Description

S-(N-Methylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine (MITC) is a conjugate of methylisothiocyanate and cysteine. MITC is a pesticide typically used to fumigate wheat and other grain crops, killing pests such as grain beetles and weevils. MITC also exhibits anti-parasitic activity, inhibiting the hatch of nematodes from species of Heterodera and decreasing the population density of species of Meloidogyne. This compound inhibits mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver, increasing aldehyde levels in blood and brain in vivo. Additionally, MITC displays genotoxic potential, inducing lipid peroxidation-mediated DNA damage at high doses.