Kinetic trace of the reduction of metHb by l-cysteine in solution: (metHb (0. 4 mm heme) + 2 mml-Cys, PBS, pH 7.4). l-Cys is added to samples of metHb anaerobically to initiate reaction. The samples are then scanned at 2-min intervals, and base-line corrected. The change in 630 nm (unique metHb band) is monitored as a function of time. Inset, a representative plot showing the increase and decrease in the spectral bands of HbA as a function of time are indicated by up- and down-pointing arrows, respectively.