CTH and ischemia: We have previously generated Cth-KO mice [23] that require cyst(e)ine as an essential amino acid [23]; display increased vulnerability to cadmium/methyl mercury [24], paraquat [23], acetaminophen [25], dietary methionine [26], cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury [27], unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced kidney fibrosis [28], and decreased contraction responses to oxytocin [29].