Sulfhydryl-containing enzymes

Sulfhydryl-containing enzymes are a heterogeneous group of proteins defined by the presence of free or reactive thiol (–SH) groups, primarily from cysteine residues. These enzymes are functionally diverse and play crucial roles in catalysis, redox balance, and regulation of cellular processes. Reactive sulfhydryl groups enable catalytic activity, mediate redox reactions, contribute to protein folding via disulfide bonds, and serve as sensors for oxidative or electrophilic stress. Given the ubiquity and importance of cysteine residues, these enzymes are implicated in numerous biological pathways and diseases. However, "sulfhydryl-containing enzymes" is a non-specific, category-level descriptor rather than a precise molecular target.

Other names

Thiol-containing enzymesSH-containing enzymesSulfhydryl enzymes

Covalent modification of active site cysteines (inhibition or modulation of enzyme function); Oxidation/reduction of sulfhydryl groups (regulation of activity); Formation of disulfide bonds (altering enzyme structure and function)