Recognition of aminoethylhomocysteine and aminopropylcysteine by aminoacid transport systems and aminoacyl tRNA synthetases.

In E. coli aminoethylhomocysteine (AEHC) and aminopropylcysteine (APC) do not affect intracellular lysine transport thus showing that they cannot bind the E. coli lysine transport systems. In CHO cells AEHC and APC inhibit lysine and arginine transport, AEHC more than APC, thus indicating that they can bind the cationic aminoacid transport system. They inhibit also leucine transport, APC more than AEHC. Some possible relationships between their structure and their effects on transport systems are considered. AEHC and APC are not activated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase preparations from bacterial and mammalian sources.