Evaluation of the activity of cyanide-metabolizing sulfurtransferase enzymes in different tissues of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

This study was undertaken to estimate specific activities of rhodanese and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) in different tissues of turkey. Enzyme activities were determined in tissue samples from freshly killed adult male turkeys by measurement of thiocyanate amounts produced by the action of enzymes on suitable substrates. Activities of rhodanese and MST in examined tissues of turkey range from 0.023 to 0.448 and 0.01 to 0.191, respectively. The highest activity of the rhodanese was observed in the liver followed by the kidney and then heart, with statistically significant difference between them. Indeed, the activities of MST were significantly higher in hepatic and renal tissues of turkey than in other examined tissues. Although both sulfurtransferases were detected in brain and all studied parts of the digestive tract, the mean values of enzyme activities were far less compared with those of liver and kidney. The results suggest high potential of liver and kidney in sulfurtransferases mediated cyanide detoxification in turkey. However, the demonstration of both enzyme activities in all examined tissues supports the involvement of them in other biochemical processes besides cyanide detoxification which needs to be clarified in detailed studies.