Cystathionine is a non-protein amino acid that serves as an important intermediate in the metabolism of the essential amino acids methionine and cysteine. It plays a key role in the transsulfuration pathway, where homocysteine is converted into cystathionine by the enzyme cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and cystathionine is then further broken down into cysteine by the enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE).
Testing cystathionine levels can be beneficial for:
Dysregulated cystathionine levels, often linked to issues in the methionine and homocysteine metabolism, can lead to various symptoms:
Several factors can impact cystathionine levels, primarily related to the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids:
Regulating cystathionine levels typically involves addressing the underlying factors that affect its metabolism: