Myceliuml growth and spore formation of Streptomyces albidoflavus SMF301 in submerged culture were compared with the metabolism of cysteine. Cysteine added to the culture was metabolized by cysteine desulfhydrase (EC 4.4.1.1.) to produce ammonium ions, hydrogen sulfide, and pyruvate. The redox potential of the culture broth was lowered immediately as the result of the metabolism of cysteine, which caused a lag period of mycelium growth. However enhanced activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase were confirmed in the culture containing cysteine, indicating that pyruvate was utilized to support further mycelium growth.