Cystine and Glutathione Reductases in the Clothes Moth Tineola Bisselliella

Abstract

The larva of the clothes moth Tineola bisselliella possesses an enzyme which catalyses the reduction of L-cystine by reduced triphospyridine nucleotide (TPNH). Extracts of whole larvae reduce up to 14 pmoles of cystine per g larvae per hr at pH 7· 3. Reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH)-linked cystine reductase and DPNH- and TPNH-linked glutathione reductase of somewhat lower activity are also present in the clothes moth extracts.