5-S-cysteinyldopac in human urine.

5-S-Cysteinyldopac, a compound hitherto demonstrated only in brain tissue, has been isolated and quantified in urine. The urines from 12 individuals were found to contain 20 +/- 9.1 micrograms 5-S-cysteinyldopac/24 hours. Incubation of 5-S-cysteinyldopamine with MAO-containing tissue did not give any formation of 5-S-cysteinyldopac, indicating that this compound is formed by nucleophilic addition of cysteine directly to dopac. The findings give further evidence for a small but significant non-specific oxidation of endogenous catechol derivatives in vivo, a fact to be considered when using 5-S-cysteinyldopa as a measure of pigment metabolism.