NANP Board Practice Exam

Which pathway primarily utilizes cysteine as a sulfur donor?

1. Glycine metabolism pathway

2. Phase I detox pathway

3. Phase II detox pathway

4. SAM synthesis pathway

The correct answer is: Glycine metabolism pathway

The glycine metabolism pathway primarily utilizes cysteine as a sulfur donor. This pathway is responsible for the breakdown of glycine, an important amino acid, into smaller molecules that can be utilized for various cellular processes. The other options, including the phase I and phase II detox pathways and the SAM synthesis pathway, do not primarily rely on cysteine as a sulfur donor. Instead, these pathways utilize other compounds and molecules for their specific functions. For example, the phase I detox pathway primarily utilizes oxygen and enzymes to break down toxins, while the phase II detox pathway utilizes glutathione as a sulfur donor. The SAM synthesis pathway, on the other hand, utilizes methionine as a primary sulfur donor. Therefore, Option A is the only correct answer as it is the only pathway that primarily utilizes cysteine as a sulfur donor.