHz ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR to show that thiols do not react with methylcorrinoids by displacing the base trans-axial to the cobalt-carbon bond. This NMR study is especially important since the coordination of thiols to cobalt has previously been reported to occur by a number of of researh groups including our own.     

The reaction of carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazones with thiols.

Carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone and its ring-substituted analogs react with thiols (thioglycolic acid, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol) and aminothiols (cysteine, glutathione) to give corresponding N-(substituted phenyl)-N'-(alkylthiodicyano)-methylhydrazine derivatives. These addition products decompose to the original components in alkaline solution. On the other hand, in the presence of an excess of thiols in aqueous buffered systems the addition reactions are practically quantitative with respect to phenylhydrazones, follow pseudo-first-order kinetics and can be investigated spectrophotometrically. These reactions are of the bimolecular AdN type where the non-dissociated form of carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazones function as an electrophilic component, while the RS- ion plays the role of nucleophilic component in the case of thiols (the attack of the azomethine group). The reactivitiy of carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazones with respect to thiols increases in the order carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone less than carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhyrazone less than carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone which corresponds to the order of decreasing values of the pKa constants. On the other hand, the reactivity of thiols increases with their basicity. The reactivity of carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone with thiols is comparable with the reactivity of phenyl isothiocyanate and N-ethylmaleimide. It was demonstrated that carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone is an efficient inhibitor of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12). The results obtained are discussed in relation to the biological activity of carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazones.