HOMOCYSTEINE DESULPHURASE FROM THE PROTOZOAN TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS

摘要

The present invention relates to an assay for determining homocysteine, cysteine, O-acetyl-L-serine and/or methionine levels in a biological sample using a enzyme which catalyses the degradation of homocysteine, cysteine, O-acetyl-L-serine and/or methionine, the enzyme being more particularly homocysteine desulphurase, a polynucleotide fragment encoding protozoan homocysteine desulphurase, a recombinant vector comprising such a polynucleotide fragment, transformed cells, the protozoan homocysteine desulphurase polypeptide, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising recombinant homocysteine desulphurase for use in medicine or veterinary medicine.