The Catalytic Action of Traces of Iron and Copper on the Anaerobic Oxidation of Sulphydryl Compounds

1924], it was shown that the rate of oxidation of glutathione and cysteine by the oxygen of the air was greatly reduced by the addition of traces of hydrogen cyanide. It was shown also that the rate of oxidation of glutathione and cysteine could be reduced to a similar low value by very careful purification in quartz vessels, taking all possible precautions to exclude iron; and further, that the rate of oxidation of the purified compounds could be accelerated by the addition of minute traces of iron. Evidence was given in support of Warburg's view that the inhibition by cyanide is due to the formation of a non-catalytic complex with traces of catalytic metals ordinarily present as impurities in the sulphydryl compounds.