3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase

In enzymology, a 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 3-mercaptopyruvate + cyanide $$\rightleftharpoons$$ pyruvate + thiocyanate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are 3-mercaptopyruvate and cyanide, whereas its two products are pyruvate and thiocyanate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically the sulfurtransferases, which transfer sulfur-containing groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 3-mercaptopyruvate:cyanide sulfurtransferase. This enzyme is also called beta-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. This enzyme participates in cysteine metabolism.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes and.