Introduction - Homocysteine in Protein Structure/Function and Human Disease - page 5

Hcy-thiolactone-mediated Hcy incorporation affects the protein's structure/func-
tion and leads to protein damage [7, 68]. Accumulating evidence, discussed in the
following chapters in this topic, strongly suggests that Hcy-thiolactone and N-Hcy-
protein contribute to the pathophysiology of hyperhomocysteinemia.
It is interesting to note that in his 1932 article describing the discovery of
homocystine [3], the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Vincent Du Vigneaud
stated “That homocystine itself might be present in proteins is a possibility that
should be borne in mind and will be worth investigating.” This possibility has
turned into reality in a more recent times [73, 78], and Hcy is now known to be a
component of proteins [79]. Mechanisms of Hcy incorporation into protein and
chemical biology of Hcy-containing proteins, with emphasis on mechanisms by
which such Hcy-proteins could contribute to human cardiovascular and neurologi-
cal diseases, are the subjects of this topic.