Abstract:
Cyanide:thiosulphate sulphur transferase (rhodanese) activity was assayed spectrophotometrically in some
tissues of Sokoto red goat. The liver enzyme was subjected to further kinetic studies. Other tissues studied were
kidney, heart and lungs. The order of the activity of the enzyme in these tissues was liver (4.13!lmol SCNmin-
!g-! fresh tissue) > Kidney (2.3 umol SCNmin'!g'! fresh tissue) »heart (1.4 umol SCNmin-!g'! fresh tissue) >
lungs (1.10 umol SCNmin'!g'! fresh tissue). Kinetic studies of the liver enzyme indicated an optimum pH and
temperature of 8.0 and 40°C respectively. The activation energy was 17.9 Kl/mol. Preincubation of the
enzyme extract in cyanide inhibited its activity while preincubation in thiosulphate enhances its activity. These
results provide an insight regarding physiological role and mechanism of action of rhodanese in the tissues of
Sokoto red goat.
