It is derived from food. Our bodies need homocysteine to manufacture protein and to build and maintain tissue. Too much homocysteine causes the tissues lining our arteries to thicken and scar. Normally homocysteine is either converted to methionine or cysteine, both of which are used in our bodies to make protein. Cysteine is also a sulfur containing amino acid.
Cysteine destroys free radicals and thereby protects healthy cells.
This experiment will find the rate at which homocysteine and cysteine consume oxygen. Both homocysteine and cysteine will be titrated and tested using a 50mM Kpi buffer solution.